The Most Beautiful Thing

The Most Beautiful Thing

Kao Kalia Yang

Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

A warmhearted and tender true story about a young girl finding beauty where she never thought to look. Drawn from author Kao Kalia Yang's childhood experiences as a Hmong refugee, this moving picture book portrays a family with a great deal of love and little money. Weaving together Kalia's story with that of her beloved grandmother, the book moves from the jungles of Laos to the family's early years in the United States. When Kalia becomes unhappy about having to do without and decides she wants braces to improve her smile, it is her grandmother―a woman who has just one tooth in her mouth―who helps her see that true beauty is found with those we love most. Stunning illustrations from Vietnamese illustrator Khoa Le bring this intergenerational tale to life. "A deep and moving reflection on enduring hardship and generational love. . . . Poignant storytelling with stunning visuals."―starred, Kirkus Reviews "A sincere narrative that centers on the power of family love."―starred, School Library Journal Minnesota Book Award Finalist, ALA Notable Children's Book, New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, NPR Best Book of the Year


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  • reading_with_jo
    Mar 11, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

    The Most Beautiful Thing is a beautifully written and illustrated story centering around Kalia and her grandmother. It sheds light on what it is like growing up in an immigrant family where times are hard but through her grandmothers stories she comes to see that her life is truly beautiful.

    *ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

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  • Sadkay
    Mar 27, 2025
    Enjoyment: Quality: Characters: Plot:

    Sweet story of family and the art of story telling that gets passed down from older generations.

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