Minh and the Magic Grains of Rice by Ðo Nguyet Hà, illustrated by Lê Phuong Quynh, translated by Bac H. Tran

Hardcover – Picture Book, May 20, 2025 

“This story was so enchanting and sweet, it felt like my mẹ (mom) was reading to me. Don’t worry, Mẹ, I’m eating all my rice.” —Thien Pham, Eisner Award–winning creator of Family Style

Read the world to change the world! In this artful picture book, picky eater Minh goes on a fantastical journey through the mythology and agriculture of rice. Originally published in Vietnam by the nonprofit Room to Read, it has been beautifully revised for this global edition. 

“I will not eat rice!” is Minh’s constant dinnertime refrain. But one fateful night, an unusual event unfolds. A trio of talking grains of rice leads Minh on an otherworldly adventure where he must complete a magic mission before he can return home. Will this fantastical journey help our picky-eating hero finally have a change of heart?

A modern reimagining of a Vietnamese folktale, this enchanting story overflows with delight and wisdom. Follow Minh on a spellbinding trek that beautifully illustrates the age-old process of growing and harvesting rice—and the limitless power of the ancient grain.

CHARITABLE SUPPORT WITH EVERY PURCHASE: Buying this book benefits children in Room to Read’s global Literacy Program. Room to Read has supported publishing training and opportunities for international children’s book creators since 2003. The Read the World, Change the World partnership with Chronicle Books brings these international voices to English-language readers. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.

CELEBRATION OF FOOD: Rice is the most widely consumed staple food for more than half the world’s population. In a long tradition of picture books celebrating a particular food, like Dim Sum for Everyone or Bee-Bim Bop!, this delicious children’s book explores facts and folklore about rice. 

PERFECT FOR PICKY EATERS: Young readers will journey along with Minh, a picky eater, as he overcomes his pickiness through knowledge and community.

CONSERVATION EDUCATION: Through highly visual backmatter, readers will learn about how rice is grown, harvested, and prepared, as well as some of the mythology surrounding this staple food. Additional information includes an introduction to food scarcity, waste, and the resources used in the labor- and resource-intensive process of growing and distributing rice and other food.

Perfect for:

• Anyone who loves rice in all its many forms!
• Caregivers and educators in search of books for picky eaters
• AAPI audiences and anyone who loves Vietnamese culture, from cuisine to art to mythology
• Eco-conscious readers and anyone interested in sustainability 
• Fans of Room to Read, non-profit book initiatives, and global children’s literature