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etiberland's review
5.0
Happy early Book Birthday to YES WE WILL: Asian Americans Who Shaped this Country by Kelly Yang. Yes We Will features beloved illustrators, Nabi H. Ali, Fahmida Azim, Marcos Chin, Sally Deng, Shreya Gupta, Julia Kuo, Julie Kwon, Nhung Lê, Kitkat Pecson, Dow Phumiruk, Sujean Rim, Dan Santat, Yuewei Shi, Yuko Shimizu, & Yao Xiao. This nonfiction picture book is illustrated by a collective of 15 imaginative artists, who give life to Kelly Yang’s evocative, spare, and expansive text in a style each their own, perfect for each spread about different Asian Americans who have accomplished so much, from Jeremy Lin to Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu to Kamala Harris and many more. As Kelly shared with We Need Diverse Books, “It was also super important to me that I include Asian Americans from all different backgrounds and heritages—I’m so proud that we have South Asian Americans, East Asian Americans, Black Asian Americans and Southeast Asian Americans in this book because Asian Americans are not a monolith!” Each trailblazer has a short biography in the author’s note in the back-matter that is so engaging and interesting that young readers are sure to want to dive deeper and know more. Also, can we take a moment to talk about the exquisite endpapers with images of basketballs, beakers, ballet slippers, dresses, chef’s hats, film, doves, violins, expressing those endless possibilities and futures?
Yes We Will is buoyant and joyful and beautiful - and also honest about the United States’ history of anti-Asian discrimination and racism. As Kelly writes on the first pages, “A long time ago, our ancestors came to this land to build a better life. To build a better future. They were told to get out. They were told they couldn’t stay. You know what they said to that? They said, we belong here and we will thrive! Yes, we will.” Kelly is an author who will always speak the truth to and with young readers. Her respect for young people’s understandings and needs comes through in every project she does. And that’s why they continue coming back time and again for her books. (I love that she’s diving into nonfiction and I want more! Please also write an I Can Read series and a graphic novel series.) In her Edelweiss note to readers, Kelly shares, “I wrote YES WE WILL so my Asian American children can see all the glorious possibilities for what they can do when they grow up. If they can see it, they can dream it. And tomorrow, they can be it… YES WE WILL showcases the incredible Asian Americans who have pioneered, change the world, opened doors, and helped others! So that the next generation, our children, can dream big, too.” This gorgeous book belongs in every classroom, library, and home. As a picture book, it can be shared with our youngest and oldest readers, providing the spark for them all to dream big.
Yes We Will is buoyant and joyful and beautiful - and also honest about the United States’ history of anti-Asian discrimination and racism. As Kelly writes on the first pages, “A long time ago, our ancestors came to this land to build a better life. To build a better future. They were told to get out. They were told they couldn’t stay. You know what they said to that? They said, we belong here and we will thrive! Yes, we will.” Kelly is an author who will always speak the truth to and with young readers. Her respect for young people’s understandings and needs comes through in every project she does. And that’s why they continue coming back time and again for her books. (I love that she’s diving into nonfiction and I want more! Please also write an I Can Read series and a graphic novel series.) In her Edelweiss note to readers, Kelly shares, “I wrote YES WE WILL so my Asian American children can see all the glorious possibilities for what they can do when they grow up. If they can see it, they can dream it. And tomorrow, they can be it… YES WE WILL showcases the incredible Asian Americans who have pioneered, change the world, opened doors, and helped others! So that the next generation, our children, can dream big, too.” This gorgeous book belongs in every classroom, library, and home. As a picture book, it can be shared with our youngest and oldest readers, providing the spark for them all to dream big.
bwileymore's review
5.0
This book was not only informational and inspiring, but very unique. Every page had a different Asian American illustrator! Ive never seen that done before in a book! I throughly enjoyed reading this book.
lolpink's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
Great illustrations and an amazing and important book.