Christine Liu-Perkins
About Christine
Christine's first book, At Home in Her Tomb: Lady Dai and the Ancient Chinese Treasures of Mawangdui, received starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, appeared on multiple "best books of the year" lists, and was recommended by both the National Science Teachers Association and the National Council for the Social Studies.
The daughter of Chinese immigrants to the U.S., Christine grew up learning to see the world from more than one perspective. She has lived in various cities across the United States, Asia, Europe, and Africa.
The daughter of Chinese immigrants to the U.S., Christine grew up learning to see the world from more than one perspective. She has lived in various cities across the United States, Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Christine's Workshops
Telling True Stories: Curiosity, Questions, and a Chinese Mummy (for Grades 4-8)
Christine will take students on a tour of an ancient Chinese tomb, explaining the process she used to research and write about the mummy, Lady Dai. Along the way, she will teach strategies that students can use for their own research and nonfiction writing.
Asking Questions: A Nonfiction Author's Writing Process (for educators)
Asking questions is a fundamental tool for students who are actively engaged in learning. Christine will discuss how asking questions drives her research and writing. She will include classroom activities to enhance students’ skills in research and writing nonfiction.
Writing Nonfiction as Answering Questions (for writers)
Christine will explain how she uses questions to drive the various stages of her writing process: to spark initial curiosity, guide research, structure notetaking, formulate a thesis, construct an outline, focus on what readers want to know, and make connections. She will also share her favorite strategies for using questions to facilitate writing.
Christine will take students on a tour of an ancient Chinese tomb, explaining the process she used to research and write about the mummy, Lady Dai. Along the way, she will teach strategies that students can use for their own research and nonfiction writing.
Asking Questions: A Nonfiction Author's Writing Process (for educators)
Asking questions is a fundamental tool for students who are actively engaged in learning. Christine will discuss how asking questions drives her research and writing. She will include classroom activities to enhance students’ skills in research and writing nonfiction.
Writing Nonfiction as Answering Questions (for writers)
Christine will explain how she uses questions to drive the various stages of her writing process: to spark initial curiosity, guide research, structure notetaking, formulate a thesis, construct an outline, focus on what readers want to know, and make connections. She will also share her favorite strategies for using questions to facilitate writing.
Resources for AT HOME IN HER TOMB
- 10 Learning Activities for At Home in Her Tomb. This teacher's guide has ten activities that explore topics introduced by the book: Time Line, Studying Artifacts, Imagined Scenes, Portable Library, Science of Death & Decomposition, Chapter 1 as Mentor Text, More Mummies, Memorials, Analyzing Nonfiction Media, and Inquiry & Problem-Solving.
- Webinar. This 30-minute webinar, “A Time Capsule of Ancient China: Lady Dai and the Tombs of Mawangdui,” introduces highlights of the tombs, points to further resources, and answers questions asked by the audience. (Sponsored by the Five College Center for East Asian Studies.)
Recommended Resources
Interested in writing nonfiction? These are Christine's favorite how-to books:
- Susan Rabiner & Alfred Fortunato. Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction—and Get It Published
- Margery Facklam and Peggy Thomas. Anatomy of Nonfiction: Writing True Stories for Children
- Jack Hart. Story Craft: The Complete Guide to Writing Narrative Nonfiction
- Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, & Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research