Thao Lam

A skunk who has a balloon tied to his tail floats through a bustling parade, past the windowpanes of city apartments, and through a construction zone before landing on top of a Ferris wheel and realizing that he is loving the aerial life.

A narrator describes all the ways in which her cat and father are--or are not--alike. They both love milk (we see them with milk mustaches) and sardines (ew!). They both start their mornings with stretches (yoga routine) and their afternoons with naps. What starts out as a humorous series of comparisons and visual gags takes a more meaningful turn when we realize the narrator may not be much like her parents at all. In the end, the narrator proclaims,...

"A child zips up their orange suit, pulls on a pair of boots, and adjusts their hat. They’re ready for an adventure. But where are they going? With the push of an elevator button, their adventure begins, and they’re transformed … into an astronaut! The child takes one small step into a barren landscape. Then one giant leap. Soon, they’re hopping around a strange new planet and scaling space mountains. But they’ve got an important mission—finding...

"Thao's name is short, and it shares the same letters as many other names....Ever since Thao can remember, her name has been misspelled, mispronounced, and misunderstood. Tired of it, Thao finally decides it's time for a change. But will her fresh new name live up to its promise?" --book jacket