Cynthia Chin-Lee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cynthia Chin-Lee
Born	(1958-10-14) October 14, 1958 (age 66) Washington DC, US
Occupation	Writer
Nationality	American
Education	Harvard (1980)
Genre	Children's stories

Cynthia Chin-Lee (born in 1958) is an American author who writes books for children. She is known for her stories that help young readers understand different cultures and important social topics.

Early Life and Writing Journey

Cynthia Chin-Lee grew up in Washington, D.C.. Her father was a doctor, and her mother was an artist. She was the youngest of five children.

Cynthia started writing when she was in the 6th grade. She enjoyed writing poetry and keeping a journal. She found writing to be a comforting way to express herself. She still loves playing with words and writing today.

Her Career as an Author

Cynthia Chin-Lee is best known for writing children's books and speaking at events. She graduated with high honors from Harvard University. She is also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Cynthia has given many speeches and led workshops at schools and universities. She has worked with talented artists who illustrate her books. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked in banking and technology. She currently works as a publications manager at Oracle.

Books by Cynthia Chin-Lee

Cynthia Chin-Lee has written several award-winning books. Most of her books are for children. She enjoys sharing stories that teach truth and wisdom. Her books help children understand challenges like unfair treatment or not being accepted.

• Almond Cookies and Dragon Well Tea is about cross-cultural friendship.
  Almond Cookies and Dragon Well Tea

This book tells the story of a friendship between two girls from different cultures. Erica, who is European American, visits her Chinese American friend's home. She discovers that their homes are not so different after all.

• A is for Asia explores different cultures.
  A is for Asia

This is an alphabet book that introduces 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 covers cultures from North, Central, and South America.
  A is for the Americas - co-authored with Terri de la Peña

This book explores the cultures of 48 different countries and 11 language groups in North, Central, and South America. It gives readers a look into various cultural traditions.

• Amelia to Zora features inspiring women.
  Amelia to Zora: Twenty-six Women Who Changed the World

This book shares short biographies of 26 amazing women who made a difference in the world. They come from fields like sports, politics, science, and the arts. Each story explains the challenges and successes these women faced. This book has also been translated into French.

• Akira to Zoltán highlights influential men.
  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 famous filmmakers to political leaders, it profiles influential men and their contributions.

• Operation Marriage won an award for compassion.
  Operation Marriage

This story is about eight-year-old Alex. Her best friend, Zach, stops being friends with her because Alex's parents are not legally married. At that time, there was a debate about whether certain marriages should be allowed in California. Alex and her younger brother, Nicky, convince their mothers, Mama Kathy and Mama Lee, to get legally married. The story shows how important it is for all families to be recognized and accepted. This book won a Moonbeam award for Compassion in 2012. It was also made into a short film.

• Women and the Right to Vote celebrates a historic achievement.
  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 women from all backgrounds to achieve this important victory.

Awards and Recognition

Cynthia Chin-Lee's books have received several awards:

• Amelia Bloomer List (for Amelia to Zora)
• 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)