The story ends with her family receiving “blue cards”, immigration cards allowing them to stay in the United States, different from the green colored cards that they were expecting. This book chronicles many of the experiences of young immigrant children, from learning a new language, recognizing the stress her parents are under, and worrying about whether or not they will be allowed to stay in the United States. It is a very interesting way to depict some of the famous American skylines, almost as if we are all Hannah, looking at America through the lens of Chinese tradition.

The illustrations are in a more traditional Chinese style, as Yang studied at the Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Painting. It is the semi-autobiographical account of the author and illustrator, who came to the United States when she was seven years old in 1967. This picture book was published in 2004 (my second grade year) and covers the experience of a young girl and her family as they leave their native Taiwan to come to the United States for the hope of a better life. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats: Greg, from our audience, emailed in to recommend the 1962 classic, which broke color barriers at the time featuring a young Black protagonist named Peter exploring his Brooklyn neighborhood after a snowfall.This is my very own copy of the book, complete with Belle Yang’s own note and drawing, especially for me!!! We Could Be Heroes by South Pasadena’s Margaret Finnegan: Steve, from our audience, emailed in to say this middle-grade book is a great read, with neurodiverse characters.įrom a Whisper to a Rallying Cry by Los Angeles author Paula Yoo: DaVette, a listener in Inglewood, told us that this young adult book, about the racially motivated 1982 murder of Vincent Chin, a young Chinese American man who grew up in Detroit, is “a sensitive treatment of a difficult subject.” Hannah Is My Name by Carmel author and artist Belle Yang: a listener in Gardena, Audrey, shared the book, which is about about a young Taiwanese girl who moves to San Francisco, “helped me see myself in children's books at a really young age and reading it with my mom was one of the first times I learned about immigration and the American dream.”

( Too Many Tamales is a holiday classic in my house).

Inglewood teacher Sandra called in to say she first saw herself represented in Soto’s books in middle school.

I Dream of Popo by Los Angeles author Livia Blackburne: suggested by local children’s book store Once Upon A Time manager and book buyer Jessica Palacios.īooks by author Gary Soto: The Central Valley-raised poet and novelist's numerous titles often explore Mexican American and Latino identity. My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero (who’s from the Inland Empire): recommended by Rowland Unified School District 4th grade teacher, Ashley McGrath, who shared a whole list of books with us.

Hannah is My Name by Belle Yang