This bibliography features Chinese and Chinese American literature for children. If you have any suggestions of books or related resources to include, please let us know.
THE AMAH by Laurence Yep (Putnam, 1999). Amy Chin is a dedicated young ballerina forced to sacrifice her dancing to care for her young siblings when her mother is hired as an amah (nanny). Stephanie, her mother's charge, seems to be taking everything away and, at the same time, embarassing Amy with extravagant gifts. Ages 8-up.
APPLE PIE 4TH OF JULY by Janet S. Wong, illustrated
by Margaret Chodos-Irvine (Harcourt, 2002). A young girl whose parents
own a Chinese restaurant ponders the appropriateness of Chinese food versus
Apple Pie on the 4th of July. Ages 4-up.
AT THE BEACH by Huy Voun Lee (Henry Holt, 1994). Xiao Ming learns to write Chinese (Mandarin) by writing in the sand and comparing the characters to various sights around her. An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists. Ages 4-up.
COOLIES by Yin, illustrated by Chris Soentpiet (Philomel, 2001). Framed as a family story, this exquisitely illustrated picture book tells of the Chinese immigrants who helped build a great railroad across the western United States.
The story does not romanticize the conditions or treatment the workers endured, but it does celebrate their bravery, tenacity, and accomplishments. Recommended for curriculum. Ages 5-up.
EARTHQUAKE by Milly Lee, illustrated by Yangsook Choi (Frances Foster Books/Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2001). A Chinese American girl tells the story of her family during fallout from the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Based on a real family story. Excellent author's note. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. for curriculum, especially to U.S. West Coast schools. Ages 4-up.
EL CHINO by Allen Say (Houghton Mifflin, 1990). An inspiring picture book biography of Bon Way "Billy" Wong, the first Chinese American bullfighter—a young man raised in Arizona who found his dream in Spain. Ages 4-up. More on this title from Cynsations.
GRANDFATHER COUNTS by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Ange Zhang (Lee & Low, 2000). When Gong Gong (grandfather) first comes to live with Helen, she feels distanced by his inability to speak English and her inability to speak Chinese. Then, watching a train together, they begin to teach each other how to count the cars, Helen in English and Gong Gong in Chinese. In time, the two begin to bond as grandparent to child. A realistic, warm book that is not overly sentimental. Helen's family is Asian and European-American, but no issue is made of this. Ages 4-up.
HANNAH IS MY NAME by Belle Yang (Candlewick, 2004). Hannah and her family are so excited to immigrate to the United States, to become Americans, to be free. But how scary and worrisome it is to wait to see if they will be sent green cards so they may stay legally and make San Francisco their home. Joyful, vibrant, and optimistic without minimizing the challenges faced by newcomers, Yang's book should be an essential part of any immigration, Asian American, California, and/or patriotism unit and a treasure for home and public libraries. Ages 4-up. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
THE MAGIC HORSE OF HAN GAN by Chen Jiang Hong (Enchanted Lion, 2006)(originally published in French as Le Cheval magique de Han Gan (2004)). A look into the life of painter Han Gan, who lived in China 1,200 ears ago, that incorporates a legend about one of the horses in his paintings coming to life. It's always a high burden to offer art reflecting a great artist, but Hong more than succeeds. Magical, indeed, with an underlying theme of the relationship between art and peace. Ages 6-up.
THE MAGIC PAINTBRUSH by Laurence Yep (HarperCollins, 2000). This historical novel centers on young Steve, Grandfather, and a friend of the family, Uncle Fong. After the tragic death of his parents, Steve comes to live in Chinatown with his poor Grandfather, who seems emotionally distant. When Grandfather gives Steve a magic paintbrush, suddenly they can paint their desires into reality. Probably my favorite book by Yep. Characterization is particularly wonderful. Ages 9-up.
MEI-MEI LOVES THE MORNING by Margaret Holloway Tsubakiyama, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu (Whitman, 1999). Illustrated in beautiful watercolors, this book is a slice-of-life celebration of the loving relationship between Mei-Mei and her grandfather. Ages 4-up.
