HAPPY READING OF CHINESE AMERICAN BOOKS FOR 2025
Happy Reading of Chinese American Books for 2025
By Gerrye Wong January 6, 2025
BACKGROUND ARTIST – THE LIFE AND WORK OF TYRUS WONG
You might not know the name Tyrus Wong, but you probably know some of the images he created, including scenes from the beloved Disney classic Bambi. Yet when he came to this country as a child, Tyrus was an illegal immigrant locked up in an offshore detention center called Angel Island. How did he go on to a long prosperous career drawing animation, storyboards, and greeting cards that shaped the American imagination? I was fortunate to meet Tyrus Wong, a bit frail and sequestered in a wheel chair, but none the less, smiling and happy to greet all of the people around him when the Angel Island Immigration Foundation honored him many years ago and he was near 100. So it was with special interest that I looked forward to reading Karen Fang’s book BACKGROUND ARTIST, THE LIFE AND WORK OF TYRUS WONG.
caption: Author Karen Fang Gerrye Wong meeting Tyrus Wong at Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation Event
In Karen Fang’s book, Background Artist shares the inspiring story of Tyrus Wong’s remarkable 106-year life and showcases his wide array of creative work, from the paintings and fine art prints he made working for Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration to the unique handmade kites he designed and flew on the Santa Monica beach in his later years after a career with Disney. It tells how he came to the United States as a ten-year-old boy in 1920, at a time when the Chinese Exclusion Act barred him from legal citizenship. Yet it also shows how Wong found American communities that welcomed him and nurtured his artistic talent. Covering everything from his work as a studio sketch artist for Warner Bros. to the best-selling Christmas cards he designed for Hallmark and other greeting card companies, this book celebrates a multitalented Asian American artist and pioneer. I remember as a young college girl buying her first Christmas cards being captivated by the beautiful artwork I saw in one particular box, only later to recognize it was the work of Tyrus Wong. Now over 60 years later, I proudly have one of his framed signed prints hanging in my living room and have once again recently bought a box of cards showcasing Wong’s art work.
Caption: Proudly displaying Tyrus Wong signed print Box cover of Tyrus Wong greeting cards with same print of my framed print
I think Background Artist is not only a must-read for any art or history buff, but is especially important for a second generation of Chinese Americans to read Tyrus’ life story, the very familiar story of what many young people faced at Angel Island when trying to enter a new world with their parents from China. Besides telling more of Tyrus Wong’s own personal story of perseverance amidst conquering odds, Karen Fang captured both the beauty of Wong’s art but also the often cruel irony of living in a society that seemed to embrace but at one time tried to erase him.
This book tells the story of Tyrus Wong, an artist who never received the recognition deserved for his work with Disney animation in films. His life story is fascinating not only for his struggles in adjusting to America as a young immigrant boy, but for his career path that evolved through his perseverance to doing what he enjoyed, and his life long career in the arts. Every Chinese American especially will be inspired by this story.
BRAVE PAPER SON
This easily could have been the story of Tyrus Wong, for this is a paperback book about a young Chinese boy who travels to America in the 1930‘s. He embarks on a long boat journey, leaving China and his family behind, to arrive at Angel Island, the immigration station in San Francisco which did not welcome Chinese trying to enter America during those times. This children’s book is authored by Lilith Owyoung, a Chinese-American author who is working on her PhD in Transformative Social Change at Saybrook University.
I was particularly intrigued with the illustrations which so easily captures the attention of the reader. Illustrator Anna Lam, is explained in the book, as a “Cantonese-American illustrator with a BFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts. Growing up as the Chinese one to many and the American one to her own people, navigating the hurdles of conflicting identity while restoring a relationship with one’s culture was an experience all too familiar as a second-generation American.”
as chronicled in the book.
If you’re looking for another book to start your child into learning more about their Chinese heritage, this might be a good one to identity with. They could imagine the lonely boy told to leave his village and family and to assume another name, and forget about their native born parents and lineage as he faces an unwelcoming world. This could be a good lead in to capture your child’s interest in the rich Chinese American history which is not told enough in their American history lessons at school.
THE IRON ROAD AND THE STEAM-BREATHING DRAGON
Russell Low was an unknown author when he began his career as a physician and educator, but he found a new career when he discovered a collection of old family photos. Uncovering the stories behind these photos was the impetus for him to do family research and led to his authoring books from his own discovered family history. Low’s latest work is a children’s book which highlight’s Russell Low’s knack for intimate storytelling, complemented by vivid illustrations and interesting dialogue. THE IRON ROAD AND THE STEAM-BREATHING DRAGON tells the once unknown tale of a group of young Chinese immigrants who spent years of their young lives building the formidable Transcontinental Railroad line which ultimately opened up the west to the outside world and transformed the country into one of unity just by the ease which the railroad enabled people to travel from east to west.
Caption: Cover of book by author Russell N. Low
Low’s story shows the indominable will and determination of two young foreigners pitted against the unimaginable forces of nature and the pervasive racism of their bosses and overseers. During time of drought, famine and impending war, thousands of Chinese teenage boys from villages surrounding Canton, China, were sent by their families to find their fortunes in this new under-developed land called America in search of gold. Upon arrival, they found the only opportunity facing them was taking on the unknown job of constructing the western segment of the Iron Road across the formidable Sierra Nevada mountains.
Caption: Illustrations from Russell N. Low’s Book THE IRON ROAD AND THE STEAM-BREATHING DRAGON
Simply told which should capture the interest of any teen age adventurous reader is their story as they picked up picks, hammers, shovels, blasting powder and an indominable spirit to get a job done against unbearable odds and conditions. Statistically it is said it was 16,000 of these Chinese youth who built the western half of the Transcontinental Railroad that basically changed and united America. Thank you to Russell N. Low who brought this story alive through his paperback children’s book so that our younger generations can learn about this story that has been often times untold for over too many years.
