Thao Lam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thao Lam
Thao Lam in 2022
Occupation	Author, Illustrator
Genre	Children's picture books

Thao Lam is a talented Vietnamese-Canadian author and illustrator. She creates amazing children's books and lives in Toronto, Ontario. Her unique art style uses collage, which means she puts different materials together to make her pictures.

Her newest book, One Giant Leap, was recognized in 2024. It was a finalist for a Governor General's Literary Award, which is a big honor in Canada.

Thao Lam also co-directed an animated film called Boat People. This film is based on her 2020 book, The Paper Boat. In 2023, Boat People won the award for Best Animated Short Film at the 2023 Calgary International Film Festival.

Early Life and Creative Journey

Thao Lam moved to Canada with her parents when she was three years old. They came as refugees from Vietnam. She often shares that picture books helped her feel at home in Canada. She especially loved the books by famous children's authors like Eric Carle and David Wiesner.

To follow her passion, Thao Lam studied illustration. She attended Sheridan College in Toronto, where she learned many skills for her future career.

Books by Thao Lam

Thao Lam has written and illustrated several wonderful picture books. Here are some of her works:

• Lam, Thao (2024). One Giant Leap. Toronto, Ontario: Owlkids Books ISBN 978-1771475990

Films by Thao Lam

Thao Lam has also worked on animated films, bringing her stories to life in a new way.

Boat People (2023)

• Story: This animated documentary tells a powerful story. When Thao's mother was a child in Vietnam, she often saved ants from sugar water. Years later, this kindness was returned to her family. The film uses a special way to show one family's journey as they escaped across difficult waters.
• Co-Directors: Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma
• Produced by: The National Film Board of Canada, 2023

Awards and Recognitions

Thao Lam's books and films have received many awards and honors. These awards show how much her work is loved and appreciated by readers and critics.

Book Awards

Her books have been recognized for their beautiful art and meaningful stories.

The Line In The Sand

• A Kirkus 150 Most Anticipated Fall Books, 2022
• A CBC Best Canadian Picture Book of 2022
• A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year, 2022

THAO: A Picture Book

• A Junior Library Guild selection, 2021
• A CBC Best Canadian Picture Book, 2021
• A New York Public Library Vibrant Voices selection, 2022

The Paper Boat

• A School Library Journal Best Book of 2020
• A Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2020
• A New York Public Library 100 Best Books for Kids selection, 2020
• A Booklist Editors' Choice, 2020
• A Globe and Mail Best Book of 2020
• A Canadian Children's Book Centre Favourite Book of 2020

My Cat Looks Like My Dad

• A Quill & Quire Cover of the Year, 2019
• A Booklist Editors' Choice, 2019

Wallpaper

• Cybils Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards – Shortlisted
• A Kirkus Best Children's Book of 2018
• A New York Public Library 100 Best Books for Kids selection, 2018

Skunk on a String

• A Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2016
• A Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens selection
• A Toronto Public Library First and Best List selection, 2016

Film Awards

Her film Boat People has also won several important awards.

• Grand Jury Prize, Animated Short Film — Calgary International Animation Festival
• Best Canadian Animation Short — Vancouver Asian Film Festival
• 2023 Jury Winner for Best Animated Short and Audience Award for Animated Short — New Orleans Film Festival
• Milos Stehlik Global Impact Award Winner — Chicago International Children’s Film Festival
• Winner of Diversity Award — Spark Animation Festival