Apple Pie 4th of July

Apple Pie 4^th of July

Author: Janet S. Wong

Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-Irving

Ages: K-6 Grades

Rating: 4 Stars

Summary: A young Chinese-American girl works in her parent’s store on the 4^th of July. She is frustrated that her parents do not understand that the American people who celebrate the 4^th of July will not be coming to the store to buy Chinese food. However, their store is the only one open that evening and several customers pour in to eat what the Chinese family has to offer.

A librarian at the school I work in suggested this book to me, and I can see why. It is such a simple story but has a lot of meaning, too. When I was reading I could almost feel the young girl’s frustration with her parents because they did not understand the behaviors of another culture. They went on with their day as usual working in the store and making Chinese food for any potential customers. It is apparent that the girl wants to fit in with the culture she is surrounded by and is almost willing to give up her culture to be a part of it, so it seems. The girls seems disheartened until those celebrating the 4^th of July realize that the Chinese store is the only one open and they come pouring into eat. The mood of this story changes with the young girl when she realizes it’s important to keep and value her culture all while living in another.

Even though this story is so simply told it can still be used with older students. It is important to help children keep an open mind about cultures different than their own. I feel that this story can help students realize how to value other cultures without sacrificing their own.