From the Tops of Trees

Kalia and her family, ethnically Hmong, live in a refugee camp in Thailand having been forced to flee Laos. While Kalia and her cousins play and enjoy their lives, the adults discuss the hardships and uncertainty in the future. Kalia reflects on what she hears the adults saying and worries about the impact of war. Her father, wanting to preserve her sense of hope and optimism, climbs a tree with her and shows her the wide world beyond the camp walls. Based on the author’s childhood, this compelling story, with poetic language and simple illustrations, can inspire students to think about others’ experiences in the world and how each person has the ability to make a positive difference and affect great change.