A 2018 Caldecott Honor Book that Kirkus Reviews calls a must-read for our times, A Different Pond is an unforgettable story about a simple event - a long-ago fishing trip. As a young boy, Bao and his father awoke early, hours before his father's long work day began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in a Western city.
Every child feels different in some way, but Thuy feels doubly different. Thuy walks home one winter afternoon, angry and lonely after a bully's taunts. Then a bird catches her attention and sets Thuy on an imaginary exploration. Together, the three of them imagine beautiful and powerful creatures who always have courage - just like Thuy.
On their way to a May Day parade, twins Hue and Hoa spy a confused-looking duck and try to help it reach the pond, while neighbors from many countries offer help and greetings in different languages.
The collection features poignant poetry that captures the experiences of a father navigating life as a refugee and activist. It addresses the struggles and resilience of the Asian American urban poor, highlighting their fight against societal invisibility. Through personal and powerful verses, the author sheds light on themes of identity, belonging, and resistance, offering a voice to those often overlooked in contemporary society.
Focusing on the themes of immigration, race, and class, this work by Vietnamese American poet Bao Phi offers a rhapsodic exploration of identity and experience. As a National Poetry Slam star, Phi's unique voice and perspective illuminate the complexities faced by marginalized communities, making this a powerful and thought-provoking read.
Every child is full to bursting with amazing things! This joyful poem celebrates the wonderful and complex identity of children of immigrants and refugees, embracing all that they are - a dancer, a shining light, a K-pop song - and promising what they will never be invisible. Every child is full to bursting with amazing things! This joyful poem celebrates the wonderful and complex identity of children of immigrants and refugees, embracing all that they are - a dancer, a shining light, a K-pop song - and promising what they will never be: invisible. Award-winning picture book author and poet Bao Phi and illustrator Hannah Li remind young readers through lyrical text and fantastical illustrations that who they are and what they love will always be enough.