Coming To America A Selection Of Children’s Books Encourages Cultural Appreciation And Explores Experience Of Immigrants

Editor’s note: Children’s book reviews by Tacoma writer Rebecca Young appear monthly in The Spokesman-Review.

A glance around any classroom makes it easy to see why the United States is called a melting pot. All children have roots in other lands. Some children came to America directly from another country. Others are Americans because their ancestors chose or were coerced into coming here.

There are a growing number of good children’s books about immigration and the experience of being torn between two cultures. Here are a few new ones. Maybe they will spark family discussions about “where we came from.”

“The Butterfly Seeds”

By Mary Watson

Jake’s family is sailing to America on a big ship. While the rest of the family packs, Jake can’t stop thinking about how much he will miss his grandfather. When Grandpa comes to say good-bye, he gives Jake a special gift. “They’re butterfly seeds … Just plant them in your new garden, and, like magic, you’ll have hundreds of butterflies.” After a long ocean voyage, Jake goes through the inspection at Ellis Island with the butterfly seeds hidden safely in his pocket. When he sees his new home, a two-room apartment on a dark, narrow alley, Jake wonders where he can plant his seeds. With a little ingenuity and some help from adults in his new neighborhood, he fashions a window box. The seeds sprout into bushy plants, but Jake and his friends could find no sign of butterflies. “Maybe your silly old grandpa got the seeds mixed up,” skeptical Albert muttered. One day, after a sudden rain refreshes the sultry streets, Mr. Gargiulo spots a beautiful butterfly. The children chase the butterfly through the streets to Jake’s, where many of the colorful creatures dart about. Jake feels an instant connection with his grandpa across the ocean. Watson’s paintings complement the wistfulness of her nicely written story. She’s especially good at capturing the children’s faces and expressions. (Tambourine Books, ages 4-8, 32 pgs., $16.)

“New Hope”

By Henri Sorensen

This book tells two stories: of one family’s immigration experience, and of the way chance can change the course of a life. Jimmy loved to visit his grandfather in New Hope. He especially loved visiting the statue in the park because that gave his grandfather an excuse to tell again the wonderful story of how Jimmy’s great-great-great grandfather started the town. Lars Jensen came to America from Denmark in 1885 with his family. They took the train to Minnesota, where they bought a wagon, two horses, and other supplies and set off to find a new home. They crossed the wide plains, forded rushing rivers, and even adopted a stray dog. One day, just as they came to a river, the axle on their wagon broke. Lars looked around at the fish jumping in the river, deer at the edge of the forest, and said: “This looks like a good place. Let’s stop here. They built a cabin, and the following spring a small ferry, with which Lars did a brisk business transporting wagons across the river. Pretty soon a blacksmith decided to stay and build a forge. Lars started a general store. The ferry was replaced by a bridge. Over the years more growth and change came to New Hope: a hotel, railroad, etc.

Eventually New Hope built a statue to Lars, the man who started a town, all because his axle broke. That last page of the book, which contains lovely paintings by Sorensen, jumps back to present day and shows Jimmy looking up proudly at the statue of his ancestor. (Lothrop, ages 5-9, 32 pgs., $15.)

“A Very Important Day”

By Maggie Rugg Herold

On a snowy morning in modern-day New York City, lots of families are getting ready for a very important day. The Patels, from India, invite their neighbors to breakfast before they set off for downtown. The Leonovs, from Russia, have a snowball fight on their way to their important destination. Jorge Ba’ez and his family from the Dominican Republic, take a ferry downtown. An Egyptian girl, Jihan Idris, has waffles in a restaurant with her parents to celebrate the important event about to take place. Where are they all going? Children will be kept guessing until the end, when we discover all these people, and more, are gathered together to take the oath of U.S. citizenship. The colorful scene makes a rousing and touching finale. Herold cleverly uses the snowstorm, different modes of transportation, and the words “a very important day” to weave together all these stories of immigrants. Accomplished illustrator Catherine Stock’s snow-splashed watercolors are a lovely match for an uplifting, patriotic tale. (Morrow, ages 5 and up, 32 pgs., $16.)

“Yang the Third and Her Impossible Family”

By Lensey Namioka

This is the second delightful novel by a Seattle author about the Yang family, recent immigrants from China. The first was “Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear,” about young Yingtao who unfortunately has more talent for baseball than for music like the rest of his talented family. The sequel is about Mary, the third sister, who is trying to fit in with her American classmates. She wants desperately to be friends with very popular Holly, even to the point of disobeying her parents by adopting a kitten from Holly and hiding it in the basement. The story has many humorous moments, but also has a serious side as Mary learns about real friendship, and learns not to be embarrassed by her very different family. (Little, ages 8 and up, 144 pgs., $15.95.)

“Heroes”

By Ken Mochizuki

Another Seattle author has created a touching tale set in the ‘60s about folks whose life was as tough as any immigrants: Japanese-Americans in the wake of World War II. Donnie is forced to play the bad guy whenever the kids get together to play war. Zach always bragged about his father the war hero, and said Donnie had to be the enemy because he looked like “them.” Donnie knew his father fought in the Army. He was a hero, too, and so was his Uncle Yosh, in Korea, but the kids wouldn’t believe Donnie and his dad wouldn’t let him take his medals to show off. “You kids should be playing something else besides war,” he said. Finally, after the other kids chase a terrified Donnie into his father’s arms, the father and Uncle Yosh decide to prove to the boys that “we can be heroes, too.” The next day, they show up at school. The dad is wearing his veterans cap, covered with medals. And Uncle Yosh is in full officer’s uniform, decorations gleaming in the sun. Uncle Yosh tosses Donnie a football, and the kids follow (not chase) him off to play. The story is extremely moving, and expressively illustrated. Dom Lee paints with oils on top of beeswax-coated, etched, paper for a richly textured effect. (Lee & Low, ages 7 and up, 32 pgs, $14.95.)

If you get interested in immigration and family history, you might also want to check out these books that have been around for a while:

“Grandfather’s Journey,” written and illustrated by Allan Say (1994 Caldecott Award)

“My Grandmother’s Journey,” written by John Cech; illustrated by Sharon McGinley-Nally

“In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson,” by Betty Bao Lord.