I thought at first that Ánh’s New Word: A Story about Learning a New Language would be more about the learning of English as a second language than what it was. Now, yes, it is about learning English, but it is also about learning how to be brave, how to have the courage to try and the idea of family being there for you.
Anh is a young child who moved to the US from Vietnam and is living in a relocation camp with her siblings and grandmother. Her teacher helps her the best she can, but with little to no English, Ahn is afraid of making a mistake. But with the help of a sweater with a cute animal on it, Anh learns that with a little help from those that love you, anything is possible.
Hanh Bui and Bao Luu based their story of personal experiences (the actual teacher who inspired the story is mentioned in the extras) and made that into a sweet book about Anh and her struggles and success. The book is both cozy and light, plus serious and medium intense. We know that Anh will learn, but the how and when is what we wait for. The colors and illustrations that are used bring to life a probably little known piece of history.
There are a few extras included. They are (as mentioned) about the real teacher, the story of the creators and a bit more. I read this due in mid to late May 2024 picture book via an online reader copy.