Finding Papa: A Poignant Picture Book About Vietnamese Immigration, Love, and Courage for Children

by Angela Pham Krans, Thi Bui (Illustrator)

This picture book based on the author’s own experience follows young Mai and her mother’s perilous journey from Vietnam to America to find Papa—who left ahead of them to start a better life for their family. 

No one can make Mai laugh like her Papa! She loves playing their favorite game—the crocodile chomp chomp! But then Papa leaves Vietnam in search of a new home for their family in America and Mai misses him very much.

Until one day, Mama and Mai pack a small bag and say goodbye to the only home Mai has ever known. And so begins Mai and Mama’s long, perilous journey by foot and by boat, through dangers and darkness, to find Papa.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Cultural, Asia, Aapi

40 pages, Hardcover

First published February 7, 2023

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have known I was going to love the art in this one because it’s Thi Bui and she’s just AMAZING. Finding Papa is based on the true story of author Angela Pham Krans who, with her mother, left Vietnam in search of her father. Told from the perspective of a little girl who loves to play “chomp chomp” with her father, readers get the opportunity to learn more about the journey many people made to leave Vietnam in 1975. I’ve been reading more about the experience of Vietnamese individuals who have been forced to leave Vietnam and each has been utterly heartbreaking. While this doesn’t delve into much graphic detail because of the target demographic, younger readers will still understand the impact these journeys had on children their age. This is one that you want to add to your collection. It was beautifully done with great storytelling and art.

[Tenesha L. Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading and loving this story! I am eagerly awaiting my physical copy. Hardship, bravery, and hope are expertly expressed through powerful writing and skillful artistry. Krans and Bui make a beautiful team! #ChompChomp 🐊

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Papa is an absolutely stunning picture book. Based on the author's experiences, it follows the story of a young girl whose father leaves Vietnam ahead of her and her mother to find work, and eventually she and her mother follow as refugees to find him. It is sweet, moving, educational, and even has a nice sense of humour about it as well. The illustrations are absolutely stunning. Highly recommended!

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, a picture book about the Vietnam refugees who left their country in the late 1970s and early 1980s for a better life. First Papa leaves, then Mai and Mama. Will Mai and Mama survive the boat ride, will they find Papa? Like the author and illustrator, the family finds itself in America. During their time away, Papa has grown a mustache.

[Peoria Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book (Picture Book category).

Spencer rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great authors note

[Beth Bauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story about refugees from Vietnam, told from a child's perspective. What makes it even better is that this story is very closely tied to the real experiences of both author and illustrator.

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

An immigration story told through the eyes of a small girl. Bui’s illustrations are charming, delightful and at times heart-breaking.

[Lisa]

Gorgeous illustrations; the story was well-told for children to read and for everyone to sit with.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the author's own experiences as a child.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the author's personal experience, this is an achingly beautiful picture book about a family separated and eventually reunited. The simple text and illustrations tell a powerful story of longing, courage, and hope. A timeless story that will resonate for readers of all ages!

[Clementine · Rating 5 out of 5]

stunning, moving, accessible. a must read.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A child's-eye view of the refugee experience, specifically the boat people from Vietnam. Pair this with Thao Lam's "The Paper Boat", Meddour's "Lubna and Pebble" and Buitrago's "Two White Rabbits" that also tackle this tough topic.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This touching immigrant story handles tough topics like separation in an easily accessible way.

[Kirsten Pendreigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an utterly engrossing story of seeking refuge, told from a small child’s perspective. Both author and illustrator lived through harrowing journeys of escape when they were children, and that authenticity shines through in the art and text. Young readers from any background will be moved by this beautiful story, told with a simple refrain of love and playfulness. Highly recommend!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations help tell a story of immigration in a very child-friendly way.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie’s Picks: FINDING PAPA by Angela Pham Krans and Thi Bui, ill., Harper, February 2023, 40p., ISBN: 978-0-06-306096-8

“When it comes to the economy, immigration has fostered innovation, fueled growth, and helped to shape the development of whole industries. Immigrants practically invented Silicon Valley. They’ve had an outsize role in high-tech, now one of the national economy’s largest components, starting and running major new companies and spearheading innovations in them — think Google’s Russian-born co-founder, Sergey Brin, or eBay’s founder, Pierre Omidyar, born in France to Iranian migrant parents. In 2018, over half of the 91 U.S. startup companies valued at $1 billion or more had at least one immigrant founder; more than 80% of these companies employed immigrants in key management or product development roles, commonly as chief technology officers and vice presidents of engineering.”
– CUNY Graduate Center, “HOW IMMIGRATION CHANGED U.S. SOCIETY” (2022)

“There was a lady name of Annie May
She fell in love at the zoo one day
That crocodile with the big white smile
Stole her very heart away”
– Janis Ian (2006)

“Mai’s favorite game to play with Papa was the crocodile chomp. When Papa went ‘CHOMP! CHOMP!’ Mai would giggle and squeal. Crocodiles were scary, but Papa was not.
One morning, Papa gave Mai a long hug. It was longer than usual. Papa gave Mama a big kiss. It was bigger than usual.
Then Mai watches Papa walk down the village dirt road. Papa always waved and smiled at the end of the road, but this time, Papa cried.
Papa did not come home for dinner. He did not come home for playtime, either.
‘Chomp, chomp,’ Mai said to herself.”

