Buy new:
-10% $9.89
FREE delivery Wednesday, May 15 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$9.89 with 10 percent savings
List Price: $10.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Wednesday, May 15 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Friday, May 10. Order within 14 hrs 45 mins
Only 5 left in stock (more on the way).
$$9.89 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$9.89
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.90
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
This item shows wear including ex-library markings and some highlighting or writing. This item shows wear including ex-library markings and some highlighting or writing. See less
FREE delivery May 20 - 23 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery May 19 - 21
$$9.89 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$9.89
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

The Whispering Cloth: A Refugee's Story Paperback – Picture Book, September 1, 1996

by Pegi Deitz Shea (Author), Anita Riggio (Illustrator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 19 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$9.89","priceAmount":9.89,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"89","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"D7UyUniIAL8Jt%2F04ktAy27qdJTY9omLkpfA3%2BJpOQrkDHwD2KFFrnTo4ayt4cfg2akVzCAPQ%2Bw5xJkiUCGfYRO1yX1wmIKRTsMts5y92B%2BQx7Yp%2BuHofPfOULeZbN8Wn6pQWZvLzwtc%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.90","priceAmount":8.90,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"90","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"D7UyUniIAL8Jt%2F04ktAy27qdJTY9omLkLx%2BYhNcBiHjiptM%2FPcBFZILzjsWZvloNNtbm1f86qwqHiq8KQubJPGE3Xa7HunvsPrw58Cyba1LyZDYC2mWpv6s94h3r1WmDNVEOcEv8obWVwK%2BknhZIldc0a484T0EjOK9Bl2Q9X4IxUL4v8jDzjoB7wsR6nD1Q","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Mai spends her days at the Widows' Store, listening to the Hmong women as they stitch and talk, stitch and talk. They are making pa'ndau---brightly colored story cloths--which they sell to the traders from Chiang Khan. Mai wishes she, too, could make one of the beautiful pa'ndau, but what story could she tell? This moving and poignant tale depicts life in a refugee camp in Thailand. Mai lives there with her grandmother, who helps her as she struggles to perfect her stitchery. Only by going back into her own brief and tragic past can she find a story to tell--one of hope and faith in the midst of war and confinement. Anita Riggio has rendered lush and sensitive watercolors that frame the story. You Yang, a Hmong immigrant, has stitched the pa'ndau that tell Mai's tale.
Read more Read less
  Report an issue with this product or seller
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    5 - 7 years
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    1 - 2
  5. Lexile measure
    AD600L
  6. Dimensions
    9.5 x 0.12 x 9.5 inches
  7. Publisher
    Astra Young Readers
  8. Publication date
    September 1, 1996
  9. ISBN-10
    1563976234
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1563976230
  11. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

The Whispering Cloth: A Refugee's Story
$9.89
Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15
Only 5 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Most Beautiful Thing
$13.59
Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15
Only 7 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
A Map into the World
$14.90
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A Hmong refugee girl remembers painful episodes from her life in a pa'ndau, a traditional story cloth. Close-up photos of Yang's textured needlework "add to the [tale's] poignancy," said PW. Ages 3-8.
- poignancy," said PW. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Pegi Deitz Shea visited Ban Vinai, the refugee camp in Thailand where this story is set. She is the author of Bungalow Fungalow and lives in Rockville, Connecticut.

Anita Riggio is the author-illustrator of several books, including A Moon in My Teacup and Beware the Brindlebeast, both published by Boyds Mills Press. She lives in Wethersfield, Connecticut.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Astra Young Readers; Illustrated edition (September 1, 1996)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1563976234
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1563976230
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 7 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD600L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 1 - 2
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.5 x 0.12 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 19 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
19 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars It was exactly how I remember reading it like! Love love this book
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2016
Verified Purchase
It was exactly how I remember reading it like! Love love this book. For me as a Hmong person it talks a lot of our history and how we as a whole can also tell our stories and arts.
Helpful
 Report
Shang
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to read!
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2019
Verified Purchase
Great book to read.
Helpful
 Report
Joan Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars They loved it.
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2016
Verified Purchase
Gave it as a gift. They loved it.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Mateo
2.0 out of 5 stars Almost No Art, and Nothing New
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2009
Verified Purchase
This book suffers for its illustrations, some of which are downright unattractive; there is very little actual needlework featured in the book. And, no new territory is covered by the text. This publication unintentionally makes the point that the time has come for people to stop marketing the Hmong refugee experience.
Helpful
 Report
marion dawan
4.0 out of 5 stars Hard to find book on Humong culture
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is a real treasure and brings to life the Humong culture.
User friendly for our little ones who can hardly hold a book.
Helpful
 Report
C. Lampos
5.0 out of 5 stars A heart warming account
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book introduced me to the Hmong sew-ers. It has made me more aware of the difficulties that they faced and overcame. My admiration of the stitchers and their work has increased. Well worth the money. A book to share.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Kate Marshall
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
A beautiful story of hope.
Report