Teachers who work with English as a Second Language learners will find ESL/ESOL/ELL/EFL reading/writing skill-building children's books, stories, activities, ideas, strategies to help PreK-3, 4-8, and 9-12 students learn to read.
Grace Lin
Grace Lin brings the Chinese New Year traditions to life through the eyes of a young girl and her family as they prepare for their family New Year celebration. Vivid color and bold line illustrate their planning which concludes with a dragon and noisemaking for a joyful celebration of this special Chinese festival.
A Chinese family goes out for dim sum ("little dishes"), choosing their favorites off the restaurant cart and sharing with each other. The illustrations evoke the textures and patterns in this traditional meal, and an endnote provides background on the cultural history and customs surrounding dim sum.
The family's meal finishes with fortune cookies, the daughters' favorite part of eating out! They share their fortunes as their naïve and engaging look at the world shines through in the simple narration and boldly colored illustrations.
The young narrator describes how she and her family each contribute to a handsome kite which they then enjoy flying. Signature illustrations show traditional Chinese kite designs combined with an author's note about kite history. The result is the celebration of an ebullient family tradition that readers may want to take up themselves!
Even though Ling and Ting are identical twins, they are not the same. How they differ becomes clear in short chapters in this winning book just right for new readers. The charismatic Asian-American sisters are depicted in word and illustration with humor and affection.
Lissy is new at school and so makes a small origami friend to keep her company and to help her feel braver. A new friendship starts when Lissy's lost paper crane is returned. Children will empathize with Lissy's loneliness and her quiet coping in this appealing story.
A closer look at the four seasons is presented through questions and answers (“Does everyone have four seasons?”) and evocative poems. Large illustrations depict the unique wonders of each time of year.
As they did for the Lunar New Year, each family member contributes to the preparations for the mid-autumn moon festival. Their special picnic includes mooncakes and tea as well as affection. An author's note not only informs but may inspire other celebrations.
In this enchanting story from Grace Lin, a king and queen try to find the cause of their mysterious heartache. Finally, an old peddler discovers that someone far away is tugging at their hearts with an invisible red thread. In order to discover who that someone is and cure their heartache, the king and queen must follow the red thread to its end. Based on an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible red thread connects those who are destined to be together, this beautiful book will resonate with adopted children and families alike.
In a neighborhood of flower gardens, a Chinese-American girl and her mother plant what the child considers to be ugly vegetables. The ugly vegetables, however, become attractive and help build community when made into a delicious soup! A recipe is included.
Join Minli as she journeys to save her village and her family from a dreary fate. A storyteller's voice effectively brings to life this unforgettable award-winning novel, illustrated with exquisite Chinese paintings.
Grace (aka Pacy) does a lot of growing up during the Year of the Dog. She meets and befriends another Asian girl, learns a bit about her Taiwanese background, and discovers her talent. Simply drawn illustrations and a straightforward voice make this culturally specific story universally appealing.
The Year of the Rat is a year of change for Grace. Melody moves with her family to California, and Grace finds the courage to stand up for what she knows is right. As in Year of the Dog, this sequel recognizes the universal growing pains of childhood in its short chapters and line drawings.
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I recently found your website and it is very informative. You have found a way to teach ELLs in a more objective method and I applaud you for that. God Bless you all for your efforts to make our society aware of the need to teach English to those who come to make their dreams a reality in our country.
~ Arthur G.
