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2021deep night
Awards & Honors

We learned to lead
with Light.

From Vietnamese legends told at bedtime to leading with light on the world's stage — our books, our author, and our family have been honored again and again. Scroll, and watch the night they were earned brighten into morning.

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Honors
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First-Place Wins
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Award-Winning Books
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Yrs Top Doctor
Kimly Hoang-Nakata's engraved International Impact Book Awards glass trophy, spotlit in gold dust
The brightest star — Kimly's IIBA trophy
↓ begin the dawn
2021 – 2024 · The family's other light

Before the books, there was the doctor

Four years running, Dr. Roger Nakata was named one of San Diego's Top Doctors.

Watercolor of two cupped hands cradling a glowing warm light surrounded by lotus petals — a symbol of healing and care
San DiegoTop
Doctor
4 Years Running

San Diego's Top Doctor Award

Medicine
Dr. Roger Nakata, D.O.
'21'22'23'24
2024 · Dawn breaks

The year Tet went everywhere

One bilingual Lunar New Year story, two national honors.

Watercolor illustration of a joyful child clapping at a friendly lion dance, celebrating Vietnamese Tet
Winner

International Impact Book Awards

Children's Education
Bringing in Tet
BookFest1st
First Place

The BookFest Award · Spring 2024

Children's Picture Books
Bringing in Tet
As Seen On National Television

SBTN Television featured Bringing in Tet's first-place win in a national broadcast for the Vietnamese-American community.

▶ Watch the SBTN feature
2025 · Sunrise nears

The book that named what we do

Lead with light — recognized in women's personal development and leadership.

Watercolor of a woman walking a path of lotus blossoms toward a radiant sunrise — leading with light
Winner

International Impact Book Awards

Women's Personal Development & Leadership
The Glow: How to Lead with Light and Live with Purpose

Kimly's guide to leading with light — the thesis this whole family lives by.

2025 · Sunrise

Moon lanterns, legends, first place

Our newest bilingual picture book takes the top prize.

Watercolor of a glowing full moon with a jade rabbit above floating paper lanterns and a lotus pond — the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
First Place

The BookFest Award · Spring 2025

Children's Books
Bringing in the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

Rhyming poems based on Vietnamese legends.

2025 · First full light

The brightest light is a person

International Impact Book Awards — Author of the Year 2025 Finalist, Kimly Hoang-Nakata
Author of the Year · Finalist
Kimly Hoang-Nakata
M.Ed. · International Impact Book Awards 2025
Six honors · One family

Every light, named

BookFest First Place
2025 · Moon Festival
Author of the Year
2025 · Finalist
IIBA Winner
2024 · Tet
BookFest First Place
2024 · Tet
IIBA Winner
2025 · The Glow
Top Doctor ×4
2021–2024
From the archives

The official announcements

BookFest Spring 2025 First Place announcement
BookFest Spring 2025 — First Place 🏆
Author of the Year 2025 Finalist announcement
Author of the Year 2025 — Finalist ✨
The engraved IIBA trophy
The trophy on our shelf 🌟

Bring an award-winner home

Every book on this page is ready for your family's shelf — bilingual stories that win awards and hearts.

Shop Children's Books Discover The Glow