Celebrating 25 Books Over 25 Years: Shining Star

Lee and Low 25th anniversaryLEE & LOW BOOKS celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and to recognize how far the company has come, we are featuring one title a week to see how it is being used in classrooms today as well, as hear from the authors and illustrators.

Featured Title: Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story

Author: Paula Yoo

Illustrator: Lin Wang

Synopsis: Born in 1905, Anna May Wong spent her childhood main_largeworking in her family’s laundry in Los Angeles’s Chinatown. Whenever she could afford it, Anna May slipped off to the movies, escaping to a world of adventure, glamour, and excitement. After seeing a movie being filmed in her neighborhood, young Anna May was hooked. She decided she would become a movie star!

Anna May struggled to pursue an acting career in Hollywood in the 1930s. There were very few roles for Asian Americans, and many were demeaning and stereotypical. Anna May made the most of each limited part. She worked hard and always gave her best performance. Finally, after years of unfulfilling roles, Anna May began crusading for more meaningful roles for herself and other Asian American actors.

Anna May Wong—the first Chinese American movie star—was a pioneer of the cinema. Her spirited determination in the face of discrimination is an inspiration to all who must overcome obstacles so that their dreams may come true.

Awards and Honors:

  • Carter G. Woodson Award, NCSS
  • Children’s Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education
  • Choices, Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)

Resources for teaching with Shining Star:Screen Shot 2016-10-07 at 11.42.09 AM

Check out these Book Collections featuring Shining Star:

Book Activity: Create your own Hollywood Movie Star from Reading to Kids.

from LA Times
from LA Times

Have you used Shining Star? Let us know in the comments!

Celebrate with us! Check out the Lee & Low 25 Years Anniversary Collection.

veronicabioVeronica has a degree from Mount Saint Mary College and joined LEE & LOW in the fall of 2014. She has a background in education and holds a New York State childhood education (1-6) and students with disabilities (1-6) certification. When she’s not wondering around New York City, you can find her hiking with her dog Milo in her hometown in the Hudson Valley, NY.

 

One thought on “Celebrating 25 Books Over 25 Years: Shining Star”

  1. Les créateurs du jeu de cartes français des premiers temps
    n’avaient sans doute pas idée de ce dont serait fait
    le 21e siècle ni de la façon toute nouvelle dont leurs symboles seraient transmis
    par le jeu d’argent en ligne français, mais vous pouvez
    perpétuer la formidable tradition du jeu d’argent français ici même, où que
    vous soyez.

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