MILLICENT MIN, GIRL GENIUS by Lisa Yee (Arthur Levine, 2003). Millicent Min is (1) just about the enter her senior year in high school, (2) has no friends, and (3) is resented by other kids because she sets the grading curve. She's also eleven, which might have something to do with at least (1) and (3). Because of (2), Millie's parents sign her up for summer volleyball and make her tutor her mortal enemy... A dry, funny first novel. Ages 9-up. Don't miss the companion book, STANFORD WONG FLUNKS BIG TIME (Arthur Levine, 2005). Read more about these titles on Cynsations.
AN
OCEAN APART, A WORLD AWAY by Lensey Namioka (Delacorte, 2002). Xueyan,
called Yanyan, is an excellent student at her missionary school in 1911
China, and she wants to study medicine. Yet it's an unusual occupation for
a woman of her day, even one with no interest in marriage like Yanyan. Will
karate-expert and scholar Baoshu change her mind or will Yanyan find her
place and excel in her studies in another country, America? Companion book
to TIES THAT BIND, TIES THAT BREAK. The new
title is even more engaging. Ages 12-up.
OUR BABY FROM CHINA: AN ADOPTION STORY by Nancy D'Antonio (Whitman, 1997). A photoessay of the author and her husband's journey to China to adopt their beautiful daughter, Ariela Xiangwei. Ages 4-up.
SAM AND THE LUCKY MONEY by Karen Chinn, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu (Lee & Low, 1995). Sam is all ready to spend his money in Chinatown. But maybe buying a thing isn't the best way to use it. A celebration of giving. Amazing watercolor illustrations. Ages 4-up.
SIX
WORDS, MANY TURTLES, AND THREE DAYS IN HONG KONG by Patricia McMahon with
photographs by Susan G. Drinker (Houghton Mifflin, 1997). This well-written
non-fiction account is illustrated in storytelling photographs that convey
personality. It chronicles the daily life of Tsz Yan, an eight-year-old
Chinese girl living in contemporary Hong Kong. Sensitive, humorous, and
stereotype shattering. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Ages 8-up.
SPLIT IMAGE: A STORY IN POEMS by Mel Glenn (HarperCollins, 2000). Laura Li is a different person to her ashamed mother to her motherly librarian, to her distant father, her friends, the bartender, her rivals, the boys at school. In alternating diverse and compelling voices, Glenn offers another first-rate verse novel to teens. Ages 12-up.
THIEF OF HEARTS by Laurence Yep (HarperCollins, 1995). In this sequel to CHILD OF THE OWL (1977), Stacy is called a "half-breed," and both her loyalties and identity are challenged when Hong Ch'un moves from China to Stacy's suburban California school. When Hong Ch'un is accused of stealing, Stacy is forced to carefully consider her own reaction and find out what has really happened. Much of this novel centers around Stacy's struggle to reconcile her Chinese and white American heritage and related communities. Ages 8-up.
WANDERING WARRIOR by Da Chen (Delcorte, 2003). Enter another world, the world of ancient China where it is decreed in the scriptures that the future emperor will have five moles on the bottom of each foot. Watch as eleven-year-old orphaned Luka searches for his destiny on those very feet and see him meet mythological creatures and magical beings. You won't be tempted to turn back. This skillful writer takes the reader on a spiritual journey with Luka, one the reader doesn't want to end. Ages 12-up. Review by Frances Hill.
The HANNAH WEST series by Linda Johns (Puffin, 2006-) features a young Chinese American girl detective who solves cases as she moves with her house-sitter mother from one Seattle neighborhood to another. Hannah is internationally and transracially adopted. Ages 9-up.
Author Laurence Yep has written many excellent books with Chinese and Chinese American themes for children (among others) — only a couple of which are mentioned on this page. Please seek them out at your book stores and libraries.
"A lot of my books deal with Chinese culture because, in a way, I'm trying to find the culture I lost. When I was younger, I was ashamed or sometimes even angry about being Chinese. Most of the time I forgot that I was Chinese. Sometimes I would see myself in the mirror and be surprised to see a Chinese girl looking back at me.
"It's only now, after becoming an adult and I realized that there was something I lost, ignoring these parts of my heritage. There were a lot of things that we did, traditions like eating ginger soup at a baby shower, which I never bothered to learn more about. So now, I research these kinds of things about my heritage. I'm making the books I missed when I was younger."
—Grace Lin,
Children's Book Author-Illustrator