Astrid and Apollo and the Soccer Celebration

By V.T. Bidania and Dara Lashia Lee

At the Hmong July Fourth Soccer Festival, Astrid and Apollo are excited to join their dad as he watches his favorite soccer team compete. But when they have to babysit their little sister, Eliana, too, they don't know what snack she keeps asking for. To keep her from crying, they buy almost everything they see at the festival. Will they end up with a whole stroller full of yummy food?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: Aug 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781515889038

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 Kai and Siri — V.T.B.

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Dedication

Meet Astrid & Apollo

Hmong Words

Chapter 1: Cucumber Shake

Chapter 2: Sweet Snowflakes

Chapter 3: Noodle Bowls

Chapter 4: Bicycle Kick

Chapter 5: Soccer Celebration

Facts About the Hmong

Popular Food at the Hmong Soccer Festival

Glossary

Talk About It

Write It Down

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: Hmoob Nou