Winner of the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize, the IODE Violet Downey Book Award and the IODE National Chapter Award Drawing on the real background of the Chinese role in the gold rush, the building of the railway and the settling of the west coast in the nineteenth century, noted historian and children’s author Paul Yee has created eight original stories that combine the rough-and-tumble adventure of frontier life with the rich folk traditions that these immigrants brought from China. These tales are funny, sad, romantic and earthy, but ultimately, as a collection, they reflect the gritty optimism of the Chinese who overcame prejudice and adversity to build a unique place for themselves in North America.

This collection by noted historian Paul Yee is based on the tumultuous & brave history of the Chinese immigrants to North America. Drawing on the real background of the Chinese role in the gold rush, the building of the railway & the settling of the west coast in the 19th century, Yee has created 8 original stories that combine the rough-&-tumble adventure of frontier life with the rich folk traditions that these immigrants brought from China. These tales are funny, sad, romantic & earthy, but ultimately, as a collection, they reflect the gritty optimism of the Chinese who overcame prejudice & adversity to build a unique place for themselves in North America. They are accompanied by stunning & dramatic paintings by award-winning illustrator Simon Ng.

Set in the Wild West during frontier times, Yipee's Gold Mountain is told by Yip Yee, an orphaned Chinese ex-railway laborer who hopes to be a cowboy, and Na-tio, an Apache warrior-apprentice who is recovering from his first botched raid. Through alternating chapters both characters reveal different sides of the story, as their mutual suspicion turns to friendship. Together, Na-tio and the tiny, determined Yip Yee face down a wolf attack, a sinister bounty hunter and greater challenges still, in this hard scrabble world of fortune-seekers, soldiers and warriors. Through all this, Na-tio must cope with a terrible crisis for his people, and Yip Yee is guarding a big secret. .

This revised and expanded edition of a popular classic resource explores constructive ways to use drama and story to engage students in learning, through all areas of the curriculum. Organized around proven ways to use all types of stories, each chapter features effective frameworks and workshop lessons easily implemented in any classroom. The work is built around shared stories 7F 14 picture books, folktales, novels, historical narratives, and true life events. Teachers will find numerous innovative ways to incorporate a variety of drama processes, including improvising, role playing, mime, storytelling, enacting, playmaking, reading aloud, writing in role, and performing.

Fifteen-year-old Tam Ling Fan disguises herself as her twin brother, journeys from her village in China to California, and works as a laborer on the Transcontinental Railroad--where she faces danger on multiple fronts--to earn the money her family desperately needs. Includes author's note.

Multicultural fiction is an essential part of the American literary landscape. This reference helps scholars, teachers, and librarians choose significant texts from both the past and present, and provides guidance in approaching multicultural issues as they are discussed in fiction for young adults. Included are entries for 51 writers, some of whom have nearly been forgotten, others who are just emerging. Each entry provides biographical, critical, and bibliographical information, while a general bibliography of works on multicultural literature concludes the book. Authors included range from the nearly forgotten, such as Laura Adams Armer, to the newly discovered, such as Graham Salisbury, winner of the 1994 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. The breadth of authors covered ensures an historical context for the issues raised by multiculturalism, and the sections on the critical reception of each author address such important issues as the authority and authenticity of the writer to comment on a different culture. Contributors are of many different ethnicities and include important scholars of children's literature, lending authenticity and authority to the volume itself.

A groundbreaking, breathtaking history of the Chinese workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad, helping to forge modern America only to disappear into the shadows of history until now.