There's something special about a child seeing their own family in a book. Children's books do a lot of quiet work, showing kids with Lao heritage that their families and their food and their grandparents belong in stories too.
Lao stories in English are still fairly rare, so here are the ones I've found for the little ones in your family.
Mommy Eats Fried Grasshoppers
Vilayvanh Bender was the first Lao American woman to publish a book in California, and we were lucky enough to work with her last year. Based on Vanh's own childhood in Laos, the story follows Mahlee as she discovers how differently her mummy grew up.
Jasmin, our Culture Coordinator, actually picked up both versions for me at a Lao event near her in the USA, and I've had them on my shelf ever since!
- MEFG Book in English
- MEFG Book in Lao, perfect for anyone looking to practice reading the Lao script
These two aren't affiliate links, we don't earn anything from them.
Other Lao children's books
- Sticky rice for lunch by Jake Singhavong
- Sattu, 123 Count to Ten in Laotian by Judy Daulton
- Grandma Feeds me sticky rice by Judy Daulton
- My (Grandpa) Tha Tha, My Friend by Judy Daulton
- Nana Makes Spring Rolls by Tina Meetran
- Noy’s Journey to Belonging: A Quest for Courage by Laura Robertson
- A sticky mess by Nor Sanavongsay
- When everything was everything by Saymouka Vonsay
- Kong’s Adventure by Priston Pan
- Lao folktales by Steven Jay Epstein
Final thoughts
Reading in Lao with your little ones counts as learning too, for both of you. Even if you only manage a few words on each page, they're hearing Lao from someone they love, which is worth more than any app.
Do tag @laoenglishschool if you pick any of these up, I'd love to see them 🥰 Know a Lao children's book that isn't on this list? Send it my way there or through our contact form and I'll add it.
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