Children's fiction about immigration: Tacoma Reads Together 2004

Home \| About Julia Alvarez \| Discussion Guide \| Events \| Resources & Booklists
Coming to America Children's fiction about immigration "America," the girl repeated. "What will you do there?" I was silent for a little time. "I will do everything there," I answered ----- from Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse These books, selected by Laura Shomshak, Children's Librarian, provide young readers with a window into the world of immigration. What is it like to leave everything you know and love and come to a new world where everything is strange, and most everyone a stranger? What is it like to live in a country where you are different than your your neighbors and classmates? Books that deal with the problems of immigrants help children to understand -- and better accept -- diversity, which in turn helps to cut down on stereotypes and prejudice. All titles are available at the Tacoma Public Library (GO to TopCat - the Library Catalog). Copies of this and other booklists about the immigrant experience are available at all Tacoma libraries.
Aliki C	Marianthe’s Story
Facing new customs and a new language, Greek Marianthe feels cut off from her classmates. She draws pictures to tell them how she feels when they tease her, and about the war that drove her family to America.
Bartone, Elisa	Peppe the Lamplighter
When young Peppe gets a job lighting street lamps in his Little Italy neighborhood, his father bitterly rejects him, thinking it is a lousy humiliating job. When he doesn't light them and his little sister is afraid to come home in the dark, his father finally realizes that his work is useful and valuable.
Berger, Melvin and Gilda E	Where Did Your Family Come From? A Book About Immigrants
Explains immigration past and present, focusing on 4 modern immigrant children from Russia, Mexico, Italy, and Korea.
Bresnick-Perry, Roslyn	Leaving for America
After waiting 7 long years in Russia to join her father in America, a girl remembers the family, friends, and life she left behind in her Jewish town, and the mixture of sadness and elation she felt.
Bunting, Eve	Day’s Work
Francisco’s Mexican grampa speaks no English, so the boy lies to get a day’s work gardening for them. When a misunderstanding results in a disastrous mistake, Abuelo’s integrity and determination earn them more than a second chance.
Bunting, Eve	Picnic in October
An Italian extended family always has a birthday picnic with the Statue of Liberty, but the kids don’t really understand why the grandparents insist on it. Then grandma explains their first sight of freedom, and they see new immigrants at the end of their own journeys.
Cech, John	My Grandmother’s Journey
Korie’s grandmother recounts the terrible hardships of her life as a young woman in Russia, and the persecution of her Jewish family during the Revolution and World War II before she emigrated.
Chin, Steven A.	Dragon Parade
In the 1850’s, Norman leaves China for America, the “Land of the Golden Mountain”. There is no gold, but he finds work and more Chinese in San Francisco, where they hold the first New Year’s dragon parade to remember their homes and families far away.
Choi, Sook Nyul	Halmoni and the Picnic
When her grandmother Halmoni comes from Korea, Yunmi is afraid her shyness and America’s strangeness will make her want to go back. She worries kids will laugh at Halmoni’s clothes and food on a class trip, but instead they help her feel happy and welcome.
Coleman, Evelyn	To Be a Drum
From earliest beginnings to the present, a father tells how the African people have been one with the rhythm of the earth, despite enslavement, abuse, and discrimination.
Elya, Susan Middleton	Home at Last
Ana’s mother misses her family and home in Mexico, and doesn’t want to learn English. After being cheated at a store and having a medical emergency, she takes a night class and gains confidence along with her new language abilities.
Garland, Sherry	Lotus Seed
When a Vietnamese family fleeing war comes to the U.S., a lotus seed from the emperor’s garden links the refugees to their memories and heritage, comforting them while they adjust.
Gilmore, Rachna	Lights for Gita
Gita misses her family and friends in India. Celebrating Divali, the Festival of Lights, without them doesn’t feel right. An ice storm and power failure help her realize light and joy are still possible.
Hanson, Regina	Tangerine Tree
When Ida’s father leaves Jamaica for New York to get work, she wonders if he will ever return. Their parting gifts to each other hold promises of home and hope.
Harvey, Brett	Immigrant Girl : Becky of Eldridge Street
Life in 1910 New York is so different from Russia – crowded tenements, new language and customs, street vendors and school. It is both scary and exciting, but the best part is the freedom to practice their Jewish faith without fear.
Hazen, Barbara Shook	Katie’s Wish
Tired of potatoes, Katie wishes they would go away. Then the potato famine strikes, bringing starvation, tragedy and disease. Katie thinks it’s her fault they have to leave Ireland, but in America her father sets her mind at peace.
Herold, Maggie Rugg	Very Important Day
On a snowy day, families from 12 countries join together for a very important event as they become U.S. citizens.
Joose, Barbara M.	Morning Chair
Moving to America is a huge change for Bram, but he finds comfort and security in the familiar chair they brought from Holland.
