Twins Astrid and Apollo go camping with their parent and little sister. Apollo is excited, Astrid is worried and a bit scared of the dark. They learn quite a bit about what camping is like and are surprised by a not-too-scary nocturnal visitor. ( )

I am really excited for this new easy chapter series from Capstone's Picture Window imprint. The only thing I could be more thrilled about would be if they offered series featuring kids with disabilities, and I'm confident those will not be long in coming (there's already an easy reader featuring a Deaf girl, Emma).

Many people think of the Midwest as a very white, homogenous place and while that is certainly true in many cases, especially in small towns, there are actually large groups of ethnically diverse people concentrated in various areas. In my own corner of Wisconsin, there is a large Hispanic population, small but significant group of Japanese and Koreans (mostly exchange students - we have a Kikkoman factory) and a handful of Pakistani and Indians. Only a few hours north there is a significant presence of Americans of Hmong descent and after many years of them being largely ignored it's wonderful to see literature featuring these kids start to emerge.

The Hmong population in Minnesota is, I believe, larger and that's where this book is based, as is its own voices creator. The story starts with an introduction to Astrid, Apollo, and their parents and little sister Eliana. This includes their Hmong names, pronunciation, and translation. There's also a simple definition of Hmong.

The story is told in five chapters. The family is going camping and Astrid is scared of the dark - and of the frightening stories her older cousin has told her. Apollo initially coaxes her into coming along to join them and with the support of her family and her own courage she ends up having a great time. There are gently humorous moments, like sneaky raccoons and a stinky outhouse, and also an enjoyment of the beauties of nature and the night sky. The kids compare their Hmong names to the stars they see, eat both Hmong and "American" food, and say hello to other Hmong families who are also camping.

Back matter includes more detailed facts about the Hmong, a list and explanation of some popular Hmong foods (now I want eggrolls...), a glossary, and discussion and writing questions. There's also a thumbnail introduction to the author and illustrator, both from Minnesota and of Hmong descent.

Verdict: I have several readers who really enjoy these simple, slice-of-life stories and I am thrilled to be able to finally have books portraying this important and often overlooked ethnic group in our state.

ISBN: 9781515861317; Published 2020 by Capstone; Borrowed from another library in my consortium