You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
happylilkt 's review for:
I Am Golden
by Eva Chen
2.5 stars
This is obviously a labor of love for the author and illustrator and I think that comes through. That being said, this is an affirmation book, which is one of my least favorite genres in the picture book market. Giving it an extra half star because I like the family history and Mandarin integrated throughout and the illustrations are pleasing. I didn't think the writing was very strong, though the writer obviously has talent. Seems to tick some of the same boxes as [b:Eyes that Kiss in the Corners|53327864|Eyes that Kiss in the Corners|Joanna Ho|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593216134l/53327864._SX50_.jpg|81758531], which I liked much better. Not that you can't enjoy both, I just am not a big fan of this style of picture book—I like stories!
If you are looking for more books featuring Asian children, here are some of my favorites:
- [b:The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden|43865504|The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden|Heather Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567547364l/43865504._SX50_.jpg|68251302]—a book about grief after loss (after a local tsunami) and beginning the journey towards healing. Lovely text and illustrations.
- [b:The Sound of Silence|28118479|The Sound of Silence|Katrina Goldsaito|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503426043l/28118479._SX50_.jpg|48129271]—a quiet book with beautiful text and uncommonly good prose. Set in Tokyo. One of the most artistically written / illustrated books I have ever read.
- [b:Ocean Meets Sky|36373562|Ocean Meets Sky|Terry Fan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511798347l/36373562._SX50_.jpg|58060834] - Fantastical illustrations as a boy remembers (and dreams of) his beloved late grandfather on a "day good for sailing."
- [b:Any |17196138|Ling & Ting Share a Birthday (Ling & Ting, #2)|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1361746005l/17196138._SX50_.jpg|23670039] [b:Ling|7327826|Ling & Ting Not Exactly the Same! (Ling & Ting, #1)|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1268703632l/7327826._SY75_.jpg|8951441] [b:& Ting|20839542|Ling & Ting Twice as Silly|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1395617435l/20839542._SX50_.jpg|40191599] [b:book|25066576|Ling & Ting Together in All Weather (Ling & Ting, #4)|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433041548l/25066576._SX50_.jpg|44751196] - cute twins and how despite appearances they are not the same (other twins will sympathize!)
- [b:Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|5983694|Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549333297l/5983694._SX50_.jpg|6157354] - Chapter book by the same author as Ling & Ting. We read this aloud as a family and loved it!
- [b:A Big Mooncake for Little Star|34362953|A Big Mooncake for Little Star|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509397042l/34362953._SX50_.jpg|55441756] - we have wonderful memories celebrating the moon festival with neighbors; this picture book (again by Grace Lin!) is so sweet (although Little Star is quite naughty, parents be warned!) This is appropriate for very young children.
- [b:Angel Child, Dragon Child|839971|Angel Child, Dragon Child|Michele Maria Surat|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360057920l/839971._SX50_.jpg|825524] - a book I remember quite well from my childhood. Features a child displaced during the Vietnamese war and her discomfort in her new surroundings.
- [b:Anything|2643857|A Child's Book of Poems|Gyo Fujikawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1201127885l/2643857._SX50_.jpg|2393842] [b:by|563584|Babies|Gyo Fujikawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347429085l/563584._SY75_.jpg|550719] [b:Gyo|2756320|Baby Animals|Gyo Fujikawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328858037l/2756320._SY75_.jpg|2782022] [b:Fujikawa|3088031|Baby Animal Families|Gyo Fujikawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389163667l/3088031._SX50_.jpg|3119121]! - another author/illustrator full of nostalgia for me. I always give her books for baby showers. Always.
- [b:Chirri & Chirra|27130709|Chirri & Chirra|Kaya Doi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1458692311l/27130709._SX50_.jpg|47168589] - there are a number in this series and they are all dream-like and charming. I especially love the illustrations.
- [b:Illustrated Stories From China|43244697|Illustrated Stories From China|Li Weiding|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564730338l/43244697._SX50_.jpg|67105631] - We got this story collection from Usborne and have been enjoying it so much! Highly recommended as an introduction to Chinese fairy tales.
- [b:The Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful|35732267|The Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful|Nancy Tupper Ling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1520424472l/35732267._SY75_.jpg|57238195] - beautifully illustrated story of twin sisters Mei and Wei and their bold and clever tricks to save their village from the local dragon Frightful.
