Folk Stories of the Hmong: Peoples of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam (World Folklore Series) [Hardcover]

Norma J. Livo (Author), Dia Cha (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0872878546 | ISBN-13: 978-0872878549 | Publication Date: September 15, 1991

Hmong culture has had an oral tradition for millennia, but the language itself did not even exist in written form until the 1950s. Compiled by famed author and storyteller Norma Livo and coauthor, Dia Cha, this is the first collection of authentic Hmong tales to be published commercially in the English language. Beginning with a description of Hmong history, culture, and folklore, the book includes 16 pages of full-color photographs of Hmong dress and needlework and 27 captivating tales divided into three sections: beginnings; how/why stories; and stories of love, magic, and fun. Appropriate for high school and adult readers, with selected stories appropriate for younger children, this collection is an important addition to multicultural units.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A beautiful book and a real labor of love.”–VOYA

“Excellent in relation to other similar materials on the same subject.”–Montgomery County Public Schools, Evaluation and Selection

“Unique collection...Offers a valuable overview of Hmong culture.”–The Rough Guides

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 135 pages
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited (September 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872878546
• ISBN-13: 978-0872878549
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,283,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars folk stories of the hmong peoples of laos, thailand, etc, August 17, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Folk Stories of the Hmong: Peoples of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam (World Folklore Series) (Hardcover)

This book thaught me alot of stories and waht happen in the pass. I should aloud every one to read this book. Even though I'm hmong and really young I want to encourage people to read.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good classic, July 29, 2005

By 

Bryan Thao Worra (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Folk Stories of the Hmong: Peoples of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam (World Folklore Series) (Hardcover)

Folk Stories of the Hmong remains one of the essential books that sadly in most cases will be found in the children's book section.

In fact, it is a very well-researched and well-written work that tries to bring the full character of the Hmong myths and folklore to a Hmong and non-Hmong audience.

It is one of the first books in the world to try and do so with great sensitivity and appreciation for the challenges involved.

The stories are easily readable, and maintains a tone that makes it easy to read aloud much in the oral traditions of old.

From a cross-cultural writer's point of view, this is in fact quite an achievement when you're bringing work like this in from a language that has largely never been studied by the West before.

While there are other larger and smaller texts out there now, each with its own strengths, Folk Stories of the Hmong still remains a key text to start with for people who are interested in the stories of the Hmong.