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Book Reviews

Hannah is My Name

Author: Belle Yang

Based on author's first year as an immigrant from Taiwan, Hannah Is My Name captures the emotions of a little girl adjusting to a new life. The narrative and illustrations show how much she misses her old school, friends, and customs, but feels privileged to be in America. Na Li's family wants to make her fit in by giving her an American- sounding name. They choose "Hannah", because it is spelled the same backward and they think it will be easy for her because she doesn't know English yet. The illustrations in this book are charming and have an Asian influence and the story is told from the voice of a child. The book relates the family looking for an apartment, filling out forms with an immigration lawyer, her father hiding from immigration, and Hannah's best friend at school being deported. This book is an essential acquisition for any early childhood classroom and would be appropriate for upper grades as well as it discusses the process that the family takes to gain a permanent home in America. Everybody- whether they are recent immigrants or Americans celebrating diversity-will enjoy this little girl's quest for equal opportunity.

Year Released: 2004

Grades K-4

José! Born to Dance

Author: Susanna Reich

José! Born To Dance is a beautifully written and illustrated biography of José Limón (1908-1972), one of the great dancers/choreographers of the twentieth century. José was the oldest child in a large Mexican family that immigrated to the United States after his father lost his job as a result of the Mexican revolution. Taunted in school, José became determined to learn English better than his classmates and within three years, he spoke with confidence and ability. Inspired by his artistic talent, José left his family in California and traveled to New York, where he discovered that his talents lay in dance, rather than the visual arts. After years of study and hard work, José formed his own dance company, which continues to tour today. His dances are still performed by major dance companies throughout the world. Written in poetic prose and illustrated in luminous watercolor and colored pencil, this biography will delight young readers, as well as offer lessons in the connections between determination, hard work, and success.

Year Released: 2005

Grades 2-4

Just Call Me Joe

Author: Frieda Wishinsky

It's the year 1909 and Joseph and Anna's parents have made the tough decision to let their children leave a life of persecution in Russia and emigrate to the United States to be with their Aunt Sophie in New York. They are leaving behind them tremendous anxiety and fear.  Murderous Russian soldiers would often sneak up on unfortunate Jews in the woods or come bursting into their homes in the middle of the night. Joseph and Anna are both excited by the adventures and prospects ahead of them. Following the sea voyage, they soon find that the streets in America are not "paved with gold" and many challenges await them. 17-year-old Anna finds herself working day and night in a dreary clothing factory and 10-year-old Joseph struggles to learn English, to make new friends and be accepted by the boys at his new school. He is constantly challenged by his idyllic notions of what he thought America was going to be like. Aunt Sophie takes in boarders just to make ends meet and struggles to provide for them. Readers will cheer Joseph and Anna on as they try to adjust to life in the early twentieth-century New York. This book is a great introduction to immigration literature and historical fiction in general. Just Call Me Joe is ideal for curriculum units on immigration in which teachers want to include an easy to read novel with a stimulating story line.

Year Released: 2004

Grades 2-5

My Name is Yoon

Author: Helen Recorvits

In this beautiful picture book, Yoon, a little girl who has just immigrated from Korea, is having difficulty adjusting to her new life in America. Through first-person narrative, the reader meets a confused little girl whose father tells her that she has to learn to write her name in English. She does not like the way that her name looks written in English, and prefers its appearance in Korean. Though Yoon's name means, "Shining Wisdom" in Korean, she struggles to accept that her name, when written in English, could maintain its meaning. The challenge of accepting her English name underscores her struggle with accepting a new life in a new country. Helen Recorvits' lovely words and Gabi Swiathkowaska's gorgeous illustrations present a story of assimilation that immigrant children often face in a new country. This book can be read aloud and also as a prompt for classroom discussions of identity and related issues.

