Brothers by Yin and Chris Soentpiet, ill. New York, NY: Philomel Books, 2006. ISBN 0-399-23406-3

Annotation: Brothers is a fictional picture book based on historical events surrounding the mass arrival of immigrants to San Francisco in the mid-1800s and how friendship overcomes initial cultural differences.

Media: Watercolors.

Rating: 4Q/4P.

Curricular connections: History/Social Studies, World Culture.

School level: Upper elementary.

Onomatopoeia: Yin uses onomatopoeia in the following sentences to illustrate Ming’s efforts at pronouncing new words: “Ah-PA-TOO-LICK,” I mutter. I try again but have to cover my mouth and bite my cheeks to keep from laughing.”

NP 07/17/09

Brothers / by Yin ; paintings by Chris Soentpiet. New York:  Philomel Books, c2006. ISBN-13: 978-0-399-23406-4

A sequel to Coolies (2001), this husband- and-wife team tells the story of a young Chinese immigrant boy who joins his brothers in San Francisco’s Chinatown at the time of the Transcontinental Railroad.  Times are hard and the family’s grocery store struggles for customers.  Young Ming’s yearning for school has him cross paths with a young Irish boy who teaches him English and offers lasting friendship.  Lush, detailed, realistic paintings pair perfectly with the text to portray a chapter of the immigrant experience.

Curricular connection:  Transcontinental railroad/Chinese immigration/Grade 11/ CA HSS 11.1 and Grade 5/ History-Social Science

Artwork:  Realistic, detailed paintings in rich colors

Subjects:  Friendship; Chinese immigration mid-1800s; American history

Theme:  We are much more alike than we are different. Everyone deserves an education.  Everyone deserves friends. 

Category:  Historical Fiction

Age Level Recommendation:  Upper Elementary

Rating:  4Q/4P

AAS 5-3-08