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Chang's Paper Pony
It's the time of the gold rush, and Chang has come with his grandfather to California from China. Chang's dream is to own a horse of his own. With luck ... and a little gold dust ... that wish just might come true.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
4 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Eleanor Coerr
37 books47 followersEleanor Coerr was born in Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Canada, and grew up in Saskatoon. Two of her favorite childhood hobbies were reading and making up stories.
Her fascination with Japan began when she received a book called Little Pictures of Japan one Christmas. It showed children in beautiful kimonos playing games, chasing butterflies, and catching crickets. She pored over the colored illustrations, dreaming of one day joining those children in Japan. Her best friend in high school was a Japanese girl whose family introduced her to brush painting, eating with chopsticks, and origami. Eleanor's desire to visit that magical place never faded, and her well-thumbed copy of that favorite book is still in her library.
Eleanor began her professional life as a newspaper reporter and editor of a column for children. Luckily, she traveled to Japan in 1949 as a writer for the Ottawa Journal, since none of the other staff wanted to go to a country that had been devastated by war. To learn Japanese, Eleanor lived on a farm near Yonago for about one year, absorbing the culture and enjoying rural celebrations. Soon she was able to visit nearby schools and speak to young audiences about her country. Eleanor wrote and illustrated Circus Day in Japan, using the farm family and a visit to the circus as models. It was published in Tokyo in 1953.
Her most difficult trip while she was in Japan was to Hiroshima. Eleanor was shocked by the horrible destruction and death caused by one atom bomb. Of course, she did not know Sadako Sasaki at that time, although she was living there with her family. The misery and suffering Eleanor witnessed was burned into her mind, and she hoped future world leaders would avoid wars at all costs.
One beautiful day in 1963, Eleanor revisited Hiroshima and saw the statue of Sadako in the Hiroshima Peace Park. Impressed by the stories she heard about Sadako's talent for running, courage when faced with cancer, and determination to fold one thousand paper cranes, Eleanor was inspired to find a copy of Kokeshi, Sadako's autobiography.
Eleanor looked everywhere she could think of and asked all of her Japanese friends to help. Since the school had copied the ninety-four pages and stapled them together, most of the books had fallen apart. Years passed, and Eleanor continued writing for newspapers in various countries and wrote more children's books. But she was always hoping to find Kokeshi.
One fateful afternoon, Eleanor was having tea with a missionary who had lived in Hiroshima all through the war.
"Eleanor," she said, "you should write a biography of Sadako Sasaki for American children to read."
"I would love to," said Eleanor, "but I must have Kokeshi to get all the true facts about Sadako."
The missionary took Eleanor to her attic. Lo and behold, at the bottom of an old trunk was an original copy of Kokeshi. Eleanor rushed to have it translated properly and began writing Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes as soon as she could.
"It's like magic. I was meant to write her story," Eleanor said.
Her fascination with Japan began when she received a book called Little Pictures of Japan one Christmas. It showed children in beautiful kimonos playing games, chasing butterflies, and catching crickets. She pored over the colored illustrations, dreaming of one day joining those children in Japan. Her best friend in high school was a Japanese girl whose family introduced her to brush painting, eating with chopsticks, and origami. Eleanor's desire to visit that magical place never faded, and her well-thumbed copy of that favorite book is still in her library.
Eleanor began her professional life as a newspaper reporter and editor of a column for children. Luckily, she traveled to Japan in 1949 as a writer for the Ottawa Journal, since none of the other staff wanted to go to a country that had been devastated by war. To learn Japanese, Eleanor lived on a farm near Yonago for about one year, absorbing the culture and enjoying rural celebrations. Soon she was able to visit nearby schools and speak to young audiences about her country. Eleanor wrote and illustrated Circus Day in Japan, using the farm family and a visit to the circus as models. It was published in Tokyo in 1953.
