American Born Chinese Children's Book Alley: Yo, sisters!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Yo, sisters!

Kathy Tucker (author) and Grace Lin (illustrator)
The Seven Chinese Sisters
Albert Whitman & Company, 2003

Inspired by The Seven Chinese Brothers, the girls in Kathy Tucker's story each has a special talent, which combine to rescue their family's youngest after Sixth Sister's tempting noodle soup stirs the hunger of a nearby dragon. The beast makes a bee-line for the family kitchen, but instead of seizing the soup, it snatches the baby. Her precocious cries for help set the sisters into a kind of Rube Goldberg motion involving daredevil scooter riding, super speedy counting, martial arts, and a finely honed catch.

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About this blog

When I was a child growing up in the 1970s in middle America, children's books with East Asian content were rare. The few that I knew were a mixed bag. Some seemed to have good intentions, but uncomfortable stereotypes; others snappy writing, but uneven illustrations. Since then, I'm thrilled to see that children's books in the US have flourished, and there is a much greater variety of good quality books that I can now read to my hapa (half-Asian Pacific American) son.

This blog was inspired by a good friend with fine taste in children's books. In the coming year (by November 1, 2011), my goal is to review 365 children's books that might appeal to American Born Chinese, friends, families, and others with an interest in East Asian culture.