The Little Girl
by H. Pham-Fraser

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When the little girl arrives at her new home, the guard at the border takes away a little piece of her name. Then the teacher at her new school takes away the rest. This new home is beautiful, but it’s also scary. She must learn so many things: how to draw, how to read, and how to print in a strange new language. Every day, she works very hard, but will it ever be good enough? Will she ever be good enough? And how can she do all of this without her name? Based on the true refugee experience of a Vietnamese boat family, The Little Girl illustrates how good intentions have nothing to do with the impact we have on another's wellbeing, and the painful consequences of having foreign names anglicized for the comfort of those in power.

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The Little Girl teaches us how important our names are to our identities, and that knowing a name is the first thing we can do to show others that they belong and are welcome. Every time I read this book, I thank the little girl for being brave and teaching us all. – Shelley Moore, International speaker and author of One Without the Other Our week has been filled with powerful conversations about names and personal identity after reading this book! Our students are so inspired! - William Cook Elementary School Staff

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H. Pham-Fraser has worked as an educator for over twenty-five years. She has a bachelor's and a master's degree in education, a diploma in English Language Learning, and certificates in special education and reading intervention. She has taught every grade from preschool to university, and currently works as a school administrator in the Metro Vancouver area. Pham-Fraser wrote The Little Girl because she saw a need for all members of our societies to understand that name is identity. Many groups and institutions put pressure on individuals to change or anglicize their names. After watching this simple, everyday imposition negatively affecting her students, she made the decision to share her own story. The book has already helped elementary, secondary, and university students critically think how they welcome others who don't look like them, speak like them, or have the same cultures as they do. Pham-Fraser believes that anti-racism work starts within us first and that stories can open our minds and hearts to what is possible. She lives in Richmond, B.C., with her son, husband, and their beloved dog, Cocoa.

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Contributors

Author

H. Pham-Fraser

Illustrator

Akemi

Designed by

Brian Liu

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