Watch Live: Read Aloud With Kao Kalia Yang And Billy Thao In Saint Paul Public School

Press release from Saint Paul Public Schools:

April 9, 2021

SPPS Alumni Kao Kalia Yang and Billy Thao will participate in a live-streamed event on Tuesday, April 13, from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Yang will read her new book "Yang Warriors" aloud and answer questions from SPPS students, teachers and families. Thao will discuss his work on Yang Warriors and his career as an illustrator.

Kao Kalia Yang's new picture book tells the story of courageous children who live in the Ban Vinai refugee camp, where Kao Kalia Yang was born and lived as a child. The children call themselves the Yang Warriors because of their fierce determination to feed and protect their families under harsh circumstances.

Despite the dangers, the Yang Warriors leave the refugee camp to forage greens for the younger children and elders. The illustrator, Billy Thao, who attended Nokomis North Montessori School in his youth, brings the Yang Warriors to life as they prepare for the challenges that lie ahead of them.

This event will be introduced by Superintendent Gothard and facilitated by Nokomis Montessori North and South students. The Livestream and PDF of Yang Warriors is available here.

This press release was produced by Saint Paul Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.