Piecing Earth and Sky Together: A Creation Story from the Mien Tribe of Laos

"In the beginning, a helper from heaven named Faam Koh came down to make the sky. His sister, Faam Toh, came down to make the earth..."

So begins the delightful story of a very competitive pair of siblings who use the distinctive embroidery of the Mien people to create the earth and sky. Because both siblings want to make their part of the world the most beautiful, they work in secret until it is finally time to reveal their handiwork, and find out that the two pieces don't fit together!

The two try stretching the sky--only to result in some stuffing falling out as clouds, but Faam Toh solves the problem by stitching the fabric into mountains, rivers, gorges, and valleys. Only then do the earth and sky fit together perfectly, allowing all the plants and animals to thrive.

Like the detailed Mien embroidery in the story, Nancy Raines Day's retelling of this traditional Mien tale and Genna Panzarella's striking illustrations complete each other like the earth and sky. Together, they create a book that is alive with the richness and beauty of the Mien culture and of the earth itself. An author's explanation of the tradition and significance of Mien embroidery follows the story.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Shen's Books
Published: 11/01/2001
ISBN: 9781885008190
Pages: 32
Weight: 0.93lbs
Size: 10.76h x 8.40w x 0.40d

Review Citations: Booklist 04/01/2002 pg. 1329
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 05/01/2002 pg. 317
School Library Journal 07/01/2002 pg. 105
Multicultural Review 09/01/2002 pg. 109
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2002 pg. 409 - Below Average, With Minor Flaw
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2002 pg. 409 - Below Average, With Minor Flaw

Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 58896 / Piecing Earth and Sky Together: A Creation Story from the Mien Tribe of Laos
Reading Level: 2.8 / Interest Level: Lower Grade / Point Value: 0.5