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A review by thebookishfeminist
The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang
5.0
“The Most Beautiful Thing” is a deeply touching story about a granddaughter, Kalia, and her grandmother. Her grandmother shares stories of her childhood, we learn of her hardships, and some of the traditions of Hmong culture. It’s a poignant reflection on youth and our relationship to our elders.
This is a story I will read over and over again with my children. It addresses poverty, appreciating what you have, seeing beauty in who people are and not what they wear or look like, and how we take care of and value each other. It’s also really wonderful to see Hmong characters and stories in this book. Our community has one of the largest Hmong populations in the US, and it’s really important that children grow up being exposed to stories from all cultures. One of the best things about Yang’s story is the way it includes language; she offers a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book so children can practice the language of the writer and the one reflected in the culture of the story.
This is a poignant, touching story about family, culture, love, and identity that reminds children to listen to and care for elders and remember to see beauty in human connections and rather than possessions or superficial appearances. I highly recommend this!
This is a story I will read over and over again with my children. It addresses poverty, appreciating what you have, seeing beauty in who people are and not what they wear or look like, and how we take care of and value each other. It’s also really wonderful to see Hmong characters and stories in this book. Our community has one of the largest Hmong populations in the US, and it’s really important that children grow up being exposed to stories from all cultures. One of the best things about Yang’s story is the way it includes language; she offers a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book so children can practice the language of the writer and the one reflected in the culture of the story.
This is a poignant, touching story about family, culture, love, and identity that reminds children to listen to and care for elders and remember to see beauty in human connections and rather than possessions or superficial appearances. I highly recommend this!