Always with You - A story about hope and courage

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by James

Always with You tells the emotional journey of four-year-old Kim after her village in Vietnam is bombed. Her mother’s final words—“Don’t be afraid. I will always be with you.”—stay with her as Kim is left alone and later rescued by American soldiers. Raised in an orphanage filled with caring adults and siblings, Kim rebuilds safety and strength through kindness and perseverance. Based on a true story from the Vietnam War.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages40

Reading Time1 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

Four-year-old Kim

Rescue and new family

Finding safety through kindness

# Always with You Written by Ruth Vander ZeeIllustrated by Ronald Himler 20 $17.00 USA Ages 8-12 "Kim,come to me.""Don't be afraid.""I will always be with you." Four-year-old Kim’s mother uttersher final words on the day theirvillage in Vietnam is bombed.Alone and afraid,Kim is left fordead.Eventually she is rescued byAmerican soldiers,who bring herto an orphanage. Surrounded by the love of Ongand Bà Jones,the couple whorun the orphanage,and thecompanionship of the manybrothers and sisters who live there,Kim finds the strength and courageto survive.And with her mother'swords echoing in her heart,Kimgradually learns to feel safe again. Poignant illustrations capture theperseverance of the human spiritand the power of kindness thatthis book celebrates.Based on atrue story from the Vietnam War,Always with You will help youngreaders discover the hope thatexists in even the most desperatesituations. Always with You Written by Ruth Vander Zeellustrated by Ronald Himler Eerdmans Books for Young ReadersGrand Rapids,Michigan/Cambridge,U.K. Text C2008 Ruth Vander ZeeIllustrations 2008 Ronald Himler Published in 2008 by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers,an imprint of Wm.B.Eerdmans Publishing Co.All rights reserved Wm.B.Eerdmans Publishing Co.2140 Oak Industrial Dr.NE,Grand Rapids,Michigan 49505PO.Box 163,Cambridge CB39PUU.K. www.eerdmans.com/youngreaders Manufactured in China 080910111287654321 Library of Congress Catalogingin-Publication Data Vander Zee,Ruth.Always with you/by Ruth Vander Zee;illustrated by Ron Himler. p.cm. Summary:Orphaned at the age of four when hervillage in Vietnam is bombed,Kim is rescued by soldiers and raised in an orphanage,always finding comfort in her mother's last words—"Don't be afraid.I will always be with you." ISBN-13:978-0-8028-5295-3(hardcover:alk.paper) [1.Mothers and daughters---Fiction.2.Orphans—Fiction.3.Vietnam—History—1945-1975—-Fiction.]1.Himler,Ronald,ill .Title.PZ7.V285116Alw 2008[E]—dc222007009354 Display type set in ITC TiepoloText type set in Della RobbiaIllustrations created with pencil and watercolor In this story,"Vietnam"is spelled as one word,the preferred spelling today.However,Kim,the narrator,would have spelled her country's name as two words,Viet Nam.Every word inthe Vietnamese language has only one syllable,no matter how many letters are in that word. for Annika,Elise,and Anja...always with you—R.V.Z. “Kim,come to me.”"Don't be afraid.""I will always be with you." Those are the only words I remember my mamasaying to me.Three short sentences. But I guess you remember words that arewhispered at the bottom of a bombed-out crater. Where once your house stood.When you were four years old.When you were alone.

FAQs

What happens to Kim after her village in Vietnam is bombed?

Kim is left alone and afraid. American soldiers eventually rescue her and bring her to an orphanage.

How does Kim’s mother’s message affect her?

Kim carries her mother’s last words in her heart. They help her face fear and gradually learn to feel safe again.

What helps Kim survive in the orphanage?

Kim finds love and support from Ong and Bà Jones, along with companionship from the other brothers and sisters.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by James