Today, the genres of Asian literature are widening and are starting to move away from “literature of folklore and historical fiction” and more towards “books about people living in today’s world from the various Asian countries.” (Yokota, 1) However, even though progress is being made for the content of Asian literature, the Asian books being published each year is significantly low. On average of the 3,000 children’s books being published each year, only 65 of them represent Asians or Asian Americans (Yokota, 1) Since, Asian and Asian Americans are underrepresented today in literature I decided to focus of them for this project. I treated this project as a learning experience to expose myself to Asian literature and the Asian culture. Through this project I am now able to bring into my classroom books that focus on Asian or Asian Americans and expose my students to this wonderful culture. The word Asian when referring to literature is a broad term that encompasses many countries. The Asian people are a diverse group “comprised of over fifty different ethnic groups who share no common history, language, religion, or culture.” (Yamate, 96) Korea, Vietnam, and China are three countries that fall under this umbrella of a term and are the three countries that I chose to focus on for this project. I chose three children narratives each having the authors informed about the culture they are writing about. My Name is Yoon is a representation of Korean literature that illustrates the struggles that a young child has when moving to America. Helen Recorvits does a wonderful job in presenting the theme of preserving ones culture through the character of Yoon. Going Home, Coming Home by Truong Tran is a children’s book that represents Vietnamese culture. A young girl travels with her family to Vietnam for the first time to visit her grandmother and uncle. Going Home, Coming Home explores cultural differences that are seen through the language of the story. My Name is Yoon and Going Home, Coming Home are both set in present day and illustrate the steps a child must take to adjust to a new culture. This Next New Year is an energetic narrative about a young boy preparing for the New Year. A major theme in Asian literature is this theme of celebration in Asian culture, especially the New Year. Through the colorful and exciting illustrations the reader is able to learn the Chinese culture.
Book Review: My Name is Yoon
My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits and Pictures by Gabi Swiatkowska is a story about a young girl’s adjustment to a new life in America. Yoon, who is the main character in the story, does not want to write her name in English because Yoon written in English is made up of “Lines. Circles. Each standing alone”, much like how Yoon feels in the beginning of the story. She thinks her name “looks happy in Korean…the symbols dance together.” In school Yoon writes CAT, BIRD, and CUPCAKE on lined paper when asked to write her name. This sensitive story written by Recorvits is an inspiring story that tells a tale about a young girl not wanting to loose herself or her culture. The dreamlike illustrations done by Swiatkowska adds to the story’s message and Yoon’s imagination. The major theme that Recorvits has created through the character of Yoon is preserving ones culture. Even though both Recorvits and Swiatkowska are “outsiders” to the Asian culture, the language and illustrations really captivate Yoon’s feelings and the processes she goes through in accepting and adjusting to her new life.
Book Review: Going Home, Coming Home
Going Home, Coming Home by Truong Tran and illustrated by Ann Phong is a narrative story that brings two cultures together. Through the narration of a young eight-year-old girl, Ami Chi, Tran tells a story about a young girl who finds “home” in two very different places. Ami travels to Vietnam for the first time with her parents to visit her grandmother and uncle. In the beginning of the story Ami does not understand why her parents call Vietnam home because she thinks that Vietnam is nothing like America. She has a hard time adjusting to the climate, the language, and even her grandmother’s small home. However, as the story continues Ami stumbles upon Thao, a seven-year-old girl, who shows Ami that “home” is also in Vietnam. Tran and Phong, both born in Vietnam, write and illustrate a heart felt story, that as some points became cliché, about a young girl recognizing that “home” does not have to be in one place. Phong uses warm acrylic paint to capture the country’s beauty and warmth. Even though the illustrations depict a warm Vietnamese culture, the illustrations lack facial features of characters in the market and are blurred which hinders the view of Vietnamese culture. Overall, Going Home, Coming Home gives its readers a valuable message, which is “My home is here. My home is there. Home is two different places, on the left and right sides of my heart.”
Book Review: This Next New Year
This Next New Year by Janet S. Wong and illustrated by Yangsook Choi is a lyrical narrative about hopes and dreams. In preparation for the Chinese New Year the young boy cleans his house, baths, and even flosses his teeth and cuts his nails. All these preparations are done to make room for luck. The young boy shows his courage and determination to make this New Year a good one by not being scared of the firecrackers and not hiding his face inside the crowd during the parade. Wong presents the preparations done by the young boy in an understandable manner that allows children to make connections with the main character. Choi captures the spirit of the young boy and the celebration of the Chinese New Year through her vibrant illustrations. The bright illustrations capture the boy’s preparations and also symbolize the hopefulness of the New Year.
Critical Resource: Asian Americans in Literature for Children and Young Adults
I found this scholarly article using the E-Resource, ProQuest, found on the MSU Library homepage. Asian Americans in Literature for Children and Young Adults is an article by Junko Yokota. Junko Yokota was born in Japan, making her an insider to this topic. The article gives some fascinating statistics about Asian literature and focuses on three main points, which are “the range of representation, the authenticity of representation, and the need for a balanced perspective through a collection of books.” (Yokota, 1) The article flows and transition to each new point smoothly and Yokota gives examples for each of her arguments. The examples are of different children books, which enhances the points she is trying to make. At the end of the article she gives helpful tips about what teachers and librarians can do to inform themselves better on Asian culture and other unfamiliar cultures in general. She gives many ideas that are commonly known but also a few creative ones, like “pair books across cultures: pair a book from an unfamiliar culture with a book from a familiar culture, and have related themes that can connect the discussion of the books.” (Yokota, 4) At the end of the article Yokota makes an imprecise point when she says, “Teacher-librarians can also choose from the award-winning authors and illustrators in order to identify culturally authentic books” because even though award winning books symbolize a “good book” it does not mean that the book is truly authentic. She concludes her article with other thoughts and gives the references she used, which increase the validness of the article.
