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I'm an American Hardcover – Picture Book, May 2, 2023

by Darshana Khiani (Author), Laura Freeman (Illustrator)
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 29 ratings
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A breathtaking, eye-opening look at the patchwork of cultures that make up our nation and the many ways we define what it means to be an American.

One of Chicago Public Library’s Best Books of 2023!

What does it mean to be American?

A classroom of children across many races, cultures, and origins explores the concept of Americanness as they each share bits of their family history and how their past has shaped their own personal American experience. Whether as new immigrants, or those whose family came to this country generations ago, or other scenarios, these children’s stories show some of the broad range of cultures and values that form the history and identity of our nation.

A beautifully depicted, thought-provoking look at the vast expanse of cultures that exists in America, the values that bring us together as one people despite our differences, and the many ways we define what it means to be an American.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    48 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Dimensions
    8.88 x 0.44 x 11.31 inches
  6. Publisher
    Viking Books for Young Readers
  7. Publication date
    May 2, 2023
  8. ISBN-10
    0593464729
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0593464724
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for I'm an American:

“The characters and their stories reflect many lived realities and provide a dynamic sense of America’s many facets, which is echoed in Freeman’s lovely, luminous, quilt-like illustrations . . . will likely encourage discussion and further exploration of American ideals and identity.” —Booklist

"Each page reveals the many ways in which . . . families have shaped America—and continue to do so—as they share the values they hold dear. Freeman’s stunning illustrations drive the story home . . . adding texture, depth, and color. Will inspire a closer look at America’s rich history—and the myriad experiences of Americans." —Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Darshana Khiani was born in Kenya and immigrated to the United States when she was one. She is an author, engineer, and advocate for South Asian children’s literature. She is infinitely curious about the world and enjoys sharing her findings with young readers. If she can make a child laugh, even better. She is the author of How to Wear a Sari. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and a furry pup.

You can visit her online at DarshanaKhiani.com or follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @DarshanaKhiani.

Laura Freeman is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race, for which she won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and NAACP Image Award. She received her BFA from the School of Visual Arts and has illustrated over thirty children’s books, including Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice and The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal Justice. In addition to illustrations in books and editorial content, her art can be found on a wide range of products, from dishes and textiles to greeting cards. She lives with her family in Atlanta.

You can visit her online at LFreemanArt.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Books for Young Readers (May 2, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 48 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593464729
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593464724
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 8 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.88 x 0.44 x 11.31 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Laura Freeman

    Laura Freeman

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Laura Freeman is a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honoree. Her work on “Hidden Figures” written by Margot Lee Shetterly, was recognized with an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children, reached the New York Times Best Seller list and was listed as one of “Ten Books All Georgians Should Read”. Her art has been honored at the Society of Illustrators in NYC and in the Annuals for Communication Arts and American Illustration.

    She has illustrated over thirty children’s books. In addition to illustrating books, Laura's art can be found on a wide range of products, from dishes and textiles to greeting cards. And her editorial images are frequently seen in the NY Times and other periodicals.

    A native New Yorker residing in Atlanta with her family, she invites you to visit her website: www.LFreemanArt.com to discover more about her.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Darshana Khiani

