4th of July Picture Books with an Asian Twist

Best Multicultural 4th of July Books for Kids

Happy Birthday United States on this 4th of July!  To celebrate, I selected two picture books with an Asian twist.  Both families are immigrants from China.  The children in each book, like all children of immigrants, straddle two worlds trying to be “more-American-like-their-friends” while immersed in the culture and traditions from their home country. But what is lovely in both these books is an acceptance that there is no one correct way to celebrate being an American.   This is a homage to the United States of America, the great melting pot nation.  Happy Birthday! The American Wei by Marion Hess Pomeranc

It’s a big day for Wei Fong.  Today, he and his family will become United States citizens!  And the day is especially lucky because he has his very first loose tooth and he’s hoping the Tooth Fairy will come tonight.  Calamity strikes when Wei loses his tooth in front of the Federal Courthouse where they are to be sworn in.  Luckily people of all race and nationality pitch in to help Wei find his tooth and they make just in time to their ceremony.  It was the best day ever!  [picture book, ages 4-8]

Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong

When her parents cook Chinese food to sell at their store on the 4th of July, the little 2nd generation Chinese American girl thinks that her parents “don’t get it.”  No one wants Chinese food on the 4th of July, right?  A simple story that depicts perfectly the straddling of two worlds that 2nd generation children feel and, as it turns out, there are all kinds of ways to celebrate America’s birthday!   [picture book, ages 2-6]

Hear the story read to you here!

To examine either book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.

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