"Malichansouk Kouanchao is a Laotian-American artist, but once upon a time she was a child living through difficult times. Her life seemed idyllic, portrayed in spring-hued watercolors surrounded by intricately designed borders. The simple text describes the little girl playing in rice paddies, cooking spicy food and attending weddings, where the custom was to tie ceremonial strings around relatives’ wrists to seal familial love. Then the story and the paintings grow darker. The Lao people endured civil war and American bombings, and many faced political persecution, though the text does not explicitly say why or when Mali’s family fled. Lao words are sprinkled throughout the text, almost as a poetic refrain, and these words in Lao script appear in dialogue bubbles in the corresponding double-page spreads. In a unique touch, the Lao numbers appear on each page. This biographical account is presented as a story rather than as a piece of nonfiction, and as such, it's not quite as compelling as it might have been with more specific details. A note from Mali and an essay by Thavisouk Phrasavath at the end help provide some context. (Picture book. 4-7) " www.kirkusreviews.com

This is a heartfelt story of a little girl in Laos and how there are many people out and traveling places all around and she is wondering where they are going. Then noone is traveling around any more and her family has to move. This is a good book that critically looks at the idea of war and how it affects families, causig themt o migrate out of the country. ( )

Narrated by a young girl named Mali - meaning "jasmine" in the Lao language - this simple picture-book sets out the story of a Lao child and her family: their everyday pleasures, their celebrations and customs. When a terrible civil war brings death and destruction, they are forced to flee their country in the night, crossing the wide Mekong River in a wooden boat, sleeping under the night sky, and eventually finding themselves in a prison camp in Thailand. The child narrator has reached a terrible place, in the world and within herself - "Now Mali was in the worst place she had ever been, a crowded jail. Angry tired jailers. No flowers, no fish. No trees and no home. Was everything lost to her?" But then she looks at the strings tied around her wrists, in the leave-taking ceremony before she left behind all that she knew, and is reminded of her family and home...

Told mostly in English, with a few Lao words mixed in (both in transliteration, and in the Lao script), Mali Under the Night Sky is the true story of a real little girl, Lao-American artist Malinchansouk Kouanchao, and her childhood flight, with her family, from her home in Laos. In Mali's afterword (the story itself is written and illustrated by Youme Landowne), she mentions meeting other artists from around the world, and discussing where they come from, writing: "we all find that our homes are safe in our hearts, even though they may not be safe in the world." And that, in a nutshell, is what this book is all about: holding home in the heart, in an uncertain and dangerous world. It is a moving story, paired with somewhat naive illustrations that, although not exactly to my taste, suite the simple text very well. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories that gently address the (un-gentle) themes of war, and becoming a refugee, or to anyone interested in Lao culture. ( )

The true story of Lao-American artist Malichansouk Kouanchao, who walked with her family from Laos to Thailand when she was five-years-old. An outstanding refugee story. Well-written and beautifully illustrated. ( )

Mali under the night sky: A Lao story of home by Youme Landowne

The Text: A little girl named Mali loves her peaceful, happy home in Laos. She loves her family, climbing trees, and celebrating together. But war is coming closer and nothing is safe or happy anymore. So Mali and her family run through the night, cross the great river in a small boat, and escape. When they arrive in a new country, they are put in jail “for not having a home.” Mali keeps her memories and stories close though, knowing they will stay with her through the journey to a new home.

The Illustrations: The pictures have a simple, childlike quality. Mali and her family and the world they live in are shown in swirling colors. The illustrated spreads are bordered with colored patterns, making each picture stand out like a separate glimpse into Mali’s life.

The Extras: Malichansouk Kouanchao has included a message about her experiences and her belief in the power of creativity and stories. One of her pieces of art, Self Portrait, is also included. An additional message from author and artist Thavisouk Phrasavath is also included.

Verdict: The simple text and illustrations do a good job of expressing the story of a refugee from a child’s point of view. However, I would have liked more background information and framing for the story. I couldn’t figure out what Phrasavath had to do with the story and there isn’t any information about the events in Laos/Thailand. We don’t even know the names of the countries from the stories, only from the publisher’s flap copy. Is there some significance to the patterns in the borders? How did Mali get from Thailand (presumably the country where her family was imprisoned) to the US? Did Youme collaborate with Mali to write this story? Too many questions are left unanswered.

ISBN: 978-1933693682; Published October 2010 by Cinco Puntos Press; Borrowed from the library