Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Lensey Nomiok is a chapter book that explores cultural issues through the life of character, Yintao. Yintao, or “fourth child” as his family refers to him, recently moved from China to America with his family. Cultural barriers separate Yintao from other students, yet musical barriers distance him from his family. Yintao does not have the natural gift of an ear for music. Music is a way of life for his family and Yintao and his brother and two sisters prepare throughout the book for a recital his father is putting on. When Yintao seems to feel he has no talent at all, he becomes friends with Matthew, who introduces him to baseball. Yintao is faced with pressures from his family to practice for the big recital, yet his heart is with baseball.
This novel intricately parallels Yintao’s family with Matthew’s family to introduce cultural similarities and differences. Both families place value on distinctly different aspects of their children’s lives. While Yintao’s family emphasizes school and music, Matthew’s focuses on sports and money. Additionally, Namioka speaks directly of Chinese culture and the shock Yintao experiences when presented with American culture. For example, in American schools, children run in the hallways, slouch in their chairs, are embarrassed to talk about money, and speak in idioms that sometimes do not make sense.
Namioka was born in Beijing, but moved to America. Like Yintao, she grew up in a very music-focused family. This book was recommended in “Asian Pacific American Children’s Literature: Expanding Perceptions About Who Americans Are” by Sandra S. Yamate. This book was also selected in 1993 by the Horn Book Fair as one of the best books of the year.
"Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of the Year." The Horn Book. 2008. The Horn Book, Inc. 2 Nov. 2008
Namioka, Lensey, and Kees De Kiefte. Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear. 1st ed. Boston: Little Brown & Company, 1993. 3-134.
Yamate, Sandra S. "Asian Pacific American Chlidren's Literature: Expanding Percpetions About Who Americans Are." Using Multiethic Literature in the K-8 Classroom. 95-128.
At the Beach by Huy Voun Lee is an exceptional picture book that explores Chinese characters and their significance. Xiao Ming and his mother are at the beach and begin drawing Chinese characters with a stick in the sand. Xiao Ming’s mother explains the logical nature of many significant Chinese characters. Beautiful cut-paper collage illustrations correspond with the text to produce a thorough and interesting explanation of Chinese characters. The illustrations depict people of all skin colors interacting with one another. Additionally, the collage style incorporates a three-dimensional feel and textural appeal to the picture book. The bright contrasting colors and intricate patterns present an uplifting and brilliant visual appeal to the story.
This picture book is a beautiful piece of diverse literature. The diversity of the illustrated people in body type, skin color and other qualities present a sense of community between diverse people. The illustrated characters model a lack of cultural and racial barriers between people. A pronunciation guide is present at the end of the book and thus, would not be repetitive to a person who is fluent in Chinese. According to an article by Barrera and Quiroa, this is an important factor to take into consideration. Each character has an English equivalent, a Chinese pronunciation, and a picture to represent the logic behind the character. The author, Huy Voun Lee, was born in Cambodia and studied Visual Arts in the United States. This picture book was recommended in “Asian Pacific American Children’s Literature: Expanding Perceptions About Who Americans Are” by Sandra S. Yamate.
"At the Beach (Paperback)." Amazon.com. 2008. Amazon.com, inc. 2 Nov. 2008
Barrera, Rosalinda B., and Ruth E. Quiroa. "The Use of Spanish in Latino Children's Literature in English: What Makes for Cultural Authenticity?" (2003): 247-65.
Lee, Huy Voun. At the Beach. 1st ed. Boston: Henry Holt & Company Books For Young Readers, 1994.
Yamate, Sandra S. "Asian Pacific American Chlidren's Literature: Expanding Percpetions About Who Americans Are." Using Multiethic Literature in the K-8 Classroom. 95-128.
Angel child, Dragon Child by Michele Maria Surat and illustrated by Vo-Dihn Mai is both beautifully written and illustrated. In this picture book, Nguyen Hoa, or Ut as her family calls her, has recently moved with her siblings and father to the United States. Ut introduces the reader to challenges she faces as she waits for her mother to join the family in the United States. Ut must adapt to differences between Vietnam and American culture: people tease her about her clothes, speak a language she is not accustomed to, respond to the teacher by waving their hands instead of chanting, and have many other unique customs. Most noteworthy, however, is the interaction Ut has with a fellow classmate. When the two get into a quarrel on the playground, the principle tells Ut to narrate the story of her family’s emigration while her classmate writes it down. This story unfolds into a remarkable tale stemming from the relationships between Ut and her classmate, other schoolmates and her family. The large pictures and bright colors add to the mood and correspond with the text.