Mama and Mai stay behind in their Vietnamese village of rice paddies and palm trees and dirt roads while Papa ventures off to find a new home for the family. Letters periodically arrive from Papa, until it is time for Mama and Mai to reunite with him in America.

FINDING PAPA is a beautiful, love-filled, picture book story of a young child’s immigration experience. The tale, which is based on the author’s own family story, focuses on Mama and Mai’s arduous and dangerous journey to get to their new country and new home. They depart Vietnam in an overcrowded boat, one not designed for long oceanic trips. When a storm and huge waves threaten to capsize the small craft, the boatload of refugees are rescued by a large ship that happens to spot them. After a stay at a refugee center, Mai and Mama cross the ocean and are finally reunited with Papa.

FINDING PAPA will make for a captivating circle time tale. Young children can be prompted to learn about their own immigrant backgrounds, or those of their ancestors, and to bring stories to share with the class. You tell me your story, and I’ll tell you about my Sicilian immigrant grandparents.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mai’s Papa has left her and Mama to find a new home for their family. Mai misses him, especially their game where Papa went “Chomp! Chomp!” with his hands, pretending to be a crocodile. One day, Mai and Mama pack a small bag and leave as well. Mai hugs her favorite mango street, gives her pet chicken a kiss, and they set out, with Mai riding on Mama’s back. They sneak through rice paddies and wade through the river. They board a boat with lots of people on it, but no Papa. After a big storm fills their boat with water, they are rescued by a big ship. Finally the boat reaches a new land where there are people who help them locate Papa. They make it to America, where they find Papa.

The story is based on the real life journey that the author took in 1983 from Vietnam to America, as one of the so called “boat people” fleeing hardship in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. It’s also the tender story of a child missing her father, and of the people who help her family along the way. Although it is a scary to leave one’s home and all that is familiar, this book is written in a way that is appropriate for young children to understand. The art work conveys deep feelings of fear and worry, but little Mai is clearly loved and cared for by her parents. Kids will understand that families sometimes have to do hard things, but that love will always be there. Both the author and the illustrator have a note at the end explaining their own families’ journeys from Vietnam.

Note: There are several images that come across as blurry, as if they were enlarged at bit too much, but this doesn’t detract from the overall quality of the story.

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Krans uses her own immigration story for the basis of Mai's tale.

Growing up happily in a village in Vietnam, Mai's beloved father leaves home and does not return home. When she asks about him, her mother tells her that he is out looking for a new home from them. One night, Mai and her mother sneak out of their home after bidding all of their good-byes and make the cross country trek to get on a boat waiting for them. Together, they brave the storm in the boat and are picked up by a large ship and gain refuge in another country. With help from the Red Cross, they travel to America, where they are reunited with her father as a family. An Author's Note and Artist's Note tell of their immigration experiences - which are very similar to that of Mai.

Krans' spare text lays out Mai's story beautifully. Told from a child's point of view, the fear, apprehension, and concern for their future plays out realistically. Thi Bui once again visualy captures the feeling of Vietnam - the place and the people in her artwork.

Be sure to include this gem in units on immigration. Highly Recommended for K-3.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because I saw that Thi Bui was the artist, and because I had a kind of personal connection. I was just beginning teaching during the fall of Saigon and I was present for and part of the response to the influx of south Vietnamese refugees into this country. I am sure there must have been problems in the process, but I never heard or read about them. I only experienced the generosity and open arms in Holland, Michigan, where I lived and taught at the time. Some high schools came into our school and they spoke zero English, and we had to figure out how to teach them and help them integrate into US society, as traumatized as they all were.

Finding Papa is the story of a woman and her daughter traveling dangerously to join their father/husband in the US. The woman got on one of these overloaded boats and flagged down a Dutch shipping vessel who took them all in and carried them to Singapore where they made their way to the US and met with Papa.

