From #1 NYT bestselling author Kelly Yang comes a gorgeously illustrated picture book about Asian American changemakers doing everything they dreamed of and inspiring all of us to reach for new heights!
From creating beautiful music like Yo-Yo Ma to flying to outer space like Franklin Chang-Díaz; from standing up to injustice like Fred Korematsu to becoming the first Asian American, Black and female vice president of the United States like Kamala Harris, this book illuminates the power of Asian Americans all over the country, in all sorts of fields.
Each spread is illustrated by a different renowned Asian American or Asian artist. Alongside the poetic main text, Yes We Will includes one-line biographies of the person or historical moment featured on the page, with extended biographies at the end. Readers of different ages and needs can use the book in different ways, from classroom discussions to bedtime readalouds and more.
Yes We Will answers the question, can we accomplish whatever we dream? With love, courage, determination, and lots of imagination, we can—and we will!
Featured Franklin Chang-Díaz Lia Cirio Tammy Duckworth Jenny Han Kamala Harris H.E.R. Fred Korematsu Padma Lakshmi Sunisa Lee Jeremy Li Yo-Yo Ma Amanda Nguyen Sandra Oh I. M. Pei Mamie Tape Peter Tsai Philip Vera Cruz Vera Wang
Kelly Yang is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of the FRONT DESK series, winner of the 2019 Asian Pacific American Award for Children's Literature. Her books include FRONT DESK, THREE KEYS, ROOM TO DREAM, PARACHUTES, NEW FROM HERE, and other middle grade and young adult novels. She was born in China and grew up in Los Angeles. She went to college at the age of 13 and graduated from UC Berkeley at the age of 17 and Harvard Law School at the age of 20. After law school, she founded The Kelly Yang Project, a writing and debating program for children in Asia. Prior to becoming a novelist, she wrote for many years for the South China Morning Post, The New York Times, Washington Post, and the Atlantic. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.
I wrote YES WE WILL so my Asian American children can see all the glorious possibilities for what they can do when they grow up. If they can see it, they can dream it. And tomorrow, they can be it.
Growing up, I didn’t get a lot of opportunities to see it. A first generation Chinese immigrant girl, I wanted to be an author. But there were so few Asian American authors that I could see, that I wondered if my dream was within the realm of possibility for me. Was I dreaming too big? Was I hoping for too much? Those doubts and worries kept me up at night. Not only did I wonder, but my family wondered too.
But I kept fighting for my dream. And when I got older, I learned of the many many Asian Americans who fought for their dreams too – in the arts, sports, architecture, fashion, science, civil rights movement, and so many more! Their contributions to this nation are awe-inspiring.
And I knew I had to write this book, because YES WE WILL celebrate our voices! YES WE WILL honor Asian American heritage and history! YES WE WILL showcase the incredible Asian Americans who have pioneered, changed the world, opened doors, and helped others! So that the next generation, our children, can dream big, too.
That’s why I wrote this book. I want your children, and mine, to be able to see. To know. To read about the astonishing lives of the trailblazers before them. Be inspired. And smile when they go to bed, knowing they can do anything.
Nice look at Asian Americans (AA) that have shaped this country. One BIG name left out - Bruce Lee! (?) Not just because I am a HUGE Bruce Lee fan, but he really did 'kick' open that door to Hollywood for Asian actors (and not just in American cinema). Kind of don't understand why he would not be mentioned in this book.
A wonderful introduction to many Asian-Americans who have majorly impacted the world. As a 20 something college student, reading a picture book, I knew I wasn’t the optimal demographic but I think this would have been a wonderful book for a 7 year old to learn about different important figures who have shaped America but are often not taught about in classrooms.
This is an important book to access. So I was so happy that my library had this on Libby <3
The one critique I have as I read it was that I wanted a little more explanation regarding the contribution to society of those featured. But to be honest, children if they have questions are going to ask them so this is a wonderful introduction that could lead to kids asking to hear about or read larger biographies. But don’t skip the author’s note because Yang did provide more details than the narrative could contain.
Lastly, because it’s a picture book. I did love the art style.
Every library needs this book--who doesn't need to learn about Asian Americans who shaped our country? I appreciated how the illustrator's names are included on the page, as well as more information in a different font.
This book was not only informational and inspiring, but very unique. Every page had a different Asian American illustrator! Ive never seen that done before in a book! I throughly enjoyed reading this book.
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with this collective picture book biography about influential Asian Americans who helped shape this country, past and present. Also features many gorgeous illustrations by many talented artists.
This narrative informational book incorporates the names of influential Asian people as well as their job or experience that makes them the leaders of the Asian community today. From Fred Korematsu to Sandra Oh to Suni Lee, this book integrates a diverse culture and recognition of amazing accomplishments. Being Asian American myself, this book makes me feel empowered that I can do really cool things in life and pave the way for other Asian students who are lucky enough to be my students. The Asian community is just as important as the other global majorities!
This beautiful picture book features work from different illustrators to accompany a poem by the author, Kelly Yang. Each page spread introduces different Asian American groups or individuals that have had an impact in American history, and the book includes paragraph-length bios of them in the back.