This is obviously a labor of love for the author and illustrator and I think that comes through. That being said, this is an affirmation book, which is one of my least favorite genres in the picture book market. Giving it an extra half star because I like the family history and Mandarin integrated throughout and the illustrations are pleasing. I didn't think the writing was very strong, though the writer obviously has talent. Seems to tick some of the same boxes as [b:Eyes that Kiss in the Corners|53327864|Eyes that Kiss in the Corners|Joanna Ho|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593216134l/53327864._SX50_.jpg|81758531], which I liked much better. Not that you can't enjoy both, I just am not a big fan of this style of picture book—I like stories!
If you are looking for more books featuring Asian children, here are some of my favorites:
- [b:The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden|43865504|The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden|Heather Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567547364l/43865504._SX50_.jpg|68251302]—a book about grief after loss (after a local tsunami) and beginning the journey towards healing. Lovely text and illustrations.
- [b:The Sound of Silence|28118479|The Sound of Silence|Katrina Goldsaito|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503426043l/28118479._SX50_.jpg|48129271]—a quiet book with beautiful text and uncommonly good prose. Set in Tokyo. One of the most artistically written / illustrated books I have ever read.
- [b:Ocean Meets Sky|36373562|Ocean Meets Sky|Terry Fan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511798347l/36373562._SX50_.jpg|58060834] - Fantastical illustrations as a boy remembers (and dreams of) his beloved late grandfather on a "day good for sailing."
- [b:Any |17196138|Ling & Ting Share a Birthday (Ling & Ting, #2)|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1361746005l/17196138._SX50_.jpg|23670039] [b:Ling|7327826|Ling & Ting Not Exactly the Same! (Ling & Ting, #1)|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1268703632l/7327826._SY75_.jpg|8951441] [b:& Ting|20839542|Ling & Ting Twice as Silly|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1395617435l/20839542._SX50_.jpg|40191599] [b:book|25066576|Ling & Ting Together in All Weather (Ling & Ting, #4)|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433041548l/25066576._SX50_.jpg|44751196] - cute twins and how despite appearances they are not the same (other twins will sympathize!)
- [b:Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|5983694|Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549333297l/5983694._SX50_.jpg|6157354] - Chapter book by the same author as Ling & Ting. We read this aloud as a family and loved it!
- [b:A Big Mooncake for Little Star|34362953|A Big Mooncake for Little Star|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509397042l/34362953._SX50_.jpg|55441756] - we have wonderful memories celebrating the moon festival with neighbors; this picture book (again by Grace Lin!) is so sweet (although Little Star is quite naughty, parents be warned!) This is appropriate for very young children.
- [b:Angel Child, Dragon Child|839971|Angel Child, Dragon Child|Michele Maria Surat|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360057920l/839971._SX50_.jpg|825524] - a book I remember quite well from my childhood. Features a child displaced during the Vietnamese war and her discomfort in her new surroundings.
- [b:Anything|2643857|A Child's Book of Poems|Gyo Fujikawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1201127885l/2643857._SX50_.jpg|2393842] [b:by|563584|Babies|Gyo Fujikawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347429085l/563584._SY75_.jpg|550719] [b:Gyo|2756320|Baby Animals|Gyo Fujikawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328858037l/2756320._SY75_.jpg|2782022] [b:Fujikawa|3088031|Baby Animal Families|Gyo Fujikawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389163667l/3088031._SX50_.jpg|3119121]! - another author/illustrator full of nostalgia for me. I always give her books for baby showers. Always.
- [b:Chirri & Chirra|27130709|Chirri & Chirra|Kaya Doi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1458692311l/27130709._SX50_.jpg|47168589] - there are a number in this series and they are all dream-like and charming. I especially love the illustrations.
- [b:Illustrated Stories From China|43244697|Illustrated Stories From China|Li Weiding|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564730338l/43244697._SX50_.jpg|67105631] - We got this story collection from Usborne and have been enjoying it so much! Highly recommended as an introduction to Chinese fairy tales.
- [b:The Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful|35732267|The Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful|Nancy Tupper Ling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1520424472l/35732267._SY75_.jpg|57238195] - beautifully illustrated story of twin sisters Mei and Wei and their bold and clever tricks to save their village from the local dragon Frightful.