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Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist

Author Julie Leung

Illustrated by Chris Sasaki

Hardcover

$18.99 US

RH Childrens Books | Anne Schwartz Books

11.38"W x 9.25"H x 0.43"D (28.9 x 23.5 x 1.1 cm) | 17 oz (471 g) | 24 per carton

On sale Sep 24, 2019 | 40 Pages | 9781524771874

Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3

Reading Level: Lexile 890L | Fountas & Pinnell S

Sales rights: World

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Winner of the American Library Association's 2021 Asian/Pacific American Award for Best Picture Book!

An inspiring picture-book biography of animator Tyrus Wong, the Chinese American immigrant responsible for bringing Disney's Bambi to life.

Before he became an artist named Tyrus Wong, he was a boy named Wong Geng Yeo. He traveled across a vast ocean from China to America with only a suitcase and a few papers. Not papers for drawing--which he loved to do--but immigration papers to start a new life. Once in America, Tyrus seized every opportunity to make art, eventually enrolling at an art institute in Los Angeles. Working as a janitor at night, his mop twirled like a paintbrush in his hands. Eventually, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime--and using sparse brushstrokes and soft watercolors, Tyrus created the iconic backgrounds of Bambi.

Julie Leung and Chris Sasaki perfectly capture the beautiful life and work of a painter who came to this country with dreams and talent--and who changed the world of animation forever.

WINNER | 2021
Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APLA)-Literature Award
SELECTION | 2020
American Library Association Notable Books
SELECTION | 2020
CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young Readers
SELECTION | 2020
Notable Books for a Global Society Award

"“A beautiful, must-read tribute to hardworking families and the magic they create." —Kirkus, starred review

"[A] gorgeous picture book biography about an unsung hero of animation and Chinese American history." —Booklist, Starred Review

“Confidential, fluid prose deftly captures the stress and strangeness of his immigration experience and his artistic blossoming and impact…. A window into the troubled history of transpacific immigration and a look at a long-undersung contributor to our visual landscapes.” —Bulletin

“A well-told story that spotlights the too-often unrecognized talent and contributions of America’s immigrants.” —School Library Journal

“A meaningful portrayal of one working-class experience and an image of a loving, hardworking family.” —Publishers Weekly

JULIE LEUNG is an award-winning author of numerous children’s books. Her picture book, The Truth About Dragons, was a 2024 Caldecott Honor Book and winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. She is also the author of Paper Son, Mr. Pei's Perfect Shapes, and The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee, all of which received multiple starred reviews. By day, she works in book publishing.

ANGIE KANG is an illustrator and writer whose debut picture book, OUR LAKE, is publishing with Kokila in 2025. The recipient of fellowships and support from MacDowell, Tin House, VONA/Voices, the Sundress Academy of Arts, and other organizations, she was shortlisted for the Cartoonist Studio Prize. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Narrative, The Believer, The Rumpus, Ecotone, and elsewhere. View titles by Julie Leung

Chris Sasaki View titles by Chris Sasaki

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Educator Guide for Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

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Awards

WINNER | 2021
Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APLA)-Literature Award
SELECTION | 2020
American Library Association Notable Books
SELECTION | 2020
CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young Readers
SELECTION | 2020
Notable Books for a Global Society Award

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