My main critique is that the text is missing multiple commas. This bothered me from a grammatical perspective, but it also bothered me from a reader's perspective, since commas are visual cues for rhythm. Someone who is reading this aloud to children will want to take a run-through to make sure they're confident in how to pace and emphasize different phrases.
This is pretty surface-level in terms of mentioning individuals, but there are resources at the back in case kids (and adults) are interested in following up on a specific individual.
I love the way this was put together, with various artists (some of whom I recognized because their styles are so iconic!) contributing throughout. This could have made the book feel really disjointed, except that a central point of this book is that Asian Americans don't fall into one neat category, so each artist depicted a visually diverse array of people, and the wide range of art added to that.
I'm heckin' white, but I've heard a lot of comments from my various Asian and Asian American friends that the category of "AAPI" (Asian, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders) is so broad a category as to be basically meaningless. At the same time, for a variety of reasons, Asian Americans tend to get erased on broader conversations about racism and reparations... issues that are outside the scope of a 21-page picture book, but which I think are subtly addressed here. I'm an entire adult and I read through this three times in a row to admire the beautiful illustrations and the range the individuals being celebrated here.
It's beautiful project in its own right, and it seems like it could lead to interesting conversations with young readers. It might even spark a deeper interest in the people it celebrates.
YES WE WILL is an uplifting nonfiction picture book that celebrates Asian American heritage and a handful of influential people who helped make the world a better place. They were told to go home, but Asian American ancestors decided that they would strive to be better by standing against the hate. The text that goes along with the pictures is inspiring and the reader can find more information about each person in the back of the book.
The stunning illustrations are the perfect depiction of how big of an impact one small move can make. In this book, children learn that even when people are telling you you can't do something, all you have to do is dream it and believe in yourself for it to come true. They'll also get to learn about the importance of rising to the challenge and how it can lead to greater things for others too.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to younger children who love history and for schools to use to celebrate Asian Heritage Month. It's uplifting and a book that's needed to remind us of the good in the world to stand against the usual negativity going around.
I really enjoyed this collection of histories written by Kelly Yang and illustrated by various authors.
I learned so much from the career of Jeremy Lin, the massacres of Chinese miners in 1885 and 1887, the case of Mamie Tape to intergrate schools in California all the way back in 1885. I loved the inclusion of Asian Americans actoss the years of the United States, showing the ongoing history of now.
There is write ups in the back of the book but the initial pages only have a sentence on each person with their names in small print at the bottom. I prefer the style of Vashti Harrison who does a quick but still substantial write up on the person within the main book.
I will also note that this is very East Asian heavy, there are two Indian Americans mentioned Kamala Harris and Padma Lakshmi but the majority of the people metioned are Chinese or Taiwanese with a few people of Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese and Korean heritage. The other 44 countries are left unrepresented. I appreciated that Harris and H. E. R. are included as Biracial Asians who so often get their Asian-ness excluded because of their Blackness.
Over all, I really enjoyed this book and learned so much!
A dialog introduces a number of Asian Americans, some familiar, some not. What is striking is that each spread is created by a different Asian American artist/illustrator.
The author's note consists of short biographies of each person noted. They are (follow each with -American) Taiwanese, Filipino, Chinese, Costa Rican, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Hmong, Indian. Please pardon my ignorance (I acknowledge it), the range of Asian heritage is very diverse. What I'd have liked to have seen is a short page or paragraph about this range. Ignorantly, I didn't realize Indians are Asian.
I also didn't know that Sandra Oh, "Gray's Anatomy" & "Killing Eve" was the "first actress of Asian descent to be nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series..." Why we need these books...
What I also would have liked, and I know space in picture books is limited, is more than a list of the names of the Asian American illustrators. But it's okay that I need to look them up on my own.
Being myself an Eurasian (Half European/Half Asian), I looked forward to seeing all the contributions of Asian Americans to this melting pot of a country. It started by the much maligned (at the time) Chinese men who helped build the transcontinental railroad to famous names such as couturier, Vera Wang, celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma, world famous architect I. M Pei and Current United States Vice President, Kamala Harris. They have made and are making great contributions such as Nasa Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz, inventor of the N95 mask Peter Tsai, protecting us from the Corona virus and Tammy Duckworth, United States Senator and former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel who lost her legs during the Iraq war when the Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by an RPG (rocket propelled grenade.) But many everyday Asian Americans are also part of the citizens who help this country run.
4.5 🌟 rounded up to 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟! Yes We Will explores the many ways that Asian Americans have found to belong and thrive in the United States. Kelly Yang opens with a little information about the Transcontinental Railroad and the Chinese Exclusion Act, then transitions to spotlighting individuals and their accomplishments. Spare text accompanies showstopping illustrations by fifteen different artists. For example, “We’ll soar to new heights” is paired with Dan Santat’s two-page illustration of NBA player Jeremy Lin flying toward the hoop. Featured individuals include I.M. Pei, Kamala Harris, Vera Wang, Sunisa Lee, Yo-Yo Ma, and many others. Each illustrator’s style is perfectly matched to their subject. While this inspiring book can be read in minutes, it’s worth rereading to fully appreciate the stunning and varied artwork, as well as the range of achievements!
