Yam Uas Zoo Nkauj Tshaj Plaws (The Most Beautiful Thing‪)‬

A warmhearted and tender true story about a young girl finding beauty where she never thought to look, now in Hmong.

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

Zaj dab neeg sov siab thiab hmov tshua uas muaj tseeb hais txog ib tug ntxhais hluas uas pom qhov kev zoo nkauj los ntawm qhov uas nws ib txwm xav tias yuav ntsia.

Muab los ntawm tus neeg sau Kao Kalia Yang lub keeb neej me nyuam yaus tam li yog ib tug neeg Hmoob tawg rog, phau ntawv muaj duab no piav qhia txog ib tsev neeg uas tsis muaj nyiaj ntau thiab muaj txoj kev hlub loj heev. Kev muab Kalia zaj dab neeg hais txog ntawm nws pog tus nws hmov tshua los sib sau ua ke, phau ntawv no pib hais txij ntua thaum tseem nyob rau hav zoov hav tsuag tim Nplog Teb los mus txog rau lub neej thaum tsev neeg nyuam qhuav tuaj txog hauv Teb Chaws Meskas no.

Thaum Kalia rais los mus tsis muaj kev zoo siab txog qhov yuav tsum tau ua yam tsis muaj thiab txiav txim siab tias nws xav zawm kaus hniav los pab kho kom nws luag zoo nkauj, uas yog nws pog uas tau pab ua kom nws pom tias qhov kev zoo nkauj tiag-tiag yuav pom tau ntawm cov uas peb hlub tshaj plaws. Cov duab dhos rau los ntawm tus kws kos duab neeg Nyab Laj uas hu ua Khoa Le tau ua rau zaj neej neeg nyob rau ntau tiam no pom txog lub neej tiag-tiag.

"Kev qhia kom pom tob thiab kho siab txog kev tiv kev txom nyem thiab kev hlub nyob rau ntau tiam... Kev piav dab neeg tu siab nrog rau muaj duab nrog."—zoo tshwj xeeb, Kirkus Reviews


"Kev piav qhia yam dawb paug uas hais txog lub zog ntawm tsev neeg txoj kev sib hlub."—zoo tshwj xeeb, School Library Journal

Tus Tau Nkag Mus Rau Minnesota Book Award Lwm Kawg Kiag, ALA Phau Ntawv Rau Me Nyuam Yaus Uas Zoo Tshaj Plaws, New York Public Library Phau Ntawv Uas Zoo Tshaj Plaws Rau Me Nyuam Yaus, NPR Phau Ntawv Uas Zoo Tshaj Plaws Hauv Lub Xyoo