My Footprints

Thuy (in color) leaves two classmates in front of their school (black and white) and tromps home through new snow, leaving different kinds of footprints according to the animals she sees or remembers seeing (cardinal, deer). When she reaches home, her mommas are both out front shoveling snow. They can tell something is wrong, but Thuy doesn't want to talk about it at first, so they all play together ("I wonder what creature we can pretend to be together, because we're stronger together"). Momma Arti reminds Thuy of the Sarabha, "an unexpected combination of beautiful things." On the final page of the story, Thuy holds hands with Momma Arti and Momma Ngoc and they jump in the snow, leaving behind a trail of heart-shaped footprints.

Back show more matter includes a page each on the phoenix and the sarabha, and an author's note ("Perhaps one way to help advance a better world is to have these difficult conversations with our children rather than dismissing them or pretending they don't hurt").

Beautiful endpapers show all kinds of footprints in the snow. A helpful pronunciation guide precedes the text, on the copyright page.

Thuy (Twee)
Arti (AR-tee)
Ngoc (Ynyow)
Sarabha (sa-ra-BA) show less

‘’I want to be the biggest and scariest monster,’’ Thuy says, ‘’so that if kids at school make fun of me for having two mums, or tell me to go back where I came from, or call me names, or bother me because I’m a girl, I can make them stop!’’

A beautiful moving tale about a Vietnameze-American girl and the power of the fairytales in coping with the ugliest aspects of our lives. Beautifully illustrated and poignant, the girl has the good fortune to have two wonderful mothers who nurture her love for stories, myths and legends. I loved the fact that the writer isn’t dismissive or hostile towards tradition but uses it as a vehicle to be cherished and loved, as a force that continues to change in our modern times and as a show more pillar that offers security and knowledge.

Many thanks to Capstone Editions and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/ show less

Asian-Americans, Minnesota, bullies, self-worth-issues, self-identity, snow-season, imaginative, LGBTQIA, family-dynamics, family, Vietnamese, two-moms, love, myths-legends, multicultural*****

Thuy is frustrated by the nasties at school and imagines herself to be various invincible animals as she walks home in the snow making her footprints resemble those of the creatures she becomes. In her case she is mocked for not being Nordic and having two moms, but meanies will pick on any characteristic at all. When she gets home her moms remind her of other, more fantastical beasts to pretend to be. And most of all that she is loved.
Basia Tran fills the pages with simple, colorful illustrations which add more meaning to this book.
The ending says show more it all. I loved it! show less

My Footprints
by Bao Phi
Illustrated by Basia Tran
due 9-1-2019
Capstone
5.0/5.0

#netgalley. #MyFootprints.

What a beautiful book!
Inspiring and positive, this is about a young girl, Thuy, who is bullied because she is Vietnamese-American and because she has two moms.
Thuy uses her imagination to Express her feelings by making footprints of different animals in the snow.....fly like a bird, sprint like a deer, roar like a lion.....
Her mother's, Momma Ngoc and Momma Arti, and Thuy, begin making their own footprints in the snow, talking of different animals and their strengths.
This reminds me of how important identity, perception and a sense of belonging help mold not just us, but how others see us. Perceptions can mold the footprints we leave show more behind or how we view ourselves.
Illustrations are gorgeous, colors are beautiful and perfectly represent this story.
This is a book written for ages 5-9, but I think it could be for any age.
I look forward to seeing more from Bao Phi and Basia Tran.
Thanks to netgalley and Capstone for sending this e-book ARC for review. show less

This book's concept was very interesting and I was super excited to read this because of how intersectional and inclusive it is. While reading this, I had to keep in mind that it was intended for a very young audience. While I didn't dislike it, I didn't love it. I felt like the text was a little disjointed and could be smoother. It was an okay book and the illustrations were lovely, but it didn't knock my socks off.

*Book received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Age: primary / intermediate
Genre: realistic fiction

This book had great inclusion and would be great to include in a class library. However the way the story was written was a little choppy and the way the topics such as bullying because of race or because of the child's lesbian mothers seemed a little forced. There was great imagination in the book though. I have mixed thoughts on this book.

The story starts in medias res, which has to be a nice treat for kids who are normally spoon-fed easier tellings. And yet, it took a little while for me to understand what was going on, despite the fact that I read the blurb. The footprints are evidentiary statements.

Don't miss the pronunciation tips on the copyright page. Or the author's note at the end.

I, personally, was not wowed, but I'm sure it's me, not the book. Others will be, and I definitely do recommend this. Especially those who value diversity.