Apple Pie 4th of July

Apple Pie 4th of July
By Janet S. Wong
Pictures by Margaret Chodos-Irvine

Apple Pie 4th of July is a wonderful children’s book that specifically deals with the issues of identity. Written in first person, the young girl in the story is never named, but is the voice throughout the picture book. This girl is a young girl whose parents own a Chinese Restaurant. The girl and her family are clearly Asian, with many physical indicators including their eyes and dark hair. It is confirmed they are Chinese when her parents own the Chinese restaurant and the main character states, “My parents do not understand all American things. They were not born here.” (Wong, pg. 14, 2002)

But this is not where the issue of identity begins in the novel. In the beginning of the novel the main character first brings up how “No one wants Chinese food on the Fourth of July, I say” (pg. 5, Wong, 2002) This clearly shows how the main character believes Chinese food is something unwanted on an American day of patriotism- the 4th of July. She attributes it to the fact that her parents migrated here when they were younger. (Pg. 14, Wong, 2002) But soon, the little girl is proven wrong, when people come in, more and more people, towards the night. Eventually, she and her family get to close up shop and sit on the roof and watch the fireworks and enjoy something so typically American- apple pie. (Pg. 30, Wong, 2002) Since Janet S. Wong is the daughter of two immigrant Asian parents, I can say with ease this is a story written from an insider’s perspective. (Back cover, Wong, 2002). She speaks from experience and knows what it is like to identify with a certain culture. The girl in the novel has clear problems with who to identify with- should she identify with the neighbor upstairs, baking apple pie? (Pg. 3, Wong, 2002) Should she be participating with her neighborhood in watching the 4th of July parade? Clearly she is torn between these things in the novel.

The picture book not only does an amazing job of showing the main characters split in herself, but the illustrations aid the reader in things such as body language, attitude, and cultural things, such as the Chinese food, the Chinese store, the neighborhood she lives in, and the fireworks at the end of the night. The pictures are vivid in color and are pretty simple with tons of shapes included to make objects. There are a lot of straight lines and clear distinction between colors.
Janet S. Wong is not only recognized by me as an amazing writer, but has actually won many awards, including an award for this book. The APALA or Asian American Pacific Literature Award awarded Apple Pie 4th of July in 2002, the website stating,

“The illustrations are expertly created with all the elements of "writing with pictures". The printmaking technique is interesting and well done and the book captures an Asian American spirit in its illustrations and text, and is authentic in its portrayals.” (http://www.apalaweb.org/awards/awards0203.htm)

Overall, this book is a great picture book for children of any age, although on the back of the book it specifically says ages 3-7. I would include in my classroom for children to read on their own, or read it to the class for the enjoyment of the illustrations and aspects of diversity the main character has dilemmas with.


Wong, Janet S. Apple Pie 4th of July. San Diego, CA: Hardcourt Inc., 2002.

"Scholarships and Awards." APALA Awards. 11 Oct. 2007. Asian Pacific American Literature Award Committee. 6 Dec. 2008 .

The image is from:
http://146.74.224.231/archives/apple_pie-thumb.jpg