The Lotus Seed

The Lotus Seed

Written by: Sherry Garland
Illustrated by: Tatsuro Kiuchi

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"A Vietnamese girl saves a lotus seed to remind her of a tragic event. When she leaves Vietnam, she brings the seed to the United States. Through the seed, readers discover the importance of family heritage and history."

Publishers Description

Multicultural Connections: After reading this story, students could interview members of their own families to discover symbols that might be important for their own family heritage and history.

Online Resources:
http://sherrygarland.swiftsite.com/lotus_seed.htm
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/lotus/lotustg.htm

Journey Home

Journey Home

Written by: Lawrence McKay
Illustrated by: Dom Lee and Keunhee Lee

Elementary Grades

"Mai is excited about traveling to Vietnam with her mother. Mom wants to search for her birth family and Mai wants to help solve the mystery. Mai has never been to her mother's homeland, and she wonders what being there will reveal. Will learning about her mother's past help her gain a new sense of identity? Is her "real" home in America or Vietnam?

What Mai discovers about her past will change her life forever. Journey Home is a story for all Americans who, like Mai, want to learn more about themselves through their family histories."

Publishers Synopsis

Web Resources:
http://www.leeandlow.com/p/journey_tg.mhtml

Children of the Dragon: Selected Tales from Vietnam

Children of the Dragon: Selected Tales from Vietnam

Retold by: Sherry Garland
Illustrated by: Trina Schart Hyman

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"This handsome volume gathers six well-told traditional tales not readily available elsewhere. Three legends explain the origins of the stripes on a tiger, the man in the moon, and Vietnam's wild monsoons. Three others address the consequences of unkind and rude acts. A proud princess rejects a boatman whose music has stirred her heart because he is poor and ugly. A greedy brother and a lazy sister come to a bad end when they try to replicate the good fortune gained by their generous, polite siblings. An introduction outlines the history of Vietnam, highlighting traditional literature and language. Long notes at the end of each story relate events and characters to aspects of Vietnamese culture."

School Library Journal Review