Help Me Read

Lao Children's Bilingual Books

Dance Mice, Dance!

By Kuang-ts'ai Hao, Grimm Press/Pan Asian Publications, 1994.

This retold version of 'The Pied Piper of Hamlin' is an entertaining and meaningful story about a magical flute player who is too easily affected by praise. He becomes proud, overconfident, and lazy. Although the townspeople desert him, little mice befriend him. And through these mice, the flute player eventually appreciates the value of his talent, and learns the importance of friendship.

The Emperor and the Nightingale

Retold by Hao Kuang-ts'ai, Grimm Press/Pan Asian Publications, 1994.

Will the emperor give up his favorite horse? His kingdom? What price will he pay for immortality? The answer to this question is answered in this haunting and beautiful story about an emperor's decision to ultimately put what he loves before his own life.

  • 32 pages
  • hard cover
  • Chinese/English: $16.95 (UWA), Hmong/English: $16.95 [Pan Asian Publications] ISBN 1572270268
  • Khmer/English: $16.95 (UWA) ISBN 1572270233
  • Lao/English: $16.95 (UWA)
  • Tagalog/English: $16.95 (UWA)
  • Buy at Powell's
Encircled Kingdom: Legends and Folktales of Laos

By Jewell Reinhart Coburn, Burn Hart and Co, 1994.

The book is a collection of stories and legendary tales from Laos. It contains a number of the Xieng Mieng stories, as well as other popular Lao classics such as 'The Rooster and the Jewel', 'Porcupines and Promises - the origin of the Mekong River'. The stories tell of birds and animals, beggars and kings, princesses and peasants. We are introduced the Baci ceremony as well as several stories written in Lao/English. The story of 'The Rooster and the Jewel' has been translated into Lao, Hmong, Vietnamese, Khmer and English. This is an excellent book for the young people to learn something about these traditions and past oral Lao literature.

Four Champa Trees

By Alice Lucas / You-Shan Tang, Voices of Liberty, 1990.

A king's four sons, slain by an evil queen, return to life as champa trees and avenge their mother's banishment. A bilingual folktale about a good and evil queen and how magic saves the innocent.

The Giant and the Spring

By Kuang-ts'ai Hao, Pan Asian Publications, 1994.

What happens when a lonely Giant captures Spring and won't let it go? In this thoughtful tale, the themes of selfishness and sharing are explored as the Giant comes to realize his selfishness. His release of Spring at the end of the story is sure to touch every young reader.

How the Farmer Tricked the Evil Demon

By Alice Lucas, Pacific Asia Press, 1994.

In this Cambodian folk story, the farmer uses traditional crops and farmer techniques to outwit a demon who demands half of everything he grows.

Laos and the Laotians

By Khamchong Luangpraseut, Pacific Asian Press, 1995.

With his heart and soul, the author attempts to address the complex nature of the Laotian multi-ethnic society. The book comes with captivating and sensitive illustrations by Halinka Luangpraseut.

Other Languages

Amharic | Chinese | Hmong | Khmer | Lao | Multilingual | Phillipine | Samoan | Somalian | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese

Site developed by Page Ahead, Fremont Public Association, Family Literacy Coalition of Puget Sound and Washington Reading Corps.

Site Map or Search

Suggestions or comments? .

Creative Commons License