Illustration of Nhây and her family preparing offerings under the full moon for the Ok Om Bok Festival.
The Ok Om Bok Festival
The Ok Om Bok Festival
Average Rating: 0.0
Country: Vietnam
Ages: 5-8
Author: Kim Hải
Publisher: Room to Read
Illustrator: Lê Hoàng Long,
Lê Nam Đã
Story Source: Literacy cloud

About our Story

In the heart of Vietnam's Mekong Delta, young Nhây wakes up to the joyful bustle of preparations for the Ok Om Bok Festival—a Khmer celebration of gratitude and thanksgiving to the Moon. Her family, like many others in the community, prepares offerings, lanterns, and decorations to mark the special night. As the evening approaches, Nhây eagerly helps her grandmother prepare her favorite dish—green rice flakes (Cốm), a traditional delicacy made specially for the festival. The scent, the gathering, the soft glow of lanterns, and the Moon overhead create a magical memory of family and tradition. This gentle tale celebrates intergenerational bonds, cultural heritage, and the universal joy of festivals, offering young readers a glimpse into a beautiful ritual of togetherness, food, and thanksgiving.

Themes

Culture & Tradition
Family & Friends

Sub Themes

Gratitude and Giving
Festivals
festival foods
Moon

Parent-Teacher Guide

Learning Outcome

  • Enhanced understanding of cultural diversity and traditions.
  • Recognize the significance of cultural festivals in community life.
  • Understand the values of gratitude and communal harmony.

Activities

  • 1. Festival Collage – Create a collage depicting lanterns, offerings, and traditional attire seen during the Ok Om Bok Festival.
  • 2. Gratitude Tree – Students write things they are thankful for on leaves and attach them to a classroom “Gratitude Tree.”
  • 3. Cultural Exchange – Students present a festival they celebrate, drawing parallels with the Ok Om Bok Festival.
  • 4. Science Extension - How Do Lanterns Float?
  • Objective : Understand why warm air rises and how it lifts sky lanterns.
  • Materials : Hair dryer (warm/cool), lightweight balloon/ping‑pong ball, markers.
  • Steps : Decorate the balloon like a lantern, test in cool vs. warm airflow, observe how warm air lifts it higher.
  • Discuss : Why does warm air rise? How does this relate to real lanterns at the festival?

Story Discussion Guide

Before reading

  • What festivals do you celebrate with your family?
  • How do these festivals bring your community together?

During reading

  • What preparations does Nhây's family make for the festival?
  • How does Nhây contribute to the celebrations?

After reading

  • Why is the Moon significant in the Ok Om Bok Festival?
  • How do festivals help in strengthening community bonds?

Applicable Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 4 – Quality Education

Introduces young readers to Khmer cultural practices, fostering appreciation of global traditions.

SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities

Highlights community participation in cultural festivals, underscoring preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

SDG 16 — Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

Shows how communal rituals promote social cohesion and shared values.

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