Thanhha Lai Knihy

No one would believe me but at times I would choose wartime in Saigon over peacetime in Alabama. For all the ten years of her life, HÀ has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, the warmth of her friends close by . . . and the beauty of her very own papaya tree. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. HÀ and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, HÀ discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food, the strange shape of its landscape . . . and the strength of her very own family. This is the moving story of one girl's year of change, dreams, grief, and healing as she journeys from one country to another, one life to the next.

This collection showcases childhood works from prominent children’s authors and illustrators, highlighting their early creativity and the unique perspectives that shaped their storytelling. Award-winning author Elissa Brent Weissman curates these quirky and insightful pieces, offering a glimpse into the formative experiences that influenced these writers and artists, while celebrating the inspiration they continue to provide in the literary world today.