''Mei Li'' (also called ''Mei Li's Chinese New Year'') is a book by

Thomas Handforth Thomas Scofield Handforth (September 16, 1897 – October 19, 1948) was an American people, American artist and etcher. He wrote and illustrated the Children's literature, children's picture book ''Mei Li'' based on personal experience in China a ...

. Released by

Doubleday Doubleday may refer to: * Doubleday (surname), including a list of people with the name Publishing imprints * Doubleday (publisher), imprint of Knopf Doubleday, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House * Doubleday Canada, imprint of Penguin Random ...

, it was the second recipient of the

Caldecott Medal The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service ...

for

illustration An illustration is a decoration, interpretation, or visual explanation of a text, concept, or process, designed for integration in print and digitally published media, such as posters, flyers, magazines, books, teaching materials, animations, vi ...

in 1939.American Library Association
Caldecott Medal Winners, 1938 - Present
URL accessed 27 May 2009. As one of the first American picture books to have an Asian protagonist, it is considered a milestone for diversity in children's fiction.

Plot

This story is about a girl named Mei Li who ventures out to attend the Chinese New Year festivities with her brother San Yu and is burdened with the task to prove that there are activities for girls, too.

References

American picture books Caldecott Medal–winning works 1938 children's books Children's fiction books Children's books set in China North China in fiction Chinese New Year children's books {{child-picture-book-stub