Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist

by Julie Leung and Chris Sasaki

Chris Sasaki (Illustrator)

Winner of the American Library Association's 2021 Asian/Pacific American Award for Best Picture Book!
 
An inspiring picture-book biography of animator Tyrus Wong, the Chinese American immigrant responsible for bringing Disney's Bambi to life.

Before he became an artist named Tyrus Wong, he was a boy named Wong Geng Yeo. He traveled across a vast ocean from China to America with only a suitcase and a few papers. Not papers for drawing--which he loved to do--but immigration papers to start a new life. Once in America, Tyrus seized every opportunity to make art, eventually enrolling at an art institute in Los Angeles. Working as a janitor at night, his mop twirled like a paintbrush in his hands. Eventually, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime--and using sparse brushstrokes and soft watercolors, Tyrus created the iconic backgrounds of Bambi.

Julie Leung and Chris Sasaki perfectly capture the beautiful life and work of a painter who came to this country with dreams and talent--and who changed the world of animation forever.

• ISBN10: 1524771880
• ISBN13: 9781524771881
• Publish Date: 24 September 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Anne Schwartz Books
• Format: Hardcover (Library Binding)
• Pages: 40
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781524771881

Reviews

[mrs_mander_reads]

So good! Prior to this, I didn't have any concept of what a "paper son" was, and that was a learning experience for me. I love that this bio is accessible for younger kids - the length isn't intimidating, there's lots of art to look at, but the content is still bulky, and a reader will learn a lot about Tyrus Wong (who worked at Disney!). Great for anyone with an immigration history, different racial or ethnic backgrounds, or those interested in art.