I chose these books because there was something special about each of them that helps me to connect to my Chinese roots and I hope that you enjoy them to, even if your ancestry isn’t Asian.įor my own children, a “mixed-plate” to quote a Hawaiian term, they are 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation Asian. And did I mention that I married a Korean?Īnd so each of us carries an immigrant story that is unique. Of course, my background is dissimilar to most Chinese immigrant stories as my mother is of Japanese descent and 2nd generation at that. a few years before the Communist Revolution - my own experience is probably similar to most second generation immigrants in the quest to balance American culture while honoring an Asian past. Interestingly, this article says that the earliest Chinese immigrants during the 1700’s were well received and became wealthy but attitudes changes negatively during the mid-1800’s when less skilled Chinese “Coolies” came during the gold rush.Īs I think about the Chinese immigrant experience - my father immigrated from China to pursue a Ph.d program at U.C.L.A. There is a great one-page overview on Chinese immigration that details this history. The Chinese immigrant experience is one with a long history in America resulting in becoming the largest Asian population in America today.

This blog post originally appeared in the Pragmatic Mom Blog (Best Chinese American Books for Kids) and later posted to the MomsRising blog by Mia Wenjen.

Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong