21FA-LS-5653 - Asian Pacific American Literature: A Different Pond by Bao Phi

 

"I look at the trees as we walk back to the car. I wonder what the trees look like at that other pond, in the country my dad comes from."

Bibliography:
Phi, Bao. 2017. A Different Pond. Illustrated by Thi Bui. Minnesota: Capstone Young Readers. ISBN: 9781623708030

Plot Summary:
As a child, Bao Phi helps his father catch fish for dinner before the sun rises while the family is still sleeping. They fish together in a small pond as his father reminisces on another pond he fished at in Vietnam. When they catch dinner, they head home happy and hopeful, and Bao's parents start their long workdays. Bao is excited to help contribute to their dinner that night and dreams of a different pond from a faraway land. 

Critical Analysis:
A Different Pond by Bao Phi is a lovely story about a Vietnamese family's life as immigrants in America. Every morning before the sun comes up, Phi's father fishes at the pond to catch food for the family, hoping that he has something to bring home before starting his long day at work. While other men fish at the pond for recreation, his father is providing for the family so they can eat for the night. Bao Phi's portrayal of his family's experience is genuine and honest. He perfectly captures a childlike delight in helping out a parent and providing for the family as well. Children will especially relate to Phi's pride in his father and see their own connection with their dads in this father-son story. The narrative is realistic as Boa Phi underlays universal themes in the story, like discrimination and survival in America, "A kid at my school said my dad's English sounds like a thick, dirty river. But to me his English sounds like gentle rain." The author also pacts Vietnamese history in an emotional account of the father's remembrance of his late brother, who didn't come home after fighting in the war together. 

The illustrator, Thi Bui, emphasizes the emotional contrasts of the story through amazing Illustrations that are neatly organized into panels fitting for a graphic novel. The Minnesota setting and characters are intricately detailed and resemble realistic traits. For example, the characters are not portrayed with stereotypical Asian characteristics, like the slanted eye. Their features and clothing are appropriate and reflect real-life Vietnamese people. Children with Vietnamese backgrounds will be happy to see their culture and identity accurately represented. Bui also does an excellent job distinguishing each family member and various characters through careful shading and coloring. 

Overall, A Different Pond by Bao Phi is an honest reflection of the Vietnamese immigrant experience in America. Readers of all backgrounds and ages should read this story for an accurate and authentic representation of Vietnamese Americans. The author and illustrator's notes at the end of the book are especially worth reading because children will gain a deeper insight into their Vietnamese culture. There are also photographs of Bao and his father and Thi and her brother for readers to check out. A Different Pond is an essential picture book for Asian American literature and cultural awareness. 

Awards and Reviews:
  • 2018 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Picture Book 
  • 2018 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Nominee for Picture Book
  • 2018 Caldecott Honor Winner
  • 2018 Charlotte Zolotow Award 
  • 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award Nominee for Illustrator
  • 2019 Monarch Award Nominee
From Kirkus Reviews, "Spare and simple, a must-read for our times."

From Publishers Weekly, "Graphic novel panels and strong figures give the pages the air of a documentary as Phi celebrates an unexpected superhero: a father who endures a strange new culture, works to support his family, cherishes time with his son, and draws no attention to the sacrifices he’s made."

Connections:
Discussion: Invite children to discuss the significance of Bao's father catching fish to feed the family. Have they ever helped their parent with an important activity for the family, like cooking? Encourage patrons or students to talk about Bao's connection with his father and their own favorite memories with their parents or caregivers. 

Activity: Pass out pieces of paper and invite children to draw their interpretation of a special pond or fish. Once they are finished, ask them to exchange their drawing with a peer to compare how their ponds or fish are the same and different. What makes them different? 

For readers who enjoyed A Different Pond, recommend the following picture books by Bao Phi:
  • 2019. My Footprints. Illustrated by Basia Tran. ISBN: 9781684460007
  • 2021. Hello, Mandarin Duck! Illustrated by Dion MBD. ISBN: 9781684462568