A Song for the Paper Children
Written By Christopher Tse
A Song for the Paper Children is a tribute to early Chinese immigrants, some of whom came to Canada after the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to severely restrict their entry. These “paper children,” courageous men and women, endured legislated racism, financial hardship, and frequent acts of violence and discrimination, but they followed in the footsteps of their predecessors to lay the foundation for a Chinese Canadian community today that is vibrant, resilient and here to stay.
The poem was written to commemorate the centenary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and was performed by poet Christopher Tse in the Senate of Canada on 23 June 2023
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$24.95
Christopher Tse is an educator, writer, and award-winning artist based in Whitehorse, Yukon. He placed second at both the 2011 Poetry Slam World Cup and 2016 Rio International Poetry Slam, and continues to miss the top of the podium in most areas of his life. Christopher has shared the stage with Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Shane Koyczan, and Mustafa the Poet, and his work has appeared on stages, screens, and graffiti walls worldwide. He is passionate about using rhyme to share stories about joy, resistance, community, and basketball. A Song for the Paper Children was written to commemorate the centenary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and was performed in the Senate of Canada on June 23, 2023
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| Specs | Trade, 8.75" X 9.25", 52 pages |
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Helen Kubiw, Canlit for Little Canadians –
“Peppering his poem with photographs of people and documents as well as drawings, Christopher Tse instills a gravitas to his works which are already deeply evocative of time and place. Surprisingly, much of it comes from asking questions. How did they feel? What did they think? What was the cost? Are they heard now? Christopher Tse makes the reader think and feel. It is the feeling of heartbreak for mistreatment and abuses, of awe for resilience and endurance, and of astonishment that these stories happened.”
Larry Swartz, Educational Consultant –
“This picture book presents a published version of the poem written to commemorate the centenary of the Chinese Exclusion Act. It was performed by poet Christopher Tse in the Senate of Canada on June 23, 2023. The poem is a tribute to Chinese immigrants, some of whom arrived in Canada after the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to harshly restrict their entry. The ‘paper children’ were courageous men and women who endured legislated racism, financial hardship, and acts of violence and discrimination. It is also a tribute to the vibrant, resilient Chinese Canadian community who continue to contribute significantly to our nation. Visually, the words and illustrations are mostly presented in black, white and red. Archived photographs are spread throughout to accompany the text. This picture book for older readers is a remarkable artifact of a poem, and a historical account, as a picture book.
Theo Heras, author and former librarian, Canadian Children’s Book Centre –
A Song for the Paper Children:
“The only way to read this poem/rap is aloud. Using many of the spoken word devices of rap–internal rhyme, repetition, and a strong rhythmic sense–author-poet Christopher Tse speaks of the struggles of the Chinese who have made Canada their home, even when they were not welcome. With passion, compassion, and defiance, Tse delivers an eloquent indictment of the treatment of the Chinese from the late 1800s until 1947, when the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed. And still, Chinese Canadians endure biased and racist treatment. Tse delivered this poem on June 23 2023, in the senate Chamber to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act. His ultimate message to Chinese Canadians is to be proud.
A Song for the Paper Children is a beautiful book with a bold design. The pages are mostly black with mainly white lettering, though there is variation in the background colour. Sometimes, the text is in a stylized red font that emphasizes certain lines. Photographs (referenced at the back of the book) and handsome, sometimes bold, sometimes delicate, graphics (by an unidentified creator) accompany the text. Real forms and certificates, once assigned to Chinese immigrants, are reproduced. The whole poem, re-printed in the back, is followed by a timeline of important dates for Chinese Canadians.
Overall, A Song for the Paper Children is a passionate and informative book that will encourage questions and discussion in the classroom and at family gatherings. Highly recommended.”