Written by Carole P. Roman, Illustrated by Kelsea Wierenga, Published by Chelshire, 2015 (nonfiction, 6-9)
This title is part of a nonfiction series. I was given a copy by the author Carole Roman in celebration of Multicultural Children’s Book Day. This title explores the Chinese culture explaining main holidays, landmarks, as well as a few Chinese words. There was only a slight slip up that I noticed; Under the food section it mentioned that fried ice cream is a common dessert in China. However, fried ice cream is mostly served in Chinese restaurants in Australia, not China. Besides that, there are plenty of facts having to do with geography as well as historical sites such as the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors.
BACKGROUND
Readers are taken through an informative tour of China and its culture. The text includes pronunciation guides, statistics, as well as highlights of the many wonders of China.
BEST FOR
This nonfiction would be suitable for a research project or lesson. It would be too long a read aloud for one storytime, unless you were planning to read it over several days.
PAIR WITH
Angel in Beijing by Belle Yang
The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang
WHERE TO PURCHASE
If you have an interest in reading If You Were Me And Lived In…China.
Shop your local indie bookstore
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is in its 7th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.
Seven years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues.
MCBD 2020 is honored to have the following Medallion Sponsors on board
Super Platinum
Make A Way Media/ Deirdre “DeeDee” Cummings,
Platinum
Language Lizard, Pack-N-Go Girls,
Gold
Audrey Press, Lerner Publishing Group, KidLit TV, ABDO BOOKS : A Family of Educational Publishers, PragmaticMom & Sumo Jo, Candlewick Press,
Silver
Author Charlotte Riggle, Capstone Publishing, Guba Publishing, Melissa Munro Boyd & B is for Breathe,
Bronze
Author Carole P. Roman, Snowflake Stories/Jill Barletti, Vivian Kirkfield & Making Their Voices Heard. Barnes Brothers Books, TimTimTom, Wisdom Tales Press, Lee & Low Books, Charlesbridge Publishing, Barefoot Books Talegari Tales
Author Sponsor Link Cloud
Jerry Craft, A.R. Bey and Adventures in Boogieland, Eugina Chu & Brandon goes to Beijing, Kenneth Braswell & Fathers Incorporated, Maritza M. Mejia & Luz del mes_Mejia, Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry Blossom, SISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. Norrgard, Josh Funk and HOW TO CODE A ROLLERCOASTER, Maya/Neel Adventures with Culture Groove, Lauren Ranalli, The Little Green Monster: Cancer Magic! By Dr. Sharon Chappell, Phe Lang and Me On The Page, Afsaneh Moradian and Jamie is Jamie, Valerie Williams-Sanchez and Valorena Publishing, TUMBLE CREEK PRESS, Nancy Tupper Ling, Author Gwen Jackson, Angeliki Pedersen & The Secrets Hidden Beneath the Palm Tree, Author Kimberly Gordon Biddle, BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 by Mia Wenjen, Susan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay Fletcher (Founders of Inner Flower Child Books), Ann Morris & Do It Again!/¡Otra Vez!, Janet Balletta and Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Ocean, Evelyn Sanchez-Toledo & Bruna Bailando por el Mundo\ Dancing Around the World, Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler Diaries, Sarah Jamila Stevenson, Tonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book Series, Teresa Robeson & The Queen of Physics, Nadishka Aloysius and Roo The Little Red TukTuk, Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore & Stories by the Girlfriends Book Club, Finding My Way Books, Diana Huang & Intrepids, Five Enchanted Mermaids, Elizabeth Godley and Ribbon’s Traveling Castle, Anna Olswanger and Greenhorn, Danielle Wallace & My Big Brother Troy, Jocelyn Francisco and Little Yellow Jeepney, Mariana Llanos & Kutu, the Tiny Inca Princess/La Ñusta Diminuta, Sara Arnold & The Big Buna Bash, Roddie Simmons & Race 2 Rio, DuEwa Frazier & Alice’s Musical Debut, Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series Green Kids Club, Inc
We’d like to also give a shout-out to MCBD’s impressive CoHost Team who not only hosts the book review link-up on celebration day, but who also works tirelessly to spread the word of this event. View our CoHosts HERE.
Co-Hosts and Global Co-Hosts
FREE RESOURCES from Multicultural Children’s Book Day
TWITTER PARTY! Register here!
Hashtag: Don’t forget to connect with us on social media and be sure and look for/use our official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.
Growing up Chinese Filipino there were comments from both communities regarding colorism. If you were born with a fair complexion, you were considered “beautiful” and “the ideal”. You must also cover up to maintain it, along with countless cosmetics and lotions designed to lighten your complexion. If you were dark, it meant that you were “low-class” and “less desirable”. Luckily those messages never stuck personally, but I know it continues to be a major issue in many communities. That is why this title is so vital in teaching that there is more to being beautiful.
In my own reading history this is the first picture book I’ve seen that features a Hmong American character. Even rarer is the girl and her family is portrayed in a contemporary setting. The narrative of this title is so poetic and peaceful. The tone and illustrations leaves you with a lingering feeling of comfort, the same type of feeling you get after sitting and letting your eyes quietly explore a beautiful natural scenery. A gentle read.
I gasped in awe at how powerful this book was when I first read it. It was no surprise to later learn that it is not only the 2020 Caldecott Medal winner, but also a Coretta Scott King Illustrator winner, as well as a 2020 Newbery Honor Book. It also has the most epic book trailer I have ever seen! If you are unfamiliar, 
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