Journey to America: Celebrating Inspiring Immigrants Who Became Brilliant Scientists, Game-Changing Activists & Amazing Entertainers

by Maliha Abidi

Overview

A timely, beautiful exploration of America’s rich history of diversity, Journey to America profiles 20 immigrants and children of immigrants who have affected the nation’s culture or business.

From showstopping entertainers to game-changing activists to brilliant scientists, these first- and second-generation Americans show the determination and innovation that has shaped the country we know today:

• Science: Kalpana Chawla (astronaut), I. M. Pei (architect), Chien-Shiung Wu (particle physicist), and Albert Einstein (theoretical physicist)
• Entertainment: Tan France (fashion designer), Camila Cabello (singer-songwriter), M. Night Shyamalan (filmmaker), Natalie Portman (actress), Rihanna (singer), and Dikembe Mutombo (basketball player)
• Politics: Ilhan Omar (congresswoman), Arnold Schwarzenegger (former governor of California), and Alexander Hamilton (founding father)
• Business: Indra Nooyi (former PepsiCo CEO), Sergey Brin (Google co-founder)
• Children of immigrants: America Ferrara (actress), Walt Disney (founder of The Walt Disney Company), Michelle Kwan (figure skater), Kamala Harris (U.S. vice president), and Barack Obama (former U.S. president)

Journey to America gives you all the stats, facts, and behind-the-scenes information on who they are as well as what they’ve done.

Author-illustrator Maliha Abidi’s striking illustrated portraits bring the personalities to life in vivid color. Sidebars explain historical and political facts about the immigration process, highlighting the differences between a permanent resident and a citizen, a first- and second-generation American, and more.

As children develop their own dreams for the future, the diverse stories and accomplishments of these American immigrants serve as inspiration.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780760371237
Publisher:	becker&mayer! kids
Publication date:	06/07/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
File size:	35 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Maliha Abidi is a Pakistani-American artist and author living between London and Los Angeles. Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, she migrated to California, United States at the age of 14. As a South Asian immigrant, her experiences play a huge role in her work. Her art focuses on advocating for social justice including women’s rights, girls’ education and mental health. Using bright and bold colors, Maliha hopes to get people interested in complex issues that impact our societies. As Maliha says, “Come for the art, stay for the cause.”

She is also the founder and creator of @WomenriseNFT. A Web 3.0 initiative with the focus on women’s rights and girls’ education through using art as a tool for advocacy.

Maliha’s work includes illustrations, animations, NFT art and illustrated books. In her spare time, she loves to travel, read books, go bicycling and explore new blends of coffee.

Maliha Abidi is a Pakistani-American artist and author living between London and Los Angeles. Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, she migrated to California, United States at the age of 14. As a South Asian immigrant, her experiences play a huge role in her work. Her art focuses on advocating for social justice including women's rights, girls' education and mental health. Using bright and bold colors, Maliha hopes to get people interested in complex issues that impact our societies. As Maliha says, "Come for the art, stay for the cause." She is also the founder and creator of @WomenriseNFT. A Web 3.0 initiative with the focus on women's rights and girls' education through using art as a tool for advocacy. Maliha's work includes illustrations, animations, NFT art and illustrated books. In her spare time, she loves to travel, read books, go bicycling and explore new blends of coffee.

Table of Contents

SCIENCE
Kalpana Chawla
I.M. Pei
Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu
Albert Einstein
ENTERTAINMENT
Tan France
Camila Cabello
M. Night Shyamalan
Natalie Portman
Rihanna
Dikembe Mutombo
POLITICS
Ilhan Omar
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Alexander Hamilton
BUSINESS
Sergey Brin
Indra Nooyi
CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS
Walt Disney
Michelle Kwan
Kamala Harris
America Ferrara
Barack Obama
 

Editorial Reviews

“An inspiring collection that shines a spotlight on the life-changing contributions made by immigrants, sure to encourage young readers to follow their dreams.”—Selenia Paz, Booklist

From the Publisher

2022-06-08
A collection of 20 profiles of first- and second-generation immigrants from around the world who have impacted American life.

Organized into five sections (science, entertainment, politics, business, and children of immigrants), the book features well-known individuals such as physicist Albert Einstein, who fled Nazi Germany for the United States, and singer Rihanna, whose musical talent brought her to the United States from Barbados, as well as potentially lesser-known subjects such as astronaut Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-born woman to travel to space. While the book showcases a wide breadth of individuals—among them Ilhan Omar, Tan France, Alexander Hamilton, and I.M. Pei—it’s unclear how and why they were chosen. Accompanied by striking portraits, the brief entries offer only limited explorations of the subjects’ lives, often flattening complex topics such as race and class. For example, Cuban-born singer/songwriter Camilla Cabello’s experience crossing the U.S.–Mexico border as an undocumented child is lumped into the same section as actress Natalie Portman’s story of emigrating from Israel to the United States, where Portman’s mother grew up. Sidebars break up the text but provide only superficial examinations of, for instance, immigration law and what it means to be an undocumented immigrant.

A confusing assortment of immigrant stories too short and vague to be informative or engaging. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews