Cynthia Chin-Lee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cynthia Chin-Lee
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | October 14, 1958 Washington DC, US |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Harvard (1980) |
| Genre | Children's stories |
Cynthia Chin-Lee is an American author who writes books for children. She was born in 1958 and is known for her stories that help young readers understand different cultures and important ideas like fairness.
Contents
About Cynthia Chin-Lee
Her Early Life and Inspiration
Cynthia Chin-Lee grew up in Washington, D.C.. Her father, William Chin-Lee, was a doctor, and her mother, Nancy Chin-Lee, was an artist. Cynthia was the youngest of five children.
She started writing when she was in the 6th grade. She enjoyed writing poetry and keeping a journal. Cynthia found writing comforting and a way to play with words. She still writes for these reasons today.
Her Career as an Author
Cynthia Chin-Lee is best known for writing children's books. She also gives speeches and leads workshops. She graduated from Harvard University.
Cynthia has worked with many talented artists who illustrate her books. Some of these illustrators include You Shan Tang, Yumi Heo, and Enrique O. Sanchez. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked in banking and technology. She currently works as a publications manager at Oracle.
Cynthia Chin-Lee's Books
Cynthia Chin-Lee has written several books that have won awards. Most of her books, seven out of eight, are for children. She believes in sharing stories that teach children about truth and wisdom. Her books often help kids understand how to be fair and kind to everyone.
Stories About Friendship and Culture
- Almond Cookies and Dragon Well Tea
This book tells the story of a friendship between two girls from different backgrounds. Erica, who is European American, visits her Chinese American friend's home. She discovers that even though their cultures are different, their homes are quite similar.
- A is for Asia
This alphabet book introduces readers to the many different foods, holidays, traditions, and cultures found across Asia. It even includes words from native languages for each letter.
- A is for the Americas - co-authored with Terri de la Peña
This book explores the cultures of North, Central, and South America. It covers 48 different countries and 11 language groups. It helps readers learn about the diverse ways people live in the Americas.
Books About Inspiring People
- Amelia to Zora: Twenty-six Women Who Changed the World
This book shares short life stories of 26 amazing women. These women made a big difference in sports, politics, science, and art. Each story explains the challenges they faced and their successes. This book has also been translated into French.
- Akira to Zoltán: Twenty-six Men Who Changed the World
This book is a companion to Amelia to Zora. It features men who followed their dreams and changed the world. From Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa to political leaders like Nelson Mandela, this book highlights influential men and their contributions.
Stories About Important Social Topics
- Operation Marriage
This story is about eight-year-old Alex and her best friend, Zach. Zach stops being friends with Alex because her parents are not legally married. At the time, gay marriage was allowed in California, but a law called Proposition 8 later banned it. Before the ban, Alex and her younger brother, Nicky, convinced their mothers, Mama Kathy and Mama Lee, to get married. This book shows how important marriage equality is for families. It won a Moonbeam award in 2012 for compassion. The story was also made into a short film.
- Women and the Right to Vote
This book celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment gave women the right to vote. The book tells the story of the long and difficult fight by many women to achieve this important victory.
Awards and Recognition
Cynthia Chin-Lee's books have received several awards:
- Amelia Bloomer List
- Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented Legacy Award (for Amelia to Zora)
- National Council on Social Studies/Children's Book Council Notable Children's Book in Social Studies
- "Best 100 American Children's Books of the Century" by "Ruminator Review"
- Moonbeam Children's Book Awards for Compassion (for Operation Marriage)
Cynthia Chin-Lee's Published Works
- It's Who You Know: The Magic of Networking, in Person and on the Internet (1998)
- Almond Cookies and Dragon Well Tea (1993)
- A Is for Asia (1997)
- A Is for the Americas (1999)
- Amelia to Zora: Twenty-six Women Who Changed the World (2005)
- Akira to Zoltán: Twenty-six Men Who Changed the World (2006)
- Operation Marriage (2011)
- Women and the Right to Vote (2020)
