Description: "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 âao dáai, a traditional Vietnamese outfit, to her Ba Noi's party, Mai is disappointed. Stars don't wear âao dáai, she thinks. Then Ba tells her the story of a true star, her very own Ba Noi, who sewed beautiful, highly sought-after âao dáai in Vietnam and brought her magic with her when she immigrated to the United States."--Provided by publisher.
Brief description: Dung Ho (pronounced Dzung) is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling picture book Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, Eyes that Speak to the Stars, Me and Ms. Too, The Mindy Kim books, and many others. Born and raised in Hue, Vietnam, she worked in the design and advertising industries before discovering a great passion for illustration and picture books and becoming a freelance illustrator. She lives and works in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Review Quotes: Told entirely through naturally expressed and well-paced dialogue and accompanied by vividly textured illustrations, this is a loving tale of a family finding a creative way to reshape a beloved tradition. Thoughtful and joyful. --Kirkus "02/15/25"