A fictionalized picture-book memoir of the Hmong author's childhood focuses on her grandmother, who is "so old, no one knows how old she is." When her grandmother was young, on the other side of the world, she "once looked into the gleaming eyes of a tiger and felt its hot breath on her face." Now she is old, with a single tooth left in her mouth. Her grandchildren believe themselves lucky to be able to help take care of her. The child narrator's job is clipping her grandmother's fingernails and toenails while the latter shares stories of her own childhood. Grandmother and her three younger siblings were orphaned and often hungry, and that's the reason Grandmother never says no when offered food today. As the child narrator grows, she begins to understand the economic challenges her own family faces, and to realize that her grandmother is beginning to lose some of her words, but she is always reminded of her grandmother's smile as "the most beautiful thing." The theme of respect and love for an aging family member is central to this moving story, as is the stunning, expressive art that includes visual references to Hmong fabric. (Ages 6-9)

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

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