I've enjoyed Kelly Yang's middle grade books but didn't realize she had written a picture book until I saw it at a children's writer conference. One of the Asian American illustrators highlighted in this book, Dow Phumiruk, is my personal friend, so I purchased the book for her to autograph it for me.
Children need to know the accomplishments of Asian Americans as well as other underrepresented people. This book has the added bonus of also acknowledging a few Asian American illustrators who have created beautiful art spreads.
Perhaps the author can publish a vol. 2 and include people like Kristi Yamaguchi, Daniel Inouye, Michelle Kwan, Sadao Munemori (Medal of Honor recipient after WWII for his heroics), later Medal of Honor recipients, and even children's authors like herself and Andrea Wang.
A picture book celebration of Asian Americans who have left a mark on the US and the world, with encouragement for young readers of Asian descent that they can be anything, from politicians to astronauts to basketball players to fashion designers too.
The text in this is very simple and short, but conveys an inspiring message. I like that they had a different Asian American illustrator to do each page or page spread. Each person featured is identified with their name and occupation at the bottom of the page so readers can find them in the back of the book where there's a paragraph of further information on most of those featured. There's a vast array of occupations featured in here, and people from both the past and the present. I also liked that they aren't all necessarily people I'd heard of before. It's an excellently done book and deserving of the hype it is getting.
I read this book while also listening to the audiobook version, and I really enjoyed the experience. The illustrations are so beautiful and evoke strong emotions. I think books like this that have representation are so incredibly important. I also appreciated the author’s notes at the end of the book that gave more information about each of the highlighted Asian Americans. There were quite a number of individuals who I didn’t know anything about them or how they have shaped the United States. As I was reading this book, I sat waiting in a doctors office wearing a N95 mask and learning for the first time about Peter Tsai, the inventor of the N95 mask filter, and I felt such a deep and personal appreciation for him and his invention. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
At times joyful and other times more somber, this collective biography celebrates and commemorates Asian Americans who've made their mark on sports, business, the arts, science, politics, and culture. The main text is spare and simple but young readers can learn more about each person or group in the back matter. Several of these people--like Tammy Duckworth, Vera Wang, and Yo-Yo Ma--were already familiar to me, but I discovered names that I didn't know and look forward to learning more. I also love how several award-winning illustrators including Dan Santat and Dow Phumiruk contributed illustrations so the visuals reflect a variety of Asian American experiences.
I received the audio version of this book from libro.fm. The audio was a bit dry but the content is good.
The narrator introduces us to a number of Asian American individuals who have greatly changed the world in which we live. We are introduced to artists, actors, architects, politicians, inventors, chefs, soldiers, and more. Each mini introduction could be used as a jumping off point for further research and exploration by young students.
This is a solid collection of inspiring Asian Americans and would be a great addition to all classrooms seeking inclusive books.
I’d like to see a print copy of this book. That may increase my star rating by at least one.
This book is a biography picture book that highlights influential Asian Americans who shaped the United States. It features the Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, Tammy Duckworth who is a United States senator but also was in the Army National Guard. It has architects, astronauts, scientists, children, activists, and fashion designers. I would use this in the classroom to talk about Asian American Pacific Islander Month which is in May, but it shows children that not just white people make influential decisions. I would also use this with other races because it's important to represent the students in my future classroom.
Celebrating the multitude of identities of Asian Americans, Yang teams up with a bevy of illustrators all listed on the cover to write a cohesive story of all the ways that Asians have broken new ground and contributed to society and how they should be continued to be celebrated. Each page highlights that person and has an illustration by a different illustrator accompanying it but it's pulled together so beautifully.
The care to celebrate not just in AAPI Heritage month but ANYTIME both those in the past and contemporary figures is worthy of a read (then a re-read!)
Lovely beginning book that features incredible Asian Americans. I enjoyed learning about the different inspirational people, some that I was familiar with, and some I was learning about for the first time.
I listened to this one on audio, which I think is what contributed to the lack of a wow feeling. The narrator was great, but I think this is a book to be read in physical form (if that is an option available to you).
Typically, I would give a higher rating to a book like this. Non-fiction, historical, and biographical with extra info about each person given in the endpages (Also each 2 page spread is illustrated by a different Asian American artist). But I can't get past the flow of the text. It just isn't there! And there are periods where they don't belong, so it's not easy to read with the rhythm and cadence it requires.
Easy words for early readers with vibrant double page illustrations from various talented Asian American artists. The book starts with how the majority of the Chinese immigrants came to America in the 1800s to work on the transcontinental railroad. Even though they were told to go back, the ones depicted in this book show how they broke barriers. Brief captions give the names and quick overviews of each person; but, a much more detailed bio is given for each in the author's notes.
Pretty ambitious nonfiction picture book! As someone who has been encountering lists and accountings of Important Black Americans (caps intended, no disrespect intended) literally my entire life, it felt refreshing to see Asian Americans take up this cause. Maybe this will change the dynamic where non-Asian Americans can’t name more than three famous people in the Very Important Canon (caps intended, irony intended) who aren’t Bruce Lee. 😩 Teach ‘em when they’re young!