Vanna

  

The Book

     The author of Vanna’s Dance, Maria Almudevar – van Santen, was living in Geneva, Switzerland and working at the United Nations, when she heard about a little girl who had just a few months before, lost her leg when she stepped on a landmine.
         Moved by the young girl’s story and her courage, Maria decided to write about Vanna.
         The tale interweaves Vanna's story with elements of Khmer mythology and culture. It is a touching story of a little girl whose determination to dance again overcomes all obstacles. Her beloved Godfather, Chea Chheng, provides inspiration for Vanna through the fables he narrates to her throughout the book.
         The illustrations for Vanna's Dance are by students of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board in Ontario, Canada .  The book is also available in French as La danse de Vanna.
         The author is donating profits from sales of this book to the organization Adopt-A-Minefield (AAM) (www.landmines.org) for its work in clearing landmines and assisting landmine survivors.  An education fund for Vanna has also been set up.
 

Reviews

Best wishes in putting your talent to work to save children.
Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President, University of Winnipeg, Former Canadian Foreign Minister

Vanna’s Dance is both a tale of caution and of joy.  The great victory is that Vanna does not let the landmine take her spirt.  She works hard to be able to walk and to dance again.
Heather Mills, Patron, Adopt-A-Minefield

Do you believe in miracles? Vanna’s Dance is a miracle. This wonderful and touching story has turned the injury of a child into inspiration.  Read it. Feel it. Act on it.
Scott Fairweather, President, Canadian Landmine Foundation / Adopt-A-Minefield. (www.clmf.org)

If you're teaching your students about world issues, and looking for a great book to introduce kids to the subject of landmines, you'll want to check out Vanna's Dance.  It's a very touching story, and is told in an easy-to-understand way.  It's not only the story of what happens to thousands of kids around the world, it's also the story of overcoming obstacles, friendship and courage.
Jennifer Pellegrini, Editor-in-Chief, kidsnewscanada (www.kidsnewscanada.ca)

To Order

Contact the author directly at vannasdance@yahoo.ca or purchase at  www.trafford.com

Vanna's Dance:  www.trafford.com/05-0751

La danse de Vanna:  www.trafford.com/05-0752

Also available on Amazon, BarnesandNoble and other online bookstores

Complementary Landmine Guide For Teachers is available upon request.   Contact author directly.

Web hosting donated by www.kokorodojo.net

   In August 1997, Vanna, from Cambodia , was 5 years old.  She was a happy girl who liked spending time with her family and helping out with chores.  One day she was feeding her father's chickens and laughing at their antics as they scratched around the ground for the seeds of grain she was throwing them.  Suddenly her happy life changed when she stepped sideways onto a landmine hidden underneath the ground.
    In the ensuing explosion, she lost her right leg below the knee. 
   In that instant, she became one of tens of thousands of civilian landmine victims who are maimed or killed because of a war they were not part of.
   It was hard work to learn to walk again and even harder to deal with the stigma and stares of being a landmine victim.
   Today, Vanna is 16.  She has spent more than two-thirds of her life walking with a prosthetic limb.  But she is a survivor.  She has a goal.  Vanna wants to go to school so that she can get a good job to help her family.
   She also wants people to know that although the landmine took her leg, she will not let it take her spirit or her future.

Book Excerpt

   Vanna was sitting on the front step of her house.  She was happy.  The sun was shining over Cambodia and Chea Chheng, her very good friend was coming to see her.  The older man was a wonderful storyteller.   When Vanna saw him coming she jumped up, her two shiny black ponytails bouncing as she did so.  “Chea Chheng!” she called excitedly.  “You are here!”  Chea Chheng’s face broke into a big smile.  He patted her head, playfully pulling on one of her ponytails. 
   “Your face is like the sun.  It matches your pretty yellow blouse,” Chea Chheng said affectionately to the eight-year old girl.
   “Tell me a story,” Vanna begged.
   “Don’t tell me you are not tired of my stories yet,” he teased her laughing, his eyes dancing with the happiness he saw on her face.
   “Oh!  Never!” exclaimed Vanna. 
   “Then come sit with me,” Chea Chheng said.  They sat down together on the front step.  Chea Chheng began his story.
   The Banyan tree has heart-shaped leaves.  Many roots grow down from its branches.  If a root is cut, another will grow and dig into the ground.  It may be a different root, but it will be just as strong.  You cannot destroy the soul of something so determined to live. 
   The Banyan tree, like a person is made of many parts that give a strong foundation.  Its heart-shaped leaves look alike but each is different, like the many emotions inside a person’s heart. 
   There was a little boy who wanted to cut down a big Banyan tree growing near his house.  He knew it was very strong.  He wanted to show that he was stronger.  “I will destroy that tree,” the little boy said.     “Then I will be the stronger one!”
   Every day he cut down a root.  And every day a new one began growing in its place.  Finally, he realized the tree was too strong to destroy, just like a person’s soul. 
   The little boy learned from the tree to be stronger.  When one part of him felt weak, he used other parts to stay strong.  This is what people must do.  Part of you may feel weak sometimes, but other parts will not.  You must then look to these other parts.  They will help you to stay strong.  Just like the Banyan tree.
   Vanna listened attentively to Chea Chheng’s voice.  It was wonderful to enter the world of his stories.  They were stories of her people and of their land.  To the little girl, they were full of a special magic. 

"I wish for a world without wars and landmines!

I wish that all people respect each other and be friends, and stop discriminating against each other!

I wish all of you peace, happiness and good luck in your life!"

Vanna, 2007