Coolies

 

• Coolies
• author: Yin  http://www.soentpiet.com/yins_corner.html
• illustrator: Chris Soentpiet  http://www.soentpiet.com/
• medium: watercolor on watercolor paper
• year of publication: 2001
• publisher city: New York, NY
• publisher: Philomel Books
• ISBN: 0-39923227-3

Annotation:  Mid 1800's - Shek and his little brother Wang travel from a revolution scarred China to America and begin working on the western span of the Transcontinental Railroad. 

Personal Thoughts:  The story exposes the harsh working and living conditions of the Chinese railroad workers in America and touches on their perseverance and determination to make a better living, even in the face of social prejudice and injustice.  Soentpiet's art is wonderful, with exprssive faces on each page that offer a powerful humanity that jumps out of each picture, while large scale background action gives the reader a great understanding of the tasks accomplished from railroad work in scorching desserts to freezing mountain blizzards.  The book works as a tale of survival and of familial connection as well as a historical lesson on this important chapter of American history.
***curricular connection: 5th grade US History, Transcontinental Railroad, Chinese Immigration

***Lesson Plan - Have a discussion about the different peoples that came to the U.S. in the 1800's.  Discuss the European waves of immigrants, as well as those from Asia.  Discuss also the Native American peoples movements and relocation onto reservations.