Just like the unveiling of a piece of artwork at a museum, the cover reveal of an upcoming picture book is an exciting moment! I’m always thrilled when I get the chance to do that – especially for a book that I’ve seen in early drafts. Hanh Bui is a dear friend – and I couldn’t be happier for her second book in what I know is going to be a long line of titles – she is a prolific writer who pours her heart on the page. And with a cover reveal, the illustrator gets a chance to shine…and Bao Luu’s art is like a beacon of light, radiating warmth and reflecting the emotions of the characters. The book launches from Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan on May 14, 2024…and you are getting the first peek RIGHT NOW! Ready! Set! GO!

What a perfectly engaging cover!!! It’s joyful and full of emotion – all the right feels! And everything is 100% authentic – the author was able to communicate her early experiences at the refugee camp – and the illustrator carefully added details that put us right in the setting.

Here’s a little bit about the book from the publisher’s website:

A child living in a Vietnamese refugee camp learns their first word in English with a little help from their teacher and grandmother in this heart-warming picture book based on the author’s childhood.

Many things are different for Ánh now that they’ve left Vietnam with their family. The weather is colder and they live in a communal barracks at a refugee camp while they wait for their new life in America to start. Ánh finds comfort in their warm-hearted teacher, Miss Mary Ellen, but has trouble with the foreign sounds of learning to speak English in class.

All Ánh wants is to be able to say “thank you” out loud to Miss Mary Ellen, but will the words ever stop getting stuck between their head and their voice? With a little inspiration from their grandmother—as well as the chance discovery of an adorable animal—Ánh will try to gather the courage to finally say their first word in a new language.

Exquisitely illustrated by Bao Luu, Ánh’s New Word by Hanh Bui is a hopeful story of finding your voice, inspired by true events from the author’s childhood.

Here’s a little bit about author Hanh Bui:

Inspired by her first teacher at the refugee camp, Hanh Bui pursued a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and taught second grade before becoming a full-time mother to three children. She also served as a Development Officer for Senhoa Foundation in support of women and children who survived human trafficking in Cambodia, and has served on boards supporting children and parents in building community. Hanh’s commitment to celebrating her heritage includes giving presentations in school visits about her refugee experience to children studying immigration as part of their school curriculum. She serves as co-chair of the Equity and Inclusion Team for the Mid-Atlantic region of SCBWI, and has been featured in Highlights For Children magazine, Next Avenue and Forbes. She is the author of The Yellow Áo Dài and Ánh’s New Word.
You can learn more about Hanh and her books here: https://hanhbui.net/

And here’s a little bit about illustrator Bao Luu:

Bao Luu dreamed of becoming an artist as a child, and today his work as an illustrator focuses on bright, playful colors and unique textures. He is the illustrator of Simple Thanks written by Deborah Wiles and Ánh’s New Word written by Hanh Bui. Bao Luu was born and raised in Vietnam and currently lives near Houston, Texas.
You can learn more about Bao Huu and his books here and on
nstagram

The book launches from Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan on May 14, 2024 – and it is available for Pre-Order:
Amazon
Bookshop.org
And independent bookstores everywhere!

Please remember that new books need our help! We can buy them, review them, and put them on our WANT TO READ shelf on Goodreads. Ahn’s New Word isn’t there yet, but should be soon! And many local libraries encourage patrons to request books for their collection. Why not request Ahn’s New Word?

Thank you for spending your precious time with us – I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.