Piecing Earth and Sky Together

A Creation Story from the Mien Tribe of Laos
By Nancy Raines Day, Genna Panzarella
Hardcover: $17.95

“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…”

Description

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.

About the Creators

Nancy Raines Day
Nancy Raines Day

Nancy Raines Day is known for her clever concept books, many in rhyme. She is the author of Baby's Firsts, A Kitten's Year and The Lion's Whiskers: An Ethiopian Folktale, a New York Times Notable Book. Nancy, who also consults on picture book manuscripts for fellow children's writers, resides in Georgia with her husband. Visit her online at nancyrainesday.com.

Genna Panzarella
Genna Panzarella

Genna Panzarella is an artist and teacher living near San Francisco, where she and her husband raised two sons. When she is not teaching or creating art, you will find Genna riding her horses. She also loves to travel and has been to South East Asia as well as Africa, India, and China. Genna received her BFA at Washington State University, and studied for a year in Aixen-Provence, France. Genna's artwork has explored many media, including fabrics, clothing, glass, oils, bronze, and even chalk drawing on sidewalks. Visit Genna online at gennasart.com.

Reviews

  • "Traditional Mien stitches are illustrated, and both the source of the tale and the models for Koh and Toh are cited. The beautiful illustrations are done in colored pencils, which make a rich and textured page with depths like a dark jewel; deep indigos, violets, and greens predominate. An intriguing presentation that should reach a wide audience."

    - Booklist
  • "In this myth, two siblings create earth and sky with needle and thread. . . The results are depicted in a lavish double spread, enlarged by flaps, showing an Edenic Cambodian rain forest, rich in animal life. Cast within the frame of a story told by a grandmother while she and her small granddaughter stitch together, the tale is attributed by the author to older members of the Mien community from the Laotian Handcraft Project of Berkeley, CA."

    - School Library Journal

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781643797342
  • Publication Date Nov 01, 2001
  • Trim Size 10.5 × 8 in
  • Weight N/A
  • Page Count 36
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781885008190
  • Publication Date Nov 01, 2001
  • Trim Size 10.75 × 8.5 × 0.4 in
  • Weight 0.9375 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / Legends, Myths, Fables / Asian
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / People & Places / Asia
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Family / Siblings
  • Themes Asian / Asian American / AAPI, Earth / Sun / Moon System, Fiction, Folktale / Folklore / Traditional Literature
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 5 - 9
  • Grade Range Grades K - 4
  • Guided Reading P
  • ATOS Book Level 2.8
  • DRA 38
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
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