Year Released: 2003

Grades K-3

A Gift for Sadia

Author: Marie Fritz Perry

Sadia is a young immigrant from Somalia who arrives to her new home in Minnesota during the coldest part of the winter. This story tells of Sadia's adjustment to her new surroundings and the difficulties she faces as the only Somali speaker at her school. As winter changes to spring, Sadia gains the confidence she needs to master a new language and new culture with the help of a Canadian goose she befriends and cares for. A Gift for Sadia is a poignant story of a young refugee's first experiences in the United States. The colorful illustrations depict aspects of Somali culture as well as details of life in a small Minnesota town. The simple language and storyline make the book appropriate for young children.

Year Released: 2004

Grades K-4

Oranges on Golden Mountain

Author: Elizabeth Partridge

When the ponds and streams dry up and the crops shrivel and die, Jo Lee's mother uses the coins she had hidden to send him to fish with Fourth Uncle on faraway Golden Mountain - California. Knowing he will be homesick, his mother cuts a dozen small branches from her orange trees for him to plant on his new land. After years of tender care and difficult work, the orange branches (and Jo Lee) flourish and it is time to bring his family to join him. Oranges on Golden Mountain reflects the experiences of the many Chinese immigrants who flocked to "Gum Shan" or Golden Mountain, their name for California, during the gold rush of the 1850's. Teachers will appreciate the historical information and web links offered by the author in the afterword.

Year Released: 2001

Grades 1-4

St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh

Author: Janet Nolan

Between 1845 and 1851, thousands upon thousands of Irish men, women and children died when the potato crop failed. Fergus and his family emigrate to the U.S. during this time. On his last night before departing, he cuts a branch from a favorite blackthorn tree in order to take a piece of Ireland with him. The branch is whittled into a shillelagh, a walking stick. Within this shillelagh lies the story of the Fergus's family. Every St. Patrick's Day, the story of their flight from Ireland is told. Fergus grows up and gives the shillelagh to his son Declan. In turn, Declan gives it to his son Emmet, and so it goes, on through the generations. The object becomes an heirloom and continues to be handed down with poetic stories told by family elders. Realistic illustrations detail the passage of time from generation to generation. This is a great introduction to Irish immigration and concepts of family traditions. Teachers in grades 2-4 may find this especially useful when introducing a unit on immigration.

Year Released: 2004

Grades K-4

Have a Good Day Caf

Author: Frances Park and Ginger Park

Mike loves his grandmother, but he wishes she wouldn't talk so much about her old home in Korea. In the summer, Mike, his grandmother, and his parents go to the city each day with their family's food cart. Mike's parents sell bagels, juice, hot dogs, and soda while Mike sits on the grass with his grandmother sharing his drawings. One day two other food carts park near Mike's parents' cart and business tapers off. Soon after Mike has an idea about how to improve business. He and his grandmother get up early one morning and make Korean food to sell on the cart. It's a big hit with their customers and Mike discovers that his grandmother's traditions from Korea are a welcome addition in the U.S.A. as well.

Year Released: 2005

Grades K-3

In English, Of Course

Author: Josephine Nobisso

In this picture book, Josephine tries to tell her English class about her hometown of Naples, Italy. The teacher, who clearly knows very little about city-life in Italy, tries to help Josephine tell the story. The result is a far-fetched tale about Josephine's life on a farm. This light-hearted story, illustrated with delightful pen and ink drawings, shows the frustration- and humor- involved in learning a second language. This book would work well for young elementary school students or TESOL students in early or intermediate grades.

Year Released: 2003

Grade K-3

Coming to America

Author: Betsy Maestro

From the first nomadic groups, through Africans forced into slavery, to those seeking refuge from throughout the world, the character of our nation was forged by immigrants as each group enriched the diversity of our nation. Coming To America presents the evolving immigration history of the United States to the primary grade student, exploring the factors that brought each group to America as well as their impact on the development of our nation. Vivid illustrations by Susannah Ryan bring the immigration experience to life and will appeal to primary grade students. The chronology of immigration, notes on immigration today, and other interesting facts included in the back of the book will enhance a young child's understanding of the subject.

Year Released: 1996

Grade K-3