My First Book of Vietnamese Words

My First Book of Vietnamese Words is a beautifully illustrated book that introduces Vietnamese language and culture to young children through everyday words.

This Vietnamese children's book teaches in a playful way—combining the familiar ABC rhyming structure with vivid illustrations to encourage young children's natural language learning abilities. Words kids use every day in English are joined by words unique to Vietnamese culture to give kids a glimpse of Vietnamese life and to show how, despite cultural differences, children all over the world have a lot in common.

Linguistic and cultural notes are added to enhance the kids' adventure in a land that's modern yet filled with beautiful traditions.

Phuoc Thi Minh Tran spent ten months in a refugee camp in Malaysia before coming to America. In 1984, a 50-hour Greyhound bus trip brought her from California to Minnesota, where she became the state's first Vietnamese librarian. She has been an active storyteller for over twenty years, visiting many cities across the US to share Vietnamese folklore with children and adults alike. She is the author of the Moonbeam Award-winning Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories.

llustrators Nguyen Thi Hop and Nguyen Dong began their careers as young professional artists in the South Vietnam of the 1960s, exhibiting in France, Taiwan, Germany, and the US as well as in Saigon. Since their marriage in 1968, they have collaborated on book and magazine covers, posters and illustrations for over one hundred titles for publishers around the world. Among their many titles are Thich Nhat Hanh's Each Breath a Smile and Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories.