The Sun In Her Soul

Are you seeking a colorful, magical, and humorous book to encourage kids to embrace their heritages, cultures, languages, customs, and lifestyles? Have you ever explored Vietnamese American identities and themes in a picture book? Do you want to learn more about Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other diverse voices? Well, this book teaches some interesting insights about Vietnamese American culture using catchy rhymes, incredible illustrations, and memorable characters.

Stacy J. Shaneyfelt’s The Sun In Her Soul: Michelle Tran’s Magical Vietnamese Fan, co-authored by Michelle Tran, collaborated with Maxell Nguyen, and illustrated by Joshua “Kira” Aso, offers an engaging and delightful celebration of a Vietnamese American child’s bicultural and biracial identity. Bounce and dance along with the bubbly main character as she experiences some valuable life lessons, surges in self-esteem, and new friendships while sharing her Vietnamese paper fan in class.

In turn, uncover how all students and their teacher learn, bond, and grow from this cultural exchange; one that is inspired by real life events from their own experiences in a former English classroom. Stacy Shanefelt, an educator, parent, and former Fulbright participant to Vietnam, co-authored this book with her former students to promote equity and inclusion in literacy.

There is so much to adore about this book that delivers “A Constellation of Asian-American Pride and Culture.” The writers advocate that all children should see themselves in books, so they target this critical social justice objective, but with twists of drama, humor, fantasy, and poetry. For example, “her favorite was the paper fan, a treasure for sure. As a special Vietnamese symbol, the quạt giấy will always endure.”

Here’s what you’ll gain from this book:

• 10+ fun facts, basic Vietnamese words, and cultural knowledge about Vietnam.
• 10+ colorful and kid-friendly illustrations by an amazing Asian artist.
• 5+ themes of diversity, self-acceptance, tolerance, friendship, and more!
• 5+ English vocabulary words with context clues.
• A free gift of 10+ post-reading family fun, art activities, and literacy extensions.
• 5+ examples of rhyming words, similes, metaphors, and figurative language devices.

Buy now to feel this Vietnamese American magic and heritage shine! This book creatively demonstrates how and why we need to proudly honor and boldly express our cultures, customs, languages, histories, and traditions. While the book’s focus is on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, it also propels us all, regardless of gender, religion, socioeconomic status, age, language, culture, ability, disability, or lifestyle, to accept, learn more, ask questions, and share with everyone to make diversity our superpower!