Her most difficult trip while she was in Japan was to Hiroshima. Eleanor was shocked by the horrible destruction and death caused by one atom bomb. Of course, she did not know Sadako Sasaki at that time, although she was living there with her family. The misery and suffering Eleanor witnessed was burned into her mind, and she hoped future world leaders would avoid wars at all costs.
One beautiful day in 1963, Eleanor revisited Hiroshima and saw the statue of Sadako in the Hiroshima Peace Park. Impressed by the stories she heard about Sadako's talent for running, courage when faced with cancer, and determination to fold one thousand paper cranes, Eleanor was inspired to find a copy of Kokeshi, Sadako's autobiography.
Eleanor looked everywhere she could think of and asked all of her Japanese friends to help. Since the school had copied the ninety-four pages and stapled them together, most of the books had fallen apart. Years passed, and Eleanor continued writing for newspapers in various countries and wrote more children's books. But she was always hoping to find Kokeshi.
One fateful afternoon, Eleanor was having tea with a missionary who had lived in Hiroshima all through the war.
"Eleanor," she said, "you should write a biography of Sadako Sasaki for American children to read."
"I would love to," said Eleanor, "but I must have Kokeshi to get all the true facts about Sadako."
The missionary took Eleanor to her attic. Lo and behold, at the bottom of an old trunk was an original copy of Kokeshi. Eleanor rushed to have it translated properly and began writing Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes as soon as she could.
"It's like magic. I was meant to write her story," Eleanor said.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 4, 2019
My prediction: This will hold the kids' attention and they'll have lots of questions. Both of which are good. My youngest niece and nephew are half Chinese, so I look for opportunities to introduce them to their cultural history.
October 26, 2016
Surprisingly depressing and violent. I fear that the PC Police will complain about the images of Chang being struck by his teacher and being bullied by the miner. But maybe not. Whites mistreating minorities is now a cornerstone of the standard curriculum. I just figured after so many get upset about Ping the duck and his beatings... Now, is the confusing similarity in depicting the mean miner and Big Pete a little switcheroo dig at the "they all look alike to me" stereotype?
October 17, 2017
Chang is a young Chinese boy living with his grandpa in California during the Gold Rush. He has no friends, so he desires a white pony that will be his friend. After befriending a miner named Big Pete, Chang's chances of getting a pony become real, and he may actually gain a friend or two after all!
September 11, 2019
This is a tale not often told in children's books about the Old West and Gold Rush days.
February 11, 2025
Chinese immigrant story that takes place during the gold rush. Boy wants to find gold to buy a pony.
October 19, 2016
Chang’s paper pony is a story about a Chinese immigrant who desperately wants a pony to keep him company. He goes through the struggle of being bullied by American children and also being isolated because he was different. The only real friend chang had was a painting of a pony attached to the wall of his grandfather’s shop. He is very homesick and is often mistreated by the miners. He goes mining for gold in order to earn money to buy a pony, but at the end the guy he mines with ends up buying him a pony for all the hard work he has done. This story kind of fits my topic because chang goes through the same issues immigrant students face which is having a hard time fitting in. he like myself was bullied and felt as if he had no friends. It also shows the struggle that immigrant families face because his family had nothing and worked very hard to get what they want. The genre is a realistic fiction. I feel like the book is a little bit over the level but certain concepts could be used to explain historical events such as the gold rush. I feel like it is developmentally acceptable and quality because it was able to explain the experience and at the same time teaching that hard work brings good things.
August 23, 2016
This is a storybook about a little Chinese by and his grandpa coming to America to get away from the wars and revolutions in China during 1850 - 1864 during the California gold rush. Many Chinese didn't find the welth they set out to find (like many Americans) but they found a new life.
This story is about how poor they were and how the little boy really wanted a pony for himself. But most American's were mean and cruel to them. But there were some American miners that were nice and one especially became friends with Chang. When Chang realized that there was gold dust under the floor where it had fallen between the boards the miner turned it in and surprised Chang with his pony.
A nice story without being 'in your face' teaching about that time frame in our History.
