From the Tops of the Trees | New Picture Book from Kao Kalia Yang

06/22/21 • 2 min

"Father, is all of the world a refugee camp?"

Young Kalia has never known life beyond the fences of the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp. The Thai camp holds many thousands of Hmong families who fled in the aftermath of the little-known Secret War in Laos that was waged during America's Vietnam War. For Kalia and her cousins, life isn't always easy, but they still find ways to play, racing with chickens and riding a beloved pet dog.

Just four years old, Kalia is still figuring out her place in the world. When she asks what is beyond the fence, at first her father has no answers for her. But on the following day, he leads her to the tallest tree in the camp and, secure in her father's arms, Kalia sees the spread of a world beyond.

Kao Kalia Yang's sensitive prose and Rachel Wada's evocative illustrations bring to life this tender true story of the love between a father and a daughter.

Learn more and get a sneak peek at LernerBooks.com.

Music credits
"Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Previous Episode

Chris Barton Shares How He Researched His Forthcoming Picture Book "How to Make a Book (About My Dog)

How do you make a picture book? Well, you need an author, an illustrator, and . . . a dog?!

Acclaimed author Chris Barton and his trusty pooch Ernie talk about how to make a nonfiction picture book . . . about Ernie! From coming up with ideas, researching, and writing a first draft to finding the perfect illustrator, deciding what goes on the cover, and getting every last wrod—er, word just right, you'll see how a book is made from beginning to end.

From acquisitions and editing to graphic design and dog treats, find out what's required to bring a book to life. This title perfectly blends how-to and humor for an informative look at book publishing. And look, this is part of the marketing step!

Chris Barton shares why and how he researched this book (and whether Ernie helped!).

Learn more and get a sneak peek at LernerBooks.com.

Music credits
"Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Next Episode

Fall 2021 Lerner Publishing Group Novels Preview

Editorial director Amy Fitzgerald book talks new middle grade and YA novels from Carolrhoda Books and Carolrhoda Lab.

For the science fiction fans, Eighth Grade vs. the Machines picks right up where Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy leaves off, with Jack and his friends now having to save their trusty public school spaceship from a robot civil war—all while keeping up with their homework. A contemporary middle grade novel, Eddie Whatever follows thirteen-year-old Eddie as he begins a community service project at a nursery home, and has his expectations of the residents turned upside down as he learns about their past lives, their current intrigues, and even a dramatic courtship. Fully of whimsy and intrigue, this is ultimately a touching and humorous story of intergenerational bonds. AfterMath introduces readers to seventh-grader Lucy, who’s struggling with the recent loss of her brother to a congenital heart defect, and who’s also the new kid at school. Her classmates are dealing with the effects of a school shooting four years ago. As Lucy finds comfort in math and mime, this sensitive, poignant book explores all kinds of grief and healing.

Teen and young adult readers can follow the story of Millie Vargas, a high school senior trying to figure out her next steps. Now a citizen, Millie was brought to the US by her parents as a baby, and when her family is unexpectedly held up as “deserving immigrants” by a Senator on the campaign trail, Millie must decide what she wants to stand for. In Just Ash, intersex teen Ashley “Ash” Bishop has always known who he is – but when he gets his period in front of the whole boys’ soccer team, other people, including his parents, start to question him. A rare book about an intersex character, written by an intersex author, this story explores identity, acceptance, and empowerment.

Learn more about these and other forthcoming Fall 2021 titles at www.lernerbooks.com.

Music credits
"Farm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/