An Asian American A to Z: A Children's Guide to Our History
by Cathy Linh Che (Author) Kavita Ramchandran (Illustrator)
Co-authors Cathy Linh Che and Kyle Lucia Wu take us on a journey through stories of celebration and resistance: the Third World Liberation Front, the Muslim Ban, Japanese American incarceration camps, Padma Lakshmi, Rashida Tlaib, Sunisa Lee, and more. It is a history of struggle, but also one of great triumph, brought to life with colorful and dynamic illustrations by Kavita Ramchandran.
Written by the directors of Kundiman—an organization dedicated to nurturing Asian American writers—An Asian American A to Z is a book for children of all backgrounds and a vital resource for tomorrow's organizers. Asian American identity formation is expansive yet under-taught, and this book is a necessary intervention that will ground readers in joy, history, and solidarity.
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Publishers Weekly
Beginning with "A is for Asian American," Che and Wu center Asian American figures and history as well as intersectionally aware concepts in this activist-leaning abecedarian. Throughout, rhyming and near-rhyming couplets ("F is for being first, a leader of your times./ So many have been bold enough to walk a new line") appear alongside alternatingly bright and somber scenes from Ramchandran. Figures mentioned include activist Grace Lee Boggs, musician Bruno Mars, Congressperson Rashida Tlaib, and others. The pages also reference prejudicial treatment throughout American history, including the murder of Vincent Chin and Japanese incarceration. Uneven contextualizing sometimes undercuts the rhythmic lines, but it's a hopeful, liberation-minded primer that culminates by speaking to the "power in knowing Asian American history." A glossary concludes. Ages 5-9. (May)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"This is the book I wish I had when I was growing up. It's the book I'm glad I have now, one that I can read to my own children. Personal and political, playful and provocative, this rhyming guide brilliantly condenses rich, complicated Asian American histories. It's an A to Z book that isn't the last word on Asian American cultures but rather the beginning of many conversations."
—Viet Thanh Nguyen "In An Asian American A to Z, Che, Wu, and Ramchandran share a beautiful, bright, and inclusive history of Asian America that is sure to inspire and delight readers. Asian Americans have much to be proud of, and much to look forward to."
—Sarah Park Dahlen, Associate Professor, University of Illinois "An essential collection for any children's library—it's the book I wish I had for my own children when they were young. Informative, engaging and delicious rhymes—Che and Wu are simply enchanting storytellers. This book is foundational and intersectional, providing just the right historical touch to pique kids' curiosity and encourage further reading for all!"
—Aimee Nezhukumatathil "Che and Wu center Asian American figures and history as well as intersectionally aware concepts in this activist-leaning abecedarian....[A] hopeful, liberation-minded primer that culminates by speaking to the 'power in knowing Asian American history.'"
—Publishers Weekly
Cathy Linh Che is the daughter of Vietnam War refugees. She is the author of Split, winner of the Kundiman Poetry Prize, the Norma Farber First Book Award from the Poetry Society of America, and the Best Poetry Book Award from the Association of Asian American Studies. Her work has been published in New Republic, Nation, McSweeney's, and Poetry. She serves as Executive Director at Kundiman and lives on the traditional lands of the Lenape people.
Kyle Lucia Wu was born and raised in a small town in New Jersey. She is the author of Win Me Something, an NPR Best Book of the Year. A former Asian American Writers' Workshop Margins Fellow, her work has been published in Literary Hub, Joyland Magazine, Catapult, and BOMB Magazine. She is the Managing Director of Kundiman and teaches creative writing at Fordham University and The New School.Kavita Ramchandran is a professional graphic designer who made her debut as a self-taught picture book illustrator withDancing in Thatha's Footsteps (Yali Books, 2021).
JUV009010 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | Alphabet
JUV039120 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Prejudice & Racism
JUV039290 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Activism & Social Justice
Alphabet
Asian Americans
