Minnie Phan
Biography
Minnie Phan is a queer Vietnamese American cartoonist and illustrator born in Stockton, CA, and raised across the Bay Area. Her debut picture book, The Yellow Áo Dài, written by Hanh Bui, has been called “heartwarming” by Booklist, “reassuring” by Publishers Weekly, and “tender” by Kirkus. School Library Journal says “Vietnamese culture is beautifully honored through Phan’s expressive, cheerful watercolors.” Minnie’s work also includes animation and comics, and she has created art for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, a citywide reading campaign for the San Francisco Public Library, a 250 square foot mural for Google, music posters for The Fillmore, among others. Her latest picture book, Simone, is written by Pulitzer Prize winner Viet Thanh Nguyen — an unforgettable story of a Vietnamese American girl whose life is transformed by a wildfire, has earned a starred review from Kirkus, saying ★“Stunning…. a powerful, multilayered depiction of an increasingly common situation.”
Books
From Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen and illustrator Minnie Phan comes an unforgettable story of a Vietnamese American girl whose life is transformed by a wildfire.
When Simone is awakened by her mom as a wildfire threatens their home, it is the beginning of a life-changing journey. On their way to take shelter in a high school gym, the family passes firefighters from a prison unit battling the fire. Simone’s mom tells her that when she was a girl in Viet Nam, she was forced to evacuate her home after a flood. Joined by other children sheltering in the gym, Simone, a budding artist, encourages everyone to draw as a way to process their situation. After a few days, Simone and her mom are able to return to their home, which is fortunately still standing, and her outlook has changed. As Simone begins creating a piece of art with one of her new friends, she realizes that even though they are young, they can dream and work together for a more sustainable future. With a poetic, haunting family story by esteemed author Viet Thanh Nguyen and gorgeous art from illustrator Minnie Phan, this powerful tale introduces an unforgettable young heroine who awakens to a new role fighting for her community and for the future of the planet.