Mai’s Áo Dài
Mai’s Áo Dài by Thai Nguyen, published by Simon and Schuster on January 7, 2025, is a picture book that explores the themes of heritage and family traditions. In this charming narrative, young Mai eagerly anticipates celebrating Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, at her grandmother’s home. Initially reluctant to wear the traditional áo dài, she learns about the significance of this attire through her grandmother’s heartfelt stories, connecting her to her family’s history and culture.
Readers will find a touching exploration of emotions and feelings as Mai navigates her desire to embrace her identity while honoring her family’s customs. The book highlights the importance of clothing and dress in cultural celebrations, particularly within the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Through beautifully illustrated pages, Mai’s journey reveals how love and tradition transcend generations, making this a meaningful addition to discussions about holidays and social themes. With 40 pages of engaging storytelling, this edition is presented in English and captures the essence of familial bonds and cultural pride.
Official synopsis Publisher
Celebrity fashion designer Thai Nguyen from Netflix’s Say I Do joins forces with bestselling author Monique Truong and illustrator Dung Ho in this irresistibly charming picture book about embracing your heritage and the traditions that tie generations together—centered around Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
It’s the morning of Tet, and Mai can’t wait to celebrate at her beloved grandmother’s home. With the perfect dress: a poofy, sparkly Cinderella dress that makes Mai look like the movie star she dreams of being! But when Mai’s father suggests that she wears an áo dài, a traditional Vietnamese outfit, to her Ba Noi’s party, Mai is disappointed. Stars don’t wear áo dài, she thinks. Then Ba tells her the story of a true star, her very own Ba Noi, who sewed beautiful, highly sought-after áo dài in Vietnam and brought her magic with her when she immigrated to the United States.
So maybe stars wear áo dài after all! But how can Ba Noi know what Mai’s wearing when Ba Noi is losing her eyesight? Ba tells her every áo dài is sewn with love, and the beauty of love is that you don’t need to see it to know it’s here.
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