Mei Li

{{Short description|1938 picture book by Thomas Handforth}}

{{Infobox book

| name = Mei Li

| image = File:CM mei li.jpg

| caption = Original cover illustrated by Handforth

| author = Thomas Handforth

| illustrator = Thomas Handforth

| cover_artist =

| country = United States

| genre = Children's picture book

| publisher = Doubleday

| release_date = 1938

| media_type =

| pages =

| isbn =

}}

Mei Li (also called Mei Li's Chinese New Year) is a book by Thomas Handforth. Released by Doubleday, it was the second recipient of the Caldecott Medal for illustration in 1939.American Library Association: [http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottwinners/caldecottmedal.cfm Caldecott Medal Winners, 1938 - Present]. URL accessed 27 May 2009. As one of the first American picture books to have an Asian protagonist, it is considered a milestone for diversity in children's fiction.{{cite web |title=Mei Li's Chinese New Year |url=https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/galleries/childhood/item/11300 |website=New York Public Library |accessdate=17 January 2023}}