A Different Pond

Long before dawn, a young Bao Phi would wake and head to a small Minneapolis pond while his father started a long day of work. Their fishing was not a weekend pastime. They fished to put food on the table. As they waited for a bite, his father spoke of another pond back in Vietnam, the family's homeland.

The story is drawn from the author's own childhood and focuses on the quiet bond between a son and his father, shared through early mornings, patient waiting, and memories of a distant place. It is told in a gentle, reflective voice that suits young readers.

This picture book is for young children and is illustrated by Thi Bui. It explores immigration, family, and the ways a home country can live on in memory.