Why Ducks Sleep on One Leg

Parents and children alike will cherish this adaptation of a classic Southeast Asian tale. It weaves folklore and fantasy to present an entertaining explanation of the sleeping habits of ducks, while also reinforcing the importance of a community working together to solve complex problems. Why Ducks Sleep on One Leg—A Tale in English, Rhade, and Koho seeks to nurture intergenerational connections between parents and their children, and to preserve Montagnard language and culture.

Reading with children in their native language—their heart language—enhances language development and fosters strong emotional bonds between parent and child. This book celebrates the vibrant role of the Montagnard community in shaping the linguistic and cultural diversity of Greensboro, North Carolina. The state of North Carolina is home to the largest Montagnard population outside Vietnam, with a thriving Montagnard community located in Greensboro.

With translations in Rhade and Koho, two of the main languages spoken within the Greensboro Montagnard community, this book enables parents and elders to share their native language with children, with the goal of transmitting the language to future generations.

Beautiful illustrations by V-Raya Voravong Chusakul accompany the text. An American-born Thai living in Greensboro, North Carolina, Chusakul designed the illustrations as a ninth-grade student at Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts.