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milliereads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
typewriterdeluxe's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I'd recommend this higher-reading level picture books to elementary school kids and up. (I enjoyed reading it as an adult!)
cweichel's review against another edition
5.0
This beautiful book pays homage to Tyrus Wong, who came to the USA with his father under a false name. While not recognized for his contributions to art in his lifetime, “his story reminds us that immigrants, wanted or not, leave an essential ark on the masterpiece that is this nation.” If you have seen the Disney film, Bambi, then you have seen his work.
The book is a great introduction to what being a paper son means. It addresses the systemic racism of North America.
I know that Canada had its own racist policy limiting immigration from nonwhite countries through the head tax. After reading this book I discovered that Canada had its own paper son system.
You can learn more about it here. https://ccncourstories.wordpress.com/videos/paper-sons-video/
The book is a great introduction to what being a paper son means. It addresses the systemic racism of North America.
I know that Canada had its own racist policy limiting immigration from nonwhite countries through the head tax. After reading this book I discovered that Canada had its own paper son system.
You can learn more about it here. https://ccncourstories.wordpress.com/videos/paper-sons-video/
renee_b's review against another edition
4.0
Really gorgeous book about Chinese-American immigrant Tyrus Wong, and his artwork, most notably as the art director for Walt Disney's Bambi. While Tyrus Wong's artwork and accomplishments are incredible, I was quite stricken with the timeliness (or timelessness) of his situation as a young child; Due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, Tyrus and his father had to come to America on false documents. After arriving, Tyrus was forcibly separated from his father and detained for several weeks while immigration officials questioned young Tyrus. While just an anecdote at the beginning of the story, it could lead caregivers to have several important conversations about America's historic and current racist policies about immigration, and the current situation of immigrants who are separated from parents and detained on our border.
Truly astonishing artwork by Chis Sasaki, and beautiful, clear prose by Julie Leung. This book is #ownvoices
Truly astonishing artwork by Chis Sasaki, and beautiful, clear prose by Julie Leung. This book is #ownvoices
tashrow's review against another edition
4.0
Tyrus Wong entered the United States by using papers that belonged to another Chinese boy. In 1919, Chinese people entering the U.S. had to prove that they were of high status. Tyrus and his father both traveled under other people’s identities, making him a paper son. He had to memorize details of the other boy’s life and village, knowing that he would be tested to see if his identity was real. When they reached immigration, his father was let through easily but Tyrus was held for weeks until he was finally released after being interrogated about his identity. Tyrus didn’t like school much and his father was often away for work. Tyrus loved art, studying both western and eastern art styles. After he graduated from art school, he worked for Disney Studios, doing painstaking work. Then he heard of a new movie, Bambi, that the studio was working on. He began to create backgrounds for the film and Walt Disney loved them. Fired from Disney after a worker’s strike, Tyrus continued to make art throughout the rest of his life.
Leung tells Wong’s story with a lovely clarity. From his entry into the country through his career, Wong’s tale is not linear but rather a series of opportunities that he seized upon. The beginning of the book shows a family trapped in the red tape of immigration and that harrowing experience blossoms into a book about art and opportunity to express one’s self. That again narrows when Wong finds himself doing grunt work for Disney Studios and once again opportunities appear to move him forward. Throughout there is a sense of grace and resilience when faced with real obstacles.
The art work is clearly done with Wong in mind, with its ethereal backgrounds. The images are powerful, often showing things from a unique perspective from a look at a line of people on a long pier to directly gazing into Wong’s window to looking down at an image painted with a mop. The result is dramatic and beautiful.
A picture book biography that celebrates a lesser-known artist whose work we have all seen. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
Leung tells Wong’s story with a lovely clarity. From his entry into the country through his career, Wong’s tale is not linear but rather a series of opportunities that he seized upon. The beginning of the book shows a family trapped in the red tape of immigration and that harrowing experience blossoms into a book about art and opportunity to express one’s self. That again narrows when Wong finds himself doing grunt work for Disney Studios and once again opportunities appear to move him forward. Throughout there is a sense of grace and resilience when faced with real obstacles.
The art work is clearly done with Wong in mind, with its ethereal backgrounds. The images are powerful, often showing things from a unique perspective from a look at a line of people on a long pier to directly gazing into Wong’s window to looking down at an image painted with a mop. The result is dramatic and beautiful.
A picture book biography that celebrates a lesser-known artist whose work we have all seen. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
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