Summary
This children’s book combines American and Chinese culture. It’s the 4th of July, and a little girl and her Chinese family keep their Chinese restaurant open, even though the little girl knows (and has explained to her parents) that “Nobody eats Chinese food on the 4th of July!” She watches the people around her eat ice cream, pie, and all things American. Little does she know, in the end, that many Americans come in to their restaurant to eat their food!
Theme(s):
Family, Traditions, Change
Personal Response
Overall, I thought this story was adorable. The story line was simple, but the meaning behind it was deeper than perceived on the surface. I thought this was a fun way to introduce children to cultural infusion. Many families come from all over the world. It is important for our students to put themselves in the shoes of someone else their age that experiences things differently than them.When it comes to traditions, every culture has their own traditions.Who’s to say that we can’t combine them?
Teaching Ideas
This would be a wonderful read aloud book! There are so many activities that students can do. One idea is since this story centers around traditions, students can introduce to their class their family’s traditions surrounding a holiday of their choice. Then, maybe they can research a different culture, and what they do during that holiday (if they celebrate it). Then they can come up with a unique way to incorporate a part of their traditions into their own!
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 02, Grade 03, Grade 04
