Apple Pie 4th of July (Culturally Diverse)

Apple Pie 4th of July was written by Janet S. Wong and illustrated by Margaret Chodos- Irvine. It was published by Harcourt Inc. in 2002 and is recommended for second grade.

A Chinese-American girl thinks that no one will buy her parents' Chinese food because it's the 4th of July. She is later proven wrong and many people buy the food.

Apple Pie 4th of July is a great example of good culturally diverse literature. The girl in this story assumes that no Americans eat Chinese food on the 4th. She is later proven wrong, so that stereotype is diminished. Her Chinese family ate apple pie that day also proving that Chinese people don't always eat Chinese food. In the story, Laura, a Chinese family member, makes apple pie, and their family watches the fireworks that night making them multidimensional characters. All cultural details were authentic and naturally incorporated into the story. This book helps children understand that all people are different, and stereotypes are not accurate.

Chodos- Irvine's illustrations were created using a variety of printmaking techniques that enhanced the story perfectly. They reflected the text and tone of the story with their folk art style.

 

 

The students should be able to answer these discussion questions after reading Apple Pie 4th of July:

 

1. What is the ethnicity of the girl in this story?
2. What is the ethnicity of the girl's parents in this story?
3. What business does her family have?
4. What is this only day they close?
5. What day is it in the story?
6. Why doesn't the girl think her parents will sell any Chinese food today?
7. What is Laura making upstairs?
8. Does anyone buy the Chinese food?
9. Were the girl's parents right?
10. What did the girl and her family do that night?

 

 



CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.