Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Friday, July 18, 2008

Hmong woman writes book about Hmong New Year

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (AP) — A Hmong immigrant who now lives in Stevens Point has written a book to help educate children about Hmong culture.

Maiker Vang's "Grandma's Hmong New Year Celebration" tells the story of a Hmong woman teaching her American granddaughter about the culture's largest holiday.

Vang immigrated from a Thai refugee camp in 1976 at age 11.

She said she wrote the book because many people do not understand why Hmong celebrate the way they do. The book is written in English and two Hmong dialects.

Vang's sister illustrated the book, published by the Portage County Literacy Council Inc.

The Hmong fought alongside the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Many settled in the U.S. afterward, primarily in Minnesota, Wisconsin and California.

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