Levine, Ellen	I Hate English!
Mei Mei hates moving from Hong Kong, where everyone speaks Chinese like her, to New York. Outside of Chinatown, everyone speaks and writes that ugly English! An insightful teacher overcomes her refusal to use English in a very clever way.
Levinson, Riki	Soon, Annala
Annala’s family has waited a year for her two little brothers to come from Poland to join them in America. She can hardly wait to see them and teach them English, as she is doing with her parents.
Levinson, Riki	Watch the Stars Come Out
A little girl listens to her grandmother’s story of how she came to America as a child with her brother on a ship from Europe.
Levitin, Sonia	Piece of Home
When a modern Russian family emigrates, Gregor can only take one special thing. He thinks taking his ragged blanket is a mistake, until he finds its other half and a new friend in America.
Mak, Kam	My Chinatown : One Year in Poems
Chinese boy loves the familiarity of Chinatown’s language, festivities, food, and workers, but still misses Hong Kong.
Moss, Marissa	In America
Walter’s grampa tells the story of why he came to America and why his brother chose to stay in Lithuania, and the unusual birthday presents they still exchange.
Nolan, Janet	St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh
A boy whittles a walking stick of blackthorn he cut when his family left Ireland and the potato famine. Over the next 150 years the shillelagh and story are handed down to the next generation, keeping their family history alive.
Pak, Soyung	Sumi’s First Day of School Ever
Sumi’s first school day is tough- nobody speaks Korean, she doesn’t speak English, it is all too strange and unfriendly, and the kids are mean. Slowly, she warms to a kind teacher and a new friend.
Polacco, Patricia	Keeping Quilt
After leaving Russia, a Jewish family makes a quilt from everyone’s old clothes. After a century of use, it remained a treasured symbol of love, faith, family, and memories.
Polacco, Patricia	Mrs. Katz and Tush
An elderly Polish woman and a little boy find his African and her Jewish heritages share common threads of suffering and triumph. Starting with a scrawny kitten, they build a lifelong friendship.
Pomeranc, Marion Hess	American Wei
Wei and his parents are headed for their naturalization ceremony when he loses a tooth. People from many cultures help the Chinese family find it, and join the celebration of their happy day.
Pomeranc, Marion Hesse	Hand-Me-Down Horse
While David’s Jewish family waits in Germany after WWII to go to America, he learns English and imagines great adventures on a rocking horse. When he leaves, he hands the horse down to a neighbor who is still waiting, just as it was handed down to him
Pryor, Bonnie	Dream Jar
Valentina misses the family time she had in Russia. In America, all they do is work and save to buy a store. She wants to help make money too, and starts teaching grownups English at night.
Rael, Elas Okon	What Zeesie Saw on Delancey Street
A young girl discovers the gifts of generosity and responsibility as her close-knit Jewish immigrant community comes together to support and entertain each other.
Recorvits, Helen	My Name is Yoon
Korean Yoon doesn’t like writing English – the letters in her name seem separated and lonely, just like her. She tries other names, but then decides she can be happy with both her name and new home.
Ross, Lillian Hammer	Buba Leah and Her Paper Children
Chava’s Ukrainian great aunt sighs over her “paper children”, her real children’s letters from America, until a letter brings two tickets to come too. How can Chava bear to leave her own family, though, even for the promise of a better life?
Sandin, Joan	Long Way to a New Land
Drought and famine in Sweden, and letters promising a wonderful new land draw a family to America, but it is a long, difficult journey.
Sandin, Joan	Long Way Westward
Once they have arrived in New York from Sweden, it is still a long overland trip with new, confusing experiences before they join other settlers in Minnesota.
Say, Allen	Grandfather’s Journey
Though his Japanese grandfather settled in America and came to love it, a part still yearned for his own Japan. When he returned, however, he longed for his American home.
Sorensen, Henri	New Hope
A broken axle on a Danish family’s wagon prompts them to settle down, and the town of New Hope grows up around them.
Stanek, Muriel	I Speak English for My Mom
When they come from Mexico Lupe translates Spanish into English for her mother, until she decides to take night classes to help her get a better job.
Thomas, Jane Resh	Lights on the River
Hoping for a better life, Teresa’s family of Mexican migrant farm workers endure poverty, grueling labor and horrible living conditions. Her only comforts are the music and memories of home.
Winter, Jeanette	Klara’s New World
Klara’s family struggles to survive drought and hunger in Sweden before emigrating to America. They endure homesickness and many hardships on the journey in search of a better life.
Woodruff, Elvira	Memory Coat
A Russian Jewish family flees the Tsar’s troops to America, but may be turned back from Ellis Island when an accidental injury occurs just before inspection. A tattered coat and quick thinking save them from separation.