This story is about how poor they were and how the little boy really wanted a pony for himself. But most American's were mean and cruel to them. But there were some American miners that were nice and one especially became friends with Chang. When Chang realized that there was gold dust under the floor where it had fallen between the boards the miner turned it in and surprised Chang with his pony.
A nice story without being 'in your face' teaching about that time frame in our History.
May 14, 2012
Age Range 4-8.
It is the time of the Gold rush and Chang has immigrated to America with his grandfather. While Chang helps his grandfather feed hungry miners he daydreams about owning a pony. A pony would assuage his loneliness and would play with him, unlike the mean miners, or even kindly Big Pete. Chang’s strike it rich scheme doesn’t work out, but hard work, honesty and keeping his promises pays off in an unexpected way. An author’s note provides brief context for Chinese immigration and mentions the prejudice they faced.
Similar Books: Wagon Wheels by Brenner & Bolognese, The Iron Dragon: The Courageous Story of Lee Chin by Pryor.
It is the time of the Gold rush and Chang has immigrated to America with his grandfather. While Chang helps his grandfather feed hungry miners he daydreams about owning a pony. A pony would assuage his loneliness and would play with him, unlike the mean miners, or even kindly Big Pete. Chang’s strike it rich scheme doesn’t work out, but hard work, honesty and keeping his promises pays off in an unexpected way. An author’s note provides brief context for Chinese immigration and mentions the prejudice they faced.
Similar Books: Wagon Wheels by Brenner & Bolognese, The Iron Dragon: The Courageous Story of Lee Chin by Pryor.
December 7, 2016
grades 1-3
This book is a great entry into the gold rush. It is a very accessible window into the lives of the Chinese who came over to work. It shows the hardships, the persecution, all at a level that children can understand without being too graphic. It is a story children can love and also learn a lot from.
I like this book because, I feel there are not many books for younger children that address the Chinese coming over to California for the gold rush. It gives them a perspective that is not learned until much later in their education. This is a great book to start children's awareness to migrations into America during this time
History lesson, reading bin, readers library
This book is a great entry into the gold rush. It is a very accessible window into the lives of the Chinese who came over to work. It shows the hardships, the persecution, all at a level that children can understand without being too graphic. It is a story children can love and also learn a lot from.
I like this book because, I feel there are not many books for younger children that address the Chinese coming over to California for the gold rush. It gives them a perspective that is not learned until much later in their education. This is a great book to start children's awareness to migrations into America during this time
History lesson, reading bin, readers library
July 5, 2023
This story takes place in 1850 San Francisco during the gold rush. Chang and his grandfather work in the kitchen of a mining camp. Chang longs for a real pony, but only has a picture of one. He offers to sweep out the cabin of a miner named Big Pete, and to his surprise his actions provide for his dreams for a pony to become a reality.
July 13, 2009
About a little boy in the days of the Gold Rush. Some little mention about the bad way some of the miner's treat him (an Chinese kid), but I'm glad that most (and what you are left with remembering) of the story is about his dreams about getting a Pony and his relationship with Big Pete.
March 16, 2012
Chang is a memorable little character, and he works hard to earn a "real" pony. This is a nice historical fiction beginning reader as well a multicultural addition to the canon (and there are FEW of those in easy reader land).
July 1, 2016
I thought this was a charming children's book about a little part of California history. It was a gently way of introducing children to a difficult time in United States history. Just really lovely all around.
December 14, 2007
is a good book
June 7, 2008
This book is staged at the time of the California gold rush. It is about a little Chinese boy's life. A great children's chapter book teaching about California history in San Francisco.
August 11, 2015
Chang's Paper Pony
by Eleanor Coerr
the story about wishes
by Eleanor Coerr
the story about wishes
Read
January 25, 2016Interesting story of Chinese American history.
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March 17, 2016Changs humble name
August 14, 2016
Five stars because it has my name. Haha....in the story my namesake is a boy, so I changed all the pronouns from he to she and him to her.
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July 31, 2015All by herself!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews