In honor of Hmong Heritage Month, River Heights Elementary welcomed Hmong American author V.T. Bidania for a special school-wide visit this week.
The presentations were tailored to engage students across all grade levels:
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K–2nd Grade: Students explored the vibrant traditions of the Hmong New Year through Bidania’s picture book series, Extraordinary Eliana.
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3rd–5th Grade: Older students learned about the refugee experience through her middle-grade novel, A Year Without Home. Inspired by the author’s own family history, the story illuminates the arduous journeys many Hmong families faced following the Vietnam War.
To prepare for the visit, every classroom received a copy of Bidania’s latest work. These books, along with the author’s visit itself, were made possible by a Mini Teacher Grant from the Community Foundation of Dunn County.
The school community fully embraced the celebration beyond the page. Students and staff wore traditional Hmong clothing, and the food service team prepared a special lunch of pho, providing students with chopsticks to enjoy the meal. It was a memorable day of storytelling, history, and cultural immersion.
