INTRODUCTION
This reading guide is designed to accompany Kao Kalia Yang and Seo Kim’s picture book A Map into the World. We hold the belief that anti-racist practice is a process of learning (and unlearning) over time. Reading Is Resistance sees reading as an opportunity to seed deeper conversations and possibilities for action around racial justice in our communities.
Lesson content was written by Raina Christian and was designed to start and deepen anti-bias/anti-racist conversations in families and other learning communities. Editors were MaKenna Smith and Katelynn Sagendorf.
BOOK THEMES
IDENTITY, LIFE, DIVERSITY, DEATH, ACTION, NATURE, NEIGHBORS, SEASONS, REFUGEE, IMMIGRATION
THE READ ALOUD
BOOK SUMMARY
Paj Ntaub and her family are amongst the thousands of Hmong people who survived the “Secret War” in Laos during the war in Vietnam. Thousands lived in refugee camps in Thailand for years before immigrating to the United States. Join Paj Ntaub and her family as they welcome her two baby brothers, explore their new neighborhood, connect with elderly neighbors, and discover their natural surroundings in Minnesota. Through Paj Ntaub’s daily experiences, readers can reflect and discuss themes of immigration, refugees, belonging, identity, life, grief, death and empathy. The book features simple and lyrical words with beautiful illustrations reflecting the stories and emotions embodied in Hmong traditional needlework.
FULL READING GUIDE (download here)
For the full reading guide including discussion questions based on anti-oppression capacity building, download below!