My First American Friend

by H.M.

A young Chinese girl beginning a new life in America describes how her difficult adjustment was made more endurable when she made her first American friend.

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1990

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why the mc thinks the new friend is so pretty with her blond hair and blue eyes... as if Nordic features are the most beautiful or something. I do like the style of the illustrations; it looks like Beckes is a fan of Tomie dePaola, but still has her own verve.

[Chanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Asian girl wrote about her experiences of traveling from China to America and how hard it was to fit in because of language barriers. She found a friend who she becomes really fond of and who helps her fit in. I liked how she showed her travels from China to the U.S by providing a map. I think this book would be perfect for social studies. You can have your students write to students from another country and culture just learn about similarities and differences of their lives.

[Kia M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a great book to read in a classroom that has ELL. It would be a text-to-self connection for those students because I am sure they once felt how she did. It can also let them know that that anxiety they feel when they first arrive is normal, and with time they will adjust.