About us
Mãi Tò Mò brings Vietnamese children's books into restaurants, cafés, and community spaces.
Children's books often create the first memories of stories, shared reading, and language. They accompany children as they grow up and shape how they see and understand the world.
We want to create places where children and families can discover stories. Spontaneously. While waiting for food, over a coffee, or during an afternoon together.
Sometimes a single book is enough to spark curiosity, start conversations, and connect people with one another.
Restaurants and cafés are places of togetherness. Families, friends, and guests spend time there together. A small book shelf can quite naturally become a point of attraction.
A book at the entrance, a story during the waiting time, or a shared look into a picture book create moments that connect.
Vietnamese voices, images, and storytelling traditions are at the center. Guests encounter stories, poems, and children's books that carry language, memory, and imagination from Vietnam. For children who want to discover more about other cultures. For Vietnamese families. And for everyone who is curious about new stories.
Children often encounter books for the first time through curiosity and joy. When books are presented openly, visibly, and invitingly, reading does not grow from duty, but from interest.
These first encounters can shape imagination, language, empathy, and cultural understanding for a lifetime.
Our story
Mãi Tò Mò began with two simple questions:
Why are Vietnamese children's books so difficult to see and access outside Vietnam? And why are children