New for 2026 · published March 13
On Vietnamese Áo Dài Day at school, Mai finds the courage to share the story of her beautiful áo dài — a rhyming picture book told in English and tiếng Việt.
From the award-winning author of Bringing in Tết
IIBA 2024 Winner
BookFest 1st Place
Featured on SBTN national TV
IIBA 2025 Author-of-the-Year Finalist
di sản legacy
An áo dài is Vietnam's traditional dress — a long silk tunic worn over flowing trousers. In Mai's family it is a thread of love passed from grandmother to mother to daughter, and this book is the moment Mai learns to wear that thread proudly.
The plum silk begins with her hands.
The rose silk carries the story on.
The jade silk is hers to wear — and to share.
“This bilingual story invites children to honor where they come from — and to tỏa sáng, to shine, just as they are.”
câu chuyện the story
Mai's journey follows the silk thread through four feelings — each one named in both of her languages.
It's Vietnamese Áo Dài Day at school, and Mai can't wait to wear her beautiful jade áo dài.
But when Mai looks around, her outfit is different from everyone else's — and her tummy fills with butterflies.
Mai takes a deep breath and finds the courage to share the story of her áo dài with her class.
And she discovers that the very thing that made her different is something to celebrate.
hai ngôn ngữ two languages
Inside the book, Mai's story is told in English and in tiếng Việt. Here it is, straight from the book's own back cover — flip it yourself:
On Vietnamese Áo Dài Day at school, Mai is excited to wear her áo dài — a beautiful traditional dress from Vietnam. But when she realizes her outfit looks different from everyone else's, Mai must find the courage to share her story.
Through gentle rhyme and heartfelt moments, Mai's Story: The Legacy of Áo Dài celebrates cultural pride, belonging, and the bravery it takes to be yourself. This bilingual story invites children to honor where they come from — and to shine just as they are.
Vào Ngày Áo Dài Việt Nam ở trường, bé Mai háo hức được mặc áo dài – trang phục truyền thống xinh đẹp của Việt Nam. Nhưng khi nhận ra mình trông khác với các bạn, Mai cảm thấy lo lắng và cần tìm sự dũng cảm để chia sẻ câu chuyện của mình.
Qua những vần thơ nhẹ nhàng và giàu cảm xúc, Mai's Story: The Legacy of Áo Dài tôn vinh niềm tự hào văn hóa và sức mạnh của việc là chính mình. Câu chuyện song ngữ này mời gọi các em nhỏ trân trọng cội nguồn của mình – và tự tin tỏa sáng theo cách riêng.
One book the whole family can share — grandparents, parents, and kids reading together.
Gentle rhythm makes read-alouds musical in English and in Tiếng Việt.
Some readers see themselves in Mai's story — others get to peek into a friend's world.
Made for bilingual and multicultural classrooms, from circle time to International Day.
vườn từ vựng word garden
Seven real words from the book's own back cover. Flip each card to see what it means.
lớp học the classroom
Written by a teacher, Mai's Story was created to support social-emotional learning, cultural identity, and a sense of belonging.
A ready-made centerpiece for heritage weeks and culture-sharing days.
Gentle rhyme keeps young listeners leaning in from the first page.
Confidence, identity, and belonging — Mai's four feelings give the words to talk about big emotions.
English and Tiếng Việt side by side, so every reader has a way in.
tác giả & họa sĩ the creators
Award-winning author · teacher · born in Huế, Việt Nam
Kimly writes the books she wished her students had — stories where children see themselves on the page, and every child learns that being different is something to be proud of. Her debut, Bringing in Tết, won the 2024 International Impact Book Award, took 1st place at The BookFest, and was featured on SBTN national television.
Illustrated by HaMeo Pham — the same illustrator as Bringing in Tết.
mang về nhà bring it home
Three editions, one story — the newest release for 2026, available now on Amazon.
Every link opens Amazon in a new tab.
Yes — it's a bilingual picture book. Mai's story is told in English and in tiếng Việt, with gentle rhyme in both languages.
Reading age 3–10. It works as a read-aloud for the youngest listeners and as an early reader for bigger kids — 35 pages in a large 8.5″ square format.
The book itself includes reflective questions, insights, and a fun activity for kids — ready to use for SEL lessons, circle time, and International Day.
Paperback, hardcover, and Kindle — all available on Amazon. Pick the edition that fits your family or classroom on the product page.
Yes — Kimly Hoang-Nakata, the award-winning author of Bringing in Tết, and it's illustrated by the same artist, HaMeo Pham. Mai's Story is her newest book, published March 13, 2026.
