Add Ming’s Christmas Wishes to Your Holiday Library #Review

Ming’s Christmas Wishes Summary

Ming wishes for three things at Christmas. First, to sing in the school Christmas choir. Second, to have a Christmas tree like the one in the department store window. And third, to feel she belongs somewhere.

As a daughter of immigrants in 1930s California, Ming is often treated differently than other children at school. She’s pointedly not invited to sing in the Christmas choir. At home, when Ming lobbies her parents for a Christmas tree, her mother scolds her for trying to be American. Ming doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere: she’s not quite American enough at school, not quite Chinese enough at home.

Seeing his daughter’s unhappiness, Pop takes her into the mountains to visit a wise old friend. Always happy for an adventure with her kind father, Ming hopes to persuade Pop to bring home a mountain pine to be their Christmas tree. But he has something else in mind, something that will help Ming draw strength from nature, from their Chinese heritage, and from deep and enduring family ties.

Ming’s Christmas Wishes Review

Ming’s Christmas Wishes by Susan L. Gong, and illustrated by Masahiro Tateishi, is a delightfully adorable Christmas story about a little Chinese girl who just wants to fit in somewhere. Caught between her Chinese home life and American school, she seems unsure about where she belongs. This picture book is sure to become a classic & much-requested story in any holiday collection.

The illustrations are soft and beautiful, and add a warm, cozy feeling to the story. The front piece of the book says it was “inspired by family stories.” And it’s not hard to visualize this as a story handed down from parent to child.

I am a collector of Christmas books, and love to add stories highlighting other cultures and their traditions into my collection. Our family started collecting books when our children were small, and we read Christmas stories together each night during the holiday season. I am happy to add this book to my collection, and your family will enjoy it too.

About the Author

Susan L. Gong

Susan L. Gong is a former teacher of Mandarin Chinese. She holds a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing. She and her family have lived in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Masahiro Tateishi

Masahiro Tateishi is a professional artist who specializes in digital and traditional painting and illustration. He also does calligraphy, graphic design, and mural painting. Mr. Tateishi was born and raised in Sasebo, Japan, next to a beautiful mountain and waterway. He lives in Fukuoka, Japan. His website is: www.masapaints.com.

Buy the Book

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Ming’s Christmas Wishes by Susan L. Gong, and illustrated by Masahiro Tateishi, is available in hardcover and Kindle from Amazon.com. For the record, I encourage you to buy the hardcover to fully enjoy this beautiful and delightful book.