    Darshana Khiani

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Darshana Khiani is a computer engineer by day and a children’s writer by night. She enjoys writing funny, light-hearted stories with a South Asian backdrop. When she isn’t working or writing she can be found hiking, skiing, or volunteering. Darshana lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two daughters, and a pet pooch.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
29 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Ellen L. Ramsey
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and touching book!
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2023
Verified Purchase
I’M AN AMERICAN is a deeply touching book about unity amid diversity and about shared values—justice and fairness, hard work and perseverance, freedom of religion and freedom from discrimination, resilience and hope. In this book, young people share their beliefs about being an American and the stories of their family's heritage. I was very moved by these stories and by the book’s ending--“Together, we make our country great.”
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Eboxer
5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful, informative, thought-provoking book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2024
What does it truly mean to be an American? The question lies at the heart of this powerful picture book, told through the eyes and experiences of children from different ethnic backgrounds, whose families have one thing in common: They endured severe hardship, prejudice and persecution along their path to the American dream. Thought-provoking back matter delves deeper into the immigrants' histories. An important book that is sure to spark meaningful discussions about who we are, where we've been, what divides us and, ultimately, what unites us.
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Abi C
5.0 out of 5 stars Great conversation starter
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2024
I really enjoyed the portraits of different kinds of Americans showcased throughout the book. I thought they were an interesting way to provide a little bit of history and to show the challenges different people faced (or continue to face). I think the book does a great job of showing that being American doesn't look one way, but there are threads that tie us together. It's a great conversation starter and will encourage kids to think about their heritage and what being American means to them.
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Candy C.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Young Americans
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2023
I love, love, love I AM AN AMERICAN by @darshanakhiani and @laurafreemanart. It’s a poetic collage of the history of many Americans as well as a tribute to the way our diverse background makes us unique. I love that this book celebrates all people and cultures and shows how differences make us stronger. It’s such an uplifting book.
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katherine okon
5.0 out of 5 stars Every family should have this book
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2023
I’M AN AMERICAN is a perfect learning tool to engage young readers in conversations about the diverse people who make up our country.

The picture book is set in a classroom with students who take turns answering the question “What do you think makes a person an American?”

Students tell stories of their ancestors who lived on this land thousands of years ago or immigrated hundreds of years ago; relatives who faced discrimination and opportunity; and participation in elections, parades, and cultural festivals.

Artist Laura Freeman highlights each student’s story with their own illustrated spread. The pages are layered with images of the students and scenes from their stories.

In the back matter, author Darshana Khiani shares her family’s immigration story and writes in more detail about different groups around the world who have immigrated to the United States.
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Shruthi
5.0 out of 5 stars A touching and inspiring book
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2023
I adored this book. The structure, the examples the author chose, and just the feeling of joy it left me with at the end. The art is stunning too!
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Carrie Finison
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book shares a diverse look at being American
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023
I'M AN AMERICAN shares both the deep ideals of our country and culture, along with stories of immigrant and indigenous children and their families who embody those ideals. Basic human rights, freedom of religion, hard work, equal protection under the law, freedom of expression, unity – all of these values are described in short text, with longer descriptions of how and why people came here to achieve them. Overall, the book gives a picture of the many diverse people who make up our country and are American. We are not just one story, but many. Vivid, realistic illustrations help underscore the experiences of each child.
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AugustaE
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing resource about the values and variety of people who call America home
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2023
This book is a wonderful resource, both for homes and for classrooms, to start conversations around what it means to be an American. The book starts with a teacher asking her students what they think makes a person an American, and the individual student stories that follow highlight many of the values we all hold important, like equality, religious freedom, perseverance, etc. I’M AN AMERICAN is also a useful teaching tool to explore the reasons why a variety of immigrant groups came (and continue to come) to America and the difficulties they faced (and face) upon arriving. Several of the stories highlight how a historical experience with discrimination, like early immigrants from China being excluded from voting, led to their descendants becoming involved in voter registration and voting rights. These examples are hopeful and prompt students to think about which values they identify with and how they can honor these values by bringing about positive change in their communities. The book also discusses the experience of one Tribal Nation, the Muscogee people, and what it meant to be forced off their homelands in America. And the book and back matter discuss what it meant for African Americans to have been brought to America as slaves and the ongoing effects of racism. Each beautiful illustration features a child that a reader can identify with and adds depth to the text, sometimes showing a historical experience of an immigrant group that’s not mentioned in the text.
I’M AN AMERICAN is an informative, thoughtful overview of the variety of people who call America home, and the author’s note about her family’s immigration experience, the world map highlighting where each student storyteller is from, and additional information about each group at the back of the book, expand the reading experience. I also imagine this book will be a jumping-off point for many readers wanting to further explore a particular historical experience highlighted in the book or wanting to learn more about their own family’s background and story. An amazing, positive resource for any house, classroom, or library!
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