This story absolutely works as a piece of diverse literature. The relationship between Ut and her classmate with the fiery red hair is heartwarming and touching. The boy begins the book by judging Ut’s apparel and manners. After hearing her story, and bonding with her one-on-one Ut’s classmate develops a relationship with her that is rewarding for both of them. The two model that cultural barriers can be overcome and differences can be embraced. After the story, the author presents history and background information about Vietnam. Surat based the story on an interaction she had with her Vietnamese student. The illustrator Mai, was born in Vietnam and thus, presents an insider view of Asian appearance. This book was featured and reviewed on Reading Rainbow and introduced by a little boy who said he could relate to this book having moved from Korea (episode). Angel Child Dragon Child was also recommended in “Asian Pacific American Children’s Literature: Expanding Perceptions About Who Americans Are” by Sandra S. Yamate and was reviewed in the Horn Book Magazine.
"Episode Patchwork Quilt." Reading Rainbow. 2007. PBS Kids. 2 Nov. 2008
Surat, Michele M., and Vo-Dihn Mai. Angel Child, Dragon Child. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1992.
Yamate, Sandra S. "Asian Pacific American Chlidren's Literature: Expanding Percpetions About Who Americans Are." Using Multiethic Literature in the K-8 Classroom. 95-128.
El chino, by Allen Say, is a biography of Billy wong, the first Chinese bullfighter. This picture book beings its story when Billy’s parents move from China to America. Later in the story, Billy travels to Spain and is introduced to bullfighting. He decides that he wants to become a bullfighter and dresses in Spanish clothes to feel fit for the position. Interstingly enough, people are not accepting of his talent because he is not Spanish. However, as soon as Billy finally realizes that he must embrace his Chinese roots, he is accepted and welcomed as a Chinese bullfighter and referred to as “El Chino”. The illustrations start in black and white, but as soon as a bullfighter is depicted for the first time, the pictures become animated in color. The illustrations look like photographs and incorporate shadows and shading to make the pictures come alive.
A person can never become the best as someone he is not. Billy Wong could never be the best Spanish bullfighter, though his heart is passionate. Billy can, however, become the best and first ever Chinese bullfighter. The picture book specifically draws attention to Billy Wong’s Chinese traits. The special positive attention to cultural differences suggest an attitude of pride in cultural heritage. Billy Wong embrases this heritage at the end of the book. He is accepted and treasured for his exceptional ethnicity. As an insider to both culture and specific experience, Allen Say was born in Japan and has written and illustrated many books; one of which won the 1994 Caldecott medal. He actually met the family of Billy Wong and believes this book signifies a search for identity (Allen). This book was recommended in “Asian Pacific American Children’s Literature: Expanding Perceptions About Who Americans Are” by Sandra S. Yamate. Additionally, this piece of literature was reviewed in the Horn Book Magazine.
"Allen Say." Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2008. Houghton Mifflin Company. 11 Nov. 2008
Say, Allen. El Chino. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1996.
Yamate, Sandra S. "Asian Pacific American Chlidren's Literature: Expanding Percpetions About Who Americans Are." Using Multiethic Literature in the K-8 Classroom. 95-128.
Critical Review:
Insider and first grade teacher, Alicia Hue, wrote this critical review in The Horn Magazine. Hue writes this review from the perspective of a teacher of emigrant Asian American students struggling with cultural, religious and language differences. Her students clearly do not feel they belong here in America. Thus, the children in her class impact and inspire her to search for books portraying Asian Americans. She reviewed In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear, El Chino, and A Visit to Amy-Claire. The books she cited are some of her favorites. She has shared them with her students, who were able to relate them to their own experiences. Hue believes that literature can help children to feel that they belong.
Two of the books she reviewed are ones that I have also read and analyzed. Hue believes that Asian American students can relate to the high expectation of Yang’s parents and the vulnerability felt in Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear. Furthermore, this book can be valuable for students who are not of Asian American decent. These students can begin to see a familiar world through a different lens. The second story I also included in my review is El Chino. Hue believes this book demonstrates expectations that come with being Chinese. It helps readers to see “power within themselves” (Hue, 1995) in identifying with cultural identity. Hue related this to her own experience traveling to China and being recognized as an American. She felt pride and a sense of identity. Reading the review of these two books from Hue’s perspective was an interesting and thought-provoking experience. Hsu, Alicia. "It's Our Train." The Horn Book Magazine Mar. 1995: 240-45.
