Want to order When We’re Under the Same Roof for your school, library, or bookstore?
As a Vietnamese queer child of an immigrant parent, I appreciate the efforts of ensuring kids like me will get to see themself exist in a book at places like their favorite bookstore, their ESL classroom, or at the library they volunteer after school at. Please reach out to me to discuss consignment options or wholesale discounts. I will also offer bulk order discounts to any non-profit organizations with the same mission.
In this children’s book on immigration, a Vietnamese American girl looks forward to the special day when “see you again soon” is finally here, and she gets to return to her family in Vietnam for a visit!
“This speaks to the many directions in which love flows, across oceans and through time.”
—Kao Kalia Yang, award-winning author of The Rock in My Throat
Family culture shapes so much of who we are.
In this kids’ book about family love, Châu follows a “train of thoughts” about all her special traditions, relationships, and memories from growing up in Vietnam. She is counting down the days until she and her family are under the same roof.
This children’s book about family honors culture, memory, and the deep emotional ties we carry with us, no matter where we go. It celebrates the strength of family and the richness of cultural heritage.
When We’re Under the Same Roof
Ngân Huỳnh is an illustrator and designer who left Vietnam and moved to the United States when she was twelve—leaving one home to build another: “This book was created as a reminder to Vietnamese immigrant kids like me that they can always hold onto the memories they have of ‘nhà’ and ‘gia đình.’ Just because you are physically apart doesn’t mean you lose your memories, heritage, and language.”
Inside this immigration children’s book, discover:
a gentle exploration of immigration from a child’s perspective
reassurance that distance doesn’t weaken family bonds
a celebration of cultural heritage, language, and memory
a focus on reunion and belonging
While there are stories in children’s literature that focus on the challenges of leaving home, When We’re Under the Same Roof tells a different story—one about returning.
Thank you to my Kickstarter backers for making this project a reality! For a behind-the-scenes peek at the inspiration for the book, visit the book’s Kickstarter page.
Title Details
Released May 26, 2026
ISBN: 978-1-63489-970-3
Price: $20.00
Format: Hardcover
Trim Size: 8.5 x 8.5”
BISAC Category: JUVENILE FICTION | Social Themes |
Emigration, Immigration & Refugees
Publisher: Wise Ink Media
Distribution Partner: Itasca Books
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Praise for When We’re Under the Same Roof
“This speaks to the many directions in which love flows, across oceans and through time.”
—Kao Kalia Yang, award-winning author of The Rock in My Throat
“A touching story about what it means to come home and how our hearts can stay connected across time and space.”
—Molly Beth Griffin, author of Ten Beautiful Things
“This colorful and upbeat book celebrates culture, family, and friendship, while hinting at the merging worlds of immigrant children.”
—Bao Phi, author of the Caldecott Honor Book A Different Pond
“An endearing reminder to cherish every moment with our loved ones and celebrate our culture and family traditions.”
—Thuba Nguyễn, early childhood education specialist and author of My Daddy Tells Me
What Readers Have to Said
“My son really SEES himself in the book; he refers to Châu as himself and sees all the characters as his family.”
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“My niece took to the book to Show and Tell because she loves the story so much!”
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“This is such a beautiful book! As an immigrant myself, it made me tear up. The illustrations are captivating, warm, and even yummy! Ngân weaves together themes of family, culture, and memory with such care and whimsy, and reading it brought my own childhood and home rushing back to me. What moved me most was the reminder that, no matter where we come from, our stories as immigrants share so much in common. I’ve never felt so seen in a picture book! This book should be part of every classroom and library!”
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“A truly authentic and real depiction of being in a multilingual household. I love how this book is a celebration of different homes. One where they characters are in now, and the other in Vietnam where they're excited to go to see old friends and family. This book manages to incorporate so many themes and serves as a medium to teach young children about Vietnamese folklore, cuisine, and family dynamics as an incredible backdrop to the messaging that traveling and experiencing both familiar and new things are around the corner and is something to celebrate. Truly a joyful and happy book.”
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“This book is beautifully written and illustrated. The colors were so vibrant (and the traditional Vietnamese food looked so yummy to eat!) Through this book, I learned about celebrating Tết and Vietnamese culture. It touched my heart to read about a little girl who dreams so big and loves/appreciates her family. Even though they are countries and miles apart, she has so many memories and mementos that keep her connected because she knows they are all under one moon. I highly recommend reading this book to all children, especially Southeast Asian / immigrant/refugee children who can relate to Châu.”
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“This book was so relatable to me as someone who moved around a lot growing up. The story and illustrations had me in tears. The artwork and atmosphere really pull you into the story and make you feel like you’re right there experiencing it. It’s beautifully written and tackles complex experiences in such a thoughtful and heartfelt way. This book is a must-read for immigrant families and for kids who move around a lot. A truly moving read.”
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“This is a touching book that illustrates how connected we are despite the distance. It is relatable to so many life scenarios, but painfully important to today's families that may feel afraid. This is a child's anthem of hope that connection is still alive. Thank you Ngân ! Your illustrations and real pictures into your life are touching! I also love Châu's guide to Vietnamese in the cover!”
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Committed to Support
Diverse Stories for Diverse Children
As an immigrant student who didn't have access to many books that represented kids like me when I grew up in the States, I want to help ensure more immigrant kids, especially those who yearn to be home one day, can access my book.
I want ESL classrooms, Vietnamese language classes, local libraries, small bookstores, and immigrant households to have a copy of my book.
Thanks to Kickstarter donations, I donated 20 books to organizations and libraries that support more diverse children’s book collections.
If you would like to pay it forward and donate a copy to a local organization, please reach out and let me know at nganelichuynh@gmail.com.
When We’re Under the Same Roof
has been donated to:
