Guest Post by Kelly Yang | Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country
Dear reader,
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.
All they have to do is dream it.
With all my love,
Kelly
From 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-DÃaz; 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 read alouds 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!
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.
All they have to do is dream it.
With all my love,
Kelly
Cover Illustration Credit: Marcos Chin
Design Credit: Mina Chung
Illustrated by
Nabi H. Ali
Fahmida Azim
Marcos Chin
Sally Deng
Shreya Gupta
Julia Kuo
Julie Kwon
Nhung Lê
Kitkat Pecson
Dow Phumiruk
Sujean Rim
Dan Santat
Yuewei Shi
Yuko Shimizu
Yao Xiao
Look for Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country on May 3, 2022.
From creating beautiful music like Yo-Yo Ma to flying to outer space like Franklin Chang-DÃaz; 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 read alouds 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!
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