The story is inspiring and can help kids connect compassionately with other refugee stories. Touching

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heartwarming story of a father leaving his wife and child to find a better life outside of Vietnam is full of so much love. Mai loves her father who always makes her laugh. She notices one day his goodbyes are different. She does not understand when he does not return that evening. Her mother tries to comfort her and remind her that they will find Papa soon. The travel to find Papa is arduous at best, but the love in their hearts guides them along the way.

WOW! Simply amazing story of resilience, hope, the helpers around the world, and family. This book will be on my shelves for my older readers as it is a relocation story that will certainly spur much discussion about why families leave their homes and travel elsewhere, especially after war. I love my picture books for older readers and my students in upper elementary love to find books that speak to their own family history in some way. Years ago I had a student looking for stories from Vietnam and Korea. I had few. I am fixing that now, thanks to authors like Angela Pham Krans and illustrators like Thi Bui.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very dramatic story. We meet a family in Vietnam. Then, one day, the Papa leaves and the family misses him terribly. After some time, the mother and daughter go on a journey to find him. We see them walking through water and forests. They take a trip on a ship that isn't the safest and get in trouble during a storm. They are saved and the refugees are taken care of.

Finally, they get to America and reunite with Papa.

The artwork is amazing. The colors help create tension and a feeling of peril. It's very well done. Beautiful.

It's hard to think about actually having to do this in life. How special our country is that people from all over the world look to the US for a place that has a future, that has hope, that has opportunities. We are so special. I hope we can hold on to that Freedom and not trade it in for a useless King.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Mai's father leaves to find a new home, Mai and her mother wait for his letters, until finally he tells them to come. They pack a small bag, walk through a swamp (where there might be alligators) and start a long journey. Hopefully Papa is at the end.

Based on the author's real-life experience leaving Vietnam with her mother in 1983. Thi Bui, the illustrator is also an immigrant from Vietnam a few years earlier. The story is poignant, with illustrations of wading through waist high water, climbing a cargo net to get on a ship, and feeling weak from hunger. I like having picture books about the immigration experience, and this is the first I've read from Vietnam.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful story of this family's journey to search for a better life outside their own country. Mai's papa loves her dearly but one day he leaves. Mai is too young to understand why. Her mama and she continue to live in their village and miss him. They do have letters from him but it's not the same. One night, they too leave quietly and make a scary journey across fields, a river and an ocean. Readers travel with them every step of the journey until they are reunited with a stranger who is Papa. The courage involved in this trip comes through the text and illustrations. A gentle look at those who braved so much to make a better life for their families.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: Mai and her papa like to play crocodile chomp with their hands. Papa leaves Vietnam to go to America to make a better life for his wife and daughter. Mai does not understand where her father has gone and waits for him to return each day to play. Mama packs and bag and takes her little one on a long journey through the rice paddies, across a river, and onto a boat across the ocean to a refugee camp in Singapore until they are released when Mama travels in the city to find her husband.

This story is based on the author and her mother, who journeyed in 1983 from Vietnam to America. Both author and illustrator share their families' journey of immigration.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

[Lacey Sudano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Finding Papa is a unique story because there aren't a lot of stories about families emigrating. At least, I haven't seen a lot of children's books on families emigrating. Many children who have gone through the emigration process and then later became immigrants may relate to the characters in the story. When children see themselves in the characters, they feel motivated, valued, and seen. It helps them process their emotions and makes them feel more like they aren't alone. I thought this story had many happy moments and a few sad ones. These moments in the book help children understand how the characters are feeling in a specific situation. I would recommend reading this book, especially in a classroom setting where diversity is important.

[Sarah Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Finding Papa" is a heartfelt story that follows a young girl named Mai and her mother as they leave Vietnam in search of her father in America. The narrative is inspired by the author’s own experiences and highlights the myriad challenges they face at sea, including dangerous conditions and uncertain outcomes. With its engaging storyline and vibrant illustrations, the book not only captures the imagination of young readers but also serves as a catalyst for meaningful discussions about the reasons behind immigration and the resilience of families in search of a better life.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read more.
Escaping Communist Vietnam through the eyes of a small child, and based on the true stories of the Boat People.

She fled her home country with her mother to find her father, after waiting a long time. He escaped before them, to make a place for them. Wading through a swamp, riding a tilting boat, being saved, a refugee camp, and then... America. And finding Papa.

A small detail with her father was really sweet, and comforted her throughout the turmoil.

Amazing author and illustrator notes at the end.

[Marietta Apollonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Just Beautiful. FINDING PAPA is a testament to family and overcoming outrageous odds to reunite, in a way that kids can understand. The playfulness of CHOMP CHOMP between Papa and Mai, and how Mai carries that through an arduous journey to comfort herself, really touches the heart. The strength and determination of Mai's mother shines through. Illustrations are beautifully rendered and emotional.