A beautiful and heartwarming multi-generational story about a Hmong immigrant who grew up with nothing and how she took care of her family to the best of her ability. Now, the grandchildren all take pride in helping to care for their elderly grandmother (clipping her nails and scrubbing her back in the bath). The family does not have much money for things like a new dress on the first day of school or for an ice cream at the ice cream truck, but they have a love and respect for one another – something our society often overlooks today. The Most Beautiful Thing’s illustrations are stunning and the detail in which the author shares of the beauty of the world will make for a wonderful book to share with my son when he is old enough to appreciate it fully.

Thank you to Netgalley, Lerner Publishing Group and Kao Kalia Yang for an ARC of this book. #TheMostBeautifulThing #NetGalley #KaoKaliaYang

The illustrations are beautiful and the story gave good insights into immigration and specifically Hmong traditions.

It is difficult to pick what is "the most beautiful thing" about this picture book! The story of the bond between granddaughter and grandmother is portrayed beautifully and authentically in this #ownvoices telling. The illustrations are GORGEOUS and the movement used within the images reflects both the movement of refugees, time, and growth as the main character learns and grows. Simple details like eating ice cubes instead of ice cream portray the reality of growing up poor while the sharing of peppermint candies remind readers of the joy in the little things. The message of love amidst strife and perseverance in the face of adversity go beyond this story and reminds readers of their own families and histories that they should not take for granted. A beautiful story that should be added to every library's collection!

This book seems like a brilliant way of teaching people how there is definitely more to life than simply wanting an ice cream or a new dress. There is more in sharing simple moments of ice cubes with Grandma than wanting to be perfect how society wants you to be or how society perceives perfection should be.
It has a beautiful moral to the story and the illustrations were stunning. I loved seeing the illustrations of Grandma with her one tooth standing tall.
I do wish there was a pronunciation for the non English words so that we could perhaps learn to speak them the correct way. If I were to read this to a child I would want to ensure I could be correct in pronouncing words to show I was not being culturally insensitive.

Literature for children about Hmong families is rare, and this book, while somewhat instructive as to Hmong culture and history, is also relatable to all children due to the story of a child and her grandmother. The child in the story has a job -- to tend to her elderly grandmother's feet, and through doing so, learns much of her grandmother's history and hardship. The images in this book are gorgeous, as are the illustrations, and the writing is beautiful as evidenced by this passage, "By the time I was born, my grandmother already had an old woman's face. Her skin was soft but dry like paper and in her mouth was a single tooth. Grandma said, "it is the only thing standing strong in my mouth, this final tooth that my mother and father gave me."

This book shows the connection between generations and illustrates that although there may be no money in a family, love and unity are primary.

Two and a half stars. This visually attractive read for the young, those able to get through a few short paragraphs per double-page spread, is well-meaning, and not bad, but is a little patchy and uneven. It's about a young girl and her grandma, but it's also about poverty, and about self-acceptance, and about refugees, and about the Hmong experience – it's only the title and the concluding beat of the story that tells you what the main purpose of it all is. And in trying to be as rich as it wants, it doesn't quite peg all its washing out on the same firm line – some is left flapping too loosely in the wind, some dangling a little misshapenly.

I received an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This true story was absolutely beautiful. It’s a multi-generational tale about a Hmong refugee who grew up with nothing, and how she took care of her family to the best of her ability. Now, they help take care of her as she tells stories from her previous life. As a young Kalia becomes frustrated with her family not having the money to provide all the things she wants, or thinks they need... she receives a reminder of what is truly beautiful and necessary in life.

The illustrations in this book are stunning. Wonderfully put together, this is a book I can’t wait to share with my daughter when she’s old enough to appreciate it properly.

The book has a beautiful title and a beautiful cover so I was quickly intrigued by that aspect. And when it comes to the art it is definitely quite beautiful and worth mentioning over.

The color palette mixes depending upon the mood of the page but there are a lot more exotic elements and richness added to the memories that Grandmother has. But even though we get snippets and pieces of her life in the homeland not much is really given to the reader to relate to such as what made her move to the United States and what happened to her siblings that she was left to raise. I know the story wasn't all about her but I would have loved to have gotten to know more about her past in relation to the story.

Another aspect is that the book does use names native to the culture as well as some words and there is no pronunciation guide for readers who aren't used to pronouncing such names. With the exception of the two mythic beings that were mentioned there was also no explanation as to their meaning for those who would like to know what they mean.

And finally for those who are going to get this book for their children I would recommend an explanation of the events for even though we can quite understand such as possible honors of trimming nails, washing the elder and her clothes the concepts more or less aren't common in many households nowadays while that may add confusion.

The message itself was heartwarming and beautiful but I cannot overlook what I saw as lacking in the book to be able to recommend it but it would make for a good addition to immigration stories.

***I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***

Filled with vibrant illustrations and simple narrations, the book brings us the heart warming story of a Hmong family. I enjoyed reading it.

I received an electronic ARC from Lerner Publishing Group through NetGalley.
Beautiful story of a family. Kalia yearns for things her family cannot afford - ice cream, new clothes, meat. This culminates when she asks for braces for her teeth and is told no as they can't afford them. Her discontent is woven through the book. Also woven through is her grandmother's journey. Her life of hardship after her parents died and she had to raise younger brothers and sisters. She came to the United States and raised her own family also. Her acceptance of little comes from not having anything so she models contentment and peace. It's through looking at and listening to her grandmother, that Kalia comes to acknowledge that she too will be okay with what they have.
The illustrations are gorgeous and bring out the emotions felt by the characters. Don't miss all the details in the background that share their story.
Helpful pronunciation guide before the story.

The Most Beautiful Thing is a stunningly illustrated picture book where the author tells of her childhood memories of her grandmother and her family. Multiple generations of this Hmong family live together and care for each other. The grandchildren all take pride in helping to care for their elderly grandmother who in turn tells them stories of growing up overseas. The family doesn't have much money so the narrator feels a little sad that she can't get a new dress for the first day of school or ice cream from the ice cream truck.

In the end she realizes that those things don't matter as much as her grandmother and the love they have for each other. This is a gorgeous book with a great message of treasuring family over things.

A heartwarming story about a young girl's relationship with her grandmother, a Hmong immigrant. Loved the beautiful, jewel like illustrations. The grandmother (though needing her grandchildren's help with things like bathing and having her nails cut) comes across as a strong, wise, kind woman. In the end the granddaughter learns what the "most beautiful thing" is from her grandmother.

A fascinating, gorgeously illustrated children’s book about the importance of family. ‘The Most Beautiful Thing’ is simply presented, but contains a myriad of complex issues including care and respect of elders, death, hardship, and poverty. The illustrations are bright and beautiful and show scenes of great tenderness. What I found most interesting is how different each generation’s lives are, but how we can appreciate the experiences and strengths of our family members.

Thank you NetGalley and Carolrhoda Books for providing this ARC.

This is an interesting take on children who want something that the family can't give them, such as material things.

Kalia wants to be beautiful, and she thinks the best way to do that is to straighten her teeth, but when she asks for braces, her family tells her they can't afford it. They are Hmong refugees in the United States, and they have to save and work for every penny they can get.

Her grandmother, whom she adores, and helps take care of, asks if she is beautiful, herself, despite only having one tooth left.

What I love about this story is the love that the children have for their grandmother, who they are honored to brush her hair, or trim her toe nails. This is a kind of attention to the elderly that is not often found in White children's literature.

Gorgeous illustrations. A bit on the long side, but the pictures carry the story along.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

A gorgeously illustrated and told story of the value of gratitude and love in this chaotic world. A must use for kindergarten instructors.

I would totally buy this book for a classroom. A great story about family and how material things are not as important as the ones you love. The connection between grandmother and granddaughter is touching and reminds me of my own grandmother. What really stood out with the book was the art. Just WOW. Great color and very well done.

It tells the story of a Hmong-American family, focusing on the relationship between the aging grandma and her granddaughter. Kalia's and the grandmother's story are the story of every granddaughter and grandmother of the world; the love that multiplies down the generational link. Makes you miss your grandma, and reminiscence about all the good moments.

This intergenerational story is simple, yet deep and the illustrations add to that depth. In a natural way is presented the hard life of an economically struggling family, and the ways parents and children make do with little while so many take things for granted.

It has a poetic tone to it, and for some reason I read it in a sing-song rhythm. It's a good starting point to have conversations with children about refugees and immigrants.

I think it'd be suitable for a child aged 6-9 because of the serious and mature content.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING is a gorgeously illustrated,  intergenerational, story about a Hmong-American family who left their ancestral homeland in hopes of a better life.

The story is told from a young girl's point of view. Her family home includes her parents, her siblings and her grandmother.

As the child gets older, she will occasionally ask for something expensive from her parents. However, despite the fact that they worked hard, there was no money left over for extras. Her Grandmother is always around and tells stories of her own childhood and the hardships she faced. Obviously, the grandmother's situation was much more dire than that of the narrator.

The author has perfectly captured the aging of both the young girl and her grandmother. She also conveys the child's emotional intelligence and her maturity levels with perfect ease.

The illustrations in this book are nothing short of brilliant. In fact, I would love it if the artist offered prints of each of her layouts. I, for one, would 100% purchase them.

I felt the ending could have been better explained. However, please DO NOT let this deter you from buying this book. We need more books from diverse and multicultural authors. It is imperative that children have access to books they can personally relate to. Also, children from other cultures should be exposed at a young age to books from diverse backgrounds.

Books such as THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING are important in a multitude of ways. I am rating this book as 5 out of 5 Stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a quick, wholesome read about a true story of a girl growing up in a family with little money and wanting more than they can provide because of it. The art is absolutely beautiful, and the messages of giving to others before yourself and respecting your family and elders, which are demonstrated in all of the times that the protagonist takes care of her grandmother, and of your imperfections being what make you beautiful and unique are very good ones that are still relevant today.

A wonderfully illustrated sweet story. It shows how important family is and not to take what we have for granted! This is a great bed time story! Very great book!