Asian Pacific Islander Title: In The Snow Author: Huy Voun Lee Illustrator: Huy Voun Lee ISBN: 10: 0-8050-6579-2 Summary: Xiao Ming and his mother go for a walk outside in the snow. As they are walking, They both draw Chinese characters in the snow and talk about how the characters are made and what they mean. As the book continues, they talk more about how sometimes characters can be combined to form a new word. The book finishes by them going home and Xiao Ming looking forward to coming back to the park so they can draw more Chinese characters in the snow.
Transcript
Asian Pacific Islander
Title: In The SnowAuthor: Huy Voun Lee
Illustrator: Huy Voun LeeISBN: 10: 0-8050-6579-2
Summary: Xiao Ming and his mother go for a walk outside in the snow. As they are walking, They both draw Chinese characters in the snow and talk about how
the characters are made and what they mean. As the book continues, they talk more about how sometimes characters can be combined to form a new word. The book finishes by them going home and Xiao Ming looking forward to coming back to
the park so they can draw more Chinese characters in the snow.
Children’s Book Review Criteria
Question Yes No N/A
1. Are there various racial groups depicted in the pictures? List them- Asian American, White, African Ameri-
x
can
2. Is the book bi/multi lingual? x
3. Does this book avoid tokenism? (all characters should have various facial features and do not look the same)
x x
4. Does this book avoid gender stereotypes? x
5. Is the author qualified about the subject on which they are writing?
x
6. Does this actively portray modern ideas to properly relate to kids?
x
7. Does this book avoid disability stereotypes? x
8. Does this book depict a variety of family units? x
9. Are women in active roles? x
10. Are people with disabilities in active roles? x
11. Are people of color in active roles? x
12. Do the illustrations reflect diversity? x
14. Does the book make sure to use gender sensitive termi-nologies?
x
YES I would use this book. This book shows students some characters in Chinese and explains a little bit about how the language works and how the characters are formed. This is also relatable to children because many of them have played out-
side in the snow and have drawn pictures in the snow before themselves.
Title: I Hate English!Author: Ellen Levine
Illustrator: Steve BjorkmanISBN: 0-590-42305-3
Summary: Mei Mei is a young girl who is frustrated her family moved to New York from Hong Kong China. She is upset because she cannot speak english and she wished that everyone spoke Chinese. This made it difficult for her in school,
because she wouldn’t want to participate in class, since everything was in English. One day a teacher came to help Mei Mei understand English. Although Mei Mei was frustrated at first, she grew to like her teacher Nancy. Nancy helped Mei Mei
be able to speak in both English and Chinese whenever Mei Mei wants.
Children’s Book Review Criteria
Question Yes No N/A
1. Are there various racial groups depicted in the pictures? List them- Chinese, White,
x
2. Is the book bi/multi lingual? x
3. Does this book avoid tokenism? (all characters should have various facial features and do not look the same)
x
4. Does this book avoid gender stereotypes? x
5. Is the author qualified about the subject on which they are writing?
x
6. Does this actively portray modern ideas to properly relate to kids?
x
7. Does this book avoid disability stereotypes? x
8. Does this book depict a variety of family units? x
9. Are women in active roles? x
10. Are people with disabilities in active roles? x
11. Are people of color in active roles? x
12. Do the illustrations reflect diversity? x
13. Does the author/illustrator prevent all characters from looking alike?
x
14. Does the book make sure to use gender sensitive termi-nologies?
x
YES I would use this book in the classroom. This book I feel would be beneficial not just for Chinese American students, but especially for ESL students. This
would also be good for the whole class to help illustrate the hardships of having to learn English as a second language. This book could also make those ESL students
feel like they are not alone, and it is a positive ending that gives them hope and motivates them that they are able to pick up a second language!
Title: Apple Pie 4th Of JulyAuthor: Janet S. Wong
Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-IrvineISBN: 9780152057084
Summary:A young Chinese American girl is surprised that her parents are cooking Chinese food to sell on the 4th of July which is a typical American holiday. She tries to tell her parents that people will want American food on this day and not Chinese food. On the 4th with all the happenings of fireworks and the parade.
Many people are delighted to purchase and enjoy Chinese food on this Holiday.
Children’s Book Review Criteria
Question Yes No N/A
1. Are there various racial groups depicted in the pictures? List them-Chinese American, White
x
2. Is the book bi/multi lingual? x
3. Does this book avoid tokenism? (all characters should x
have various facial features and do not look the same)
4. Does this book avoid gender stereotypes? x
5. Is the author qualified about the subject on which they are writing?
x
6. Does this actively portray modern ideas to properly relate to kids?
x
7. Does this book avoid disability stereotypes? x
8. Does this book depict a variety of family units? x
9. Are women in active roles? x
10. Are people with disabilities in active roles? x
11. Are people of color in active roles? x
12. Do the illustrations reflect diversity? x
13. Does the author/illustrator prevent all characters from looking alike?
x
14. Does the book make sure to use gender sensitive termi-nologies?
x
YES I would use this book in the classroom. This book discusses an important American holiday and ties in another culture to it.
Title: The Emperor and the KiteAuthor: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Ed YoungISBN: 0-399-21499-2
Summary: Princess Ojeow Seow, youngest and smallest daughter of the Emperor, is not thought of very much by her family–when thought of at all. So she spends
her days playing with a kite made from paper and sticks. When the Emperor is cap-tured and imprisoned in a high tower, though, it is Djeow Seow who patiently
weaves a long, strong rope of her own hair, attaches it to the tail of her kite, and cleverly flies up to her father in hopes of rescuing him.
Children’s Book Review Criteria
Question Yes No N/A
1. Are there various racial groups depicted in the pictures? List them- Chinese
x
2. Is the book bi/multi lingual? x
3. Does this book avoid tokenism? (all characters should have various facial features and do not look the same)
x
4. Does this book avoid gender stereotypes? x
5. Is the author qualified about the subject on which they are writing?
x
6. Does this actively portray modern ideas to properly relate to kids?
x
7. Does this book avoid disability stereotypes? x
8. Does this book depict a variety of family units? x
9. Are women in active roles? x
10. Are people with disabilities in active roles? x
11. Are people of color in active roles? x
12. Do the illustrations reflect diversity? x
13. Does the author/illustrator prevent all characters from looking alike?
x
14. Does the book make sure to use gender sensitive termi-nologies?
x
NO I would not use this book in the classroom. The illustrations are poor and to-kenism is very prevalent here. The story is also about ancient China so it doesn’t
give a representation of the culture, or people today.
