THE YELLOW ÁO DÀI

A young child connects with her Vietnamese heritage and family traditions.

It’s almost International Day at Naliah’s school, and she’s nervously excited. She’ll be sharing the Fan Dance, a traditional Vietnamese dance that she learned “from her mother, who had learned it from her mother.” Grandmother even led the dance in her village’s Mid-Autumn Festival, and Naliah wants to get it just right. When Naliah discovers her special yellow áo dài no longer fits, she heads into her mom’s room to find another. Among the rainbow of options stands out a yellow áo dài “the color of happiness and forsythia blossoms.” As Naliah practices in the oversized dress, she tears a hole. When her mother gives her a new dress and shares that her own special yellow áo dài was Grandmother’s, Naliah is filled with guilt. But her mother introduces a new tradition with Naliah as they mend the dress just as Grandmother did when Naliah’s mother ripped the same dress. Inspired by her daughter and mother-in-law, Bui weaves a tender tale of a family honoring memories and heirlooms but also creating new traditions. Phan’s buoyant and beautiful illustrations convey the protagonist’s emotions. Images flow across the page, evoking the fluidity of áo dàis, dance, butterflies, rippling blue waters, and lily pads. The recurring motifs and details like a hopping pet rabbit joining the fun add playfulness. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A charming contemporary celebration of family and heritage.