Mali Under the Night Sky: A Lao Story of Home

Summary of Book

Mali Under the Night Sky, a 2011 Skipping Stones honor book, is the true story of Laotian American artist Malichansouk Kouanchao, whose family was forced by civil war to flee Laos when she was five. Before the war began, Mali lived an idyllic life in a community where she felt safe and was much loved. But the coming war caused her family to flee to another country and a life that was less than ideal. What did she carry with her? She carried her memories. And they in turn carried her across the world, sharing where she is from and all that she loves with the people she meets.

Author / Illustrator Biography

Youme Landowne (known as Youme) is an energetic and joyful painter and book artist who thrives in the context of public art. Her parents created her name from the words You and Me. Born in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, Youme grew up mostly in Miami, Florida. She studied cross-cultural communication through art at the New School for Social Research and Friends World College. She has interned in the public schools and been a student at the Friends World College at the Nairobi and Kyoto campuses. After graduation she served as the South Florida Youth Director for the Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice. Youme has lived in and learned from the U.S., Kenya, Japan, Haiti, Laos and Cuba. In all of these places, she has worked with communities and individuals to make art that honors personal and cultural wisdom, creating community murals, illustrating tiny books, and teaching poetry in the schools. She has published work that includes illustrations for Girls Inc. Know Your Rights, Hague Agenda for Peace and Justice, and Rainbow Magazine (Nairobi). Youme now lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she works with Groundswell, a public arts organization, and Teachers & Writers Collaborative.