An American Face book review

Czech, J. M. (2000). An American face. Washington, DC: Child and Family Press.

This book, An American Face is about a young boy (5 or 6 years-old) who has been adopted from Korea by American's. He is in the process of becoming a citizen and he believes that he will be getting a new face once he is an American so he can look like everyone else who is American. Each page shows him in a different environment with people who he thinks look American, because they do not look like him. When he sees people that are foreign he thinks they have not yet become American's. He is teased because of the way he looks, but he knows that will change eventually. On the day he goes to court to become a citizen his parents realize what he is thinking and tell him that his face will not change. He is sad but once he sees the judge who is Korean, his spirits are lifted and he realizes he can be an American without getting a new face.

I think that this book works as a piece of diverse literature for many reasons. For one the illustrations show a variety of people doing many tasks. There is no stereotyping about gender or race. The book talks about the fact that people do have different faces. His parents explain that even though people look different they can all become American without having to lose their identity. The book really works at making everyone feel welcome and respected. I would definitely use this book as a diverse piece of literature.