Astrid and Apollo and the Happy New Year

By V.T. Bidania and Dara Lashia Lee

Dressed in their traditional New Year clothes, Astrid and Apollo attend the Hmong New Year Festival. While at the noisy and jam-packed celebration, they accidentally become separated from their family and end up lost in the crowds. Follow along on their adventure as they try to find their way back to their mom, dad, and little sister, Eliana.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: Aug 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781515889021

V.T. Bidania

V.T. Bidania was born in Laos and grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. She spent most of her childhood writing stories and now that she’s an adult, she is thrilled to be writing stories for children. She has an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from The New School and is a recipient of the Loft Literary Center’s Mirrors & Windows Fellowship. She lives outside of the Twin Cities with her family.

Book preview

For my sister Sheng — V.T.B.

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Dedication

Meet Astrid & Apollo

Hmong Words

Chapter 1: Don’t Get Lost

Chapter 2: Hiccups

Chapter 3: Pong Zong

Chapter 4: Three Little Puppies

Chapter 5: You’re Famous!

Facts About the Hmong

More About the Hmong New Year

Glossary

Talk About It

Write About It

About the Author

About the Illustrator

Copyright

Back Cover

Meet Astrid & Apollo

Hmong Words

gao (GOW)— girl; it is often placed in front of a girl’s name. Hmong spelling: nkauj Gao Chee (GOW chee)— shiny girl. Hmong spelling: Nkauj Ci Gao Nou (GOW new)— sun girl. Hmong spelling: Nkauj Hnub Hmong (MONG)— a group of people who came to the U.S. from Laos. Many Hmong from Laos now live in Minnesota. Hmong spelling: