Silk Umbrellas

Reach for this book when your child is feeling the weight of growing up or fears that their creative hobbies are a waste of time compared to school or future work. Eleven year old Noi lives in a rural Thai village where she paints delicate silk umbrellas, a craft she loves. However, she faces the looming threat of being sent to work in a harsh radio factory to help her family survive financially. It is a gentle but profound exploration of the tension between artistic passion and economic necessity. Parents will appreciate how the story validates a child's anxiety about the future while celebrating the resilience found in family and cultural heritage. It is a short, accessible read that opens deep doors for discussing what it means to grow up and how we hold onto our true selves in a changing world.