Pie-Biter

Okay, in my opinion this book is good for boys AND GIRLS. Hoi is a young man from China who is brought to America and given a job building the railroads. As the days go by, he gets hungrier because he only gets a meal of rice two times a day. The boss won't let him eat rice while building the railroads (because "you cannot hold a bowl, chopsticks, and pick axe too"), so Hoi begans to eat pies and earns the nickname, "Pie-Biter." As the years go by, Hoi finishes building the railroad, goes into business with his friend Spanish Louie, and finally goes back to China where he spreads his love of American pies with the Chinese.

This book stands out as a rare find, a truly wonderful book for young boys. Most of the really interesting heroes in books for young children happen to be girls. Here is a book about a strong young man named Hoi, who works hard and loves pies. Based on a real character, he is a Chinese immigrant who has come to the American West in the late 1800s to work on the railroads. The text is in English, Chinese, and Spanish. While the book does not go into the hardships and injustices that went with the historical reality, it portrays the hero and other characters with complete goes-without-saying dignity as well as with humor and joy. The story has plenty of substance and could stand the test of many re-readings. This legend combines the traditional American tall tale (he acquires super strength from eating pies, and at one time he eats 16 pies in a row!!) with the American success story and the universal folktale of trickery. It probably has other elements from Chinese literature that I am missing. The hero triumphs by hard work, a good attitude, cleverness, and, of course, eating lots of pie!! The success story has a slightly different twist to it: he does not stay in America but fulfills his dreams by returning to China and, we are led to believe, opening pie shops. The illustrations portray the joy, strength, and beauty of the subject. The authors and artist have produced one of the all-time best children's books, and a must-have for boys.