Writer Windy Pham Bridges Cultures, One Page at a Time

“Cars honking and motorbikes buzzing: everyone is rushing home to get ready for the new year,” writes Windy Pham in The Magic of Tết.

But wait: The protagonists of this particular book, An and Nhi, are celebrating a particular holiday —Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The children make a five-fruit tray, put up a lucky tree, bake tet cake, and listen to the tale of Ông Táo, the Kitchen God, as they and their family observe this important festival in Vietnamese culture.

The Magic of Tết is one of the ten works author Windy Pham has published in her series of bilingual children books, aiming to celebrate Vietnamese heritage through highlighting the culture and language. Pham is also the creator of Little Ant World, a bilingual publishing and education initiative. In addition to her books, Pham has hosted interactive reading events, culture workshops, and author visits.

“My hope is to promote diversity and inclusion and make these books and workshops more visible and accessible, especially for families in the diaspora who are looking for meaningful ways to connect to their heritage,” Pham said.

For Pham, the decision to start Little Ant World and become a writer of bilingual children’s books is deeply personal.

WINDY PHAM; Photo by Ben Lee

“I was born and raised in Vietnam and came to the U.S. at 17,” she said. “As a mom now raising a daughter here, I realized how hard it can be to find resources that reflect our identity. Little Ant World was born from a deep desire to pass on my language and culture to my child in joyful, engaging ways — and to share that experience with other families. It’s also about representation. Asian American and Pacific Islander voices, especially in children’s media, are still underrepresented. I want our kids to grow up seeing themselves in stories.”

The creative process begins, Pham revealed, by researching the market — “stories or themes that haven’t been told from a Vietnamese or bilingual perspective.”

She then moves on to the story and the text itself. Visuals are also a vital part of the process: “I collaborate closely with illustrators to bring the story to life, ensuring the visuals capture the warmth, playfulness, and cultural nuances I envision,” said Pham.

“Since these books are for very young children, I focus on simple, engaging language, incorporate rhymes when possible, and lean heavily on strong visual storytelling.” Finally, she works with beta readers, “often parents, educators, and even kids — to gather feedback and make sure the book resonates before it’s finalized.”

Her published works now include The ABCs of Vietnamese Food, which introduces the Vietnamese alphabet through cuisine; Eat the Rainbow, which teaches basic nutrition and the Vietnamese words for fruits and vegetables; and Where is the Moon?, which presents the Vietnamese Moon Festival of Tết Trung Thu.

“(It’s) one of our most popular books,” Pham said of The Magic of Tết. The book, she said, showcases how Vietnamese people celebrate Tết in both the northern and southern regions of Vietnam.

“I wanted to highlight the rich diversity within Vietnam — how traditions can vary by region, yet still share the same spirit of joy, renewal, and family.”

At the same time, the book doesn’t forget to be educational. “Readers are introduced to new Vietnamese vocabulary, cultural elements like traditional foods, games, and customs, and the symbolic meaning behind them.”

The hope is that her works not only help Vietnamese families reconnect and stay in touch with their cultural roots, but to “invite families of all backgrounds to explore and appreciate the beauty of Vietnamese culture,” Pham said.

To this end, Little Ant World also offers free educational and classroom resources. There are lesson plans, coloring sheets, audio read-alouds, and other interactive activities. “I believe cultural and language learning should be accessible to all children, especially in early childhood education,” Pham said.

“Making high-quality, culturally rich resources easily accessible is key to that. I’m currently working to partner with more schools and daycare centers to bring cultural workshops into classrooms. My hope is to see our books and materials used not just within Vietnamese communities, but also as inclusive tools that help all children appreciate and celebrate cultural diversity.”

The work with Little Ant World has “been incredibly rewarding,” Pham said. “We’ve received heartfelt feedback from parents, teachers, and kids. It’s still a grassroots effort, and there’s a lot I’m working on to grow, including expanding our reach, securing funding, and publishing more books. But the response so far has confirmed that there’s a real need for this kind of work, and I’m excited about what’s ahead.”

But for Pham, it always circles back to the reason why she started down this path in the first place: her family. “I often think about the world my daughter is growing up in,” she said. “More than anything, I want her to feel seen, heard, and valued — and I hope that other children from minority backgrounds can feel the same. Little Ant World is my way of planting seeds for that future. I’m doing this to leave a legacy for her, and to help create a world where all children, no matter their background, feel proud of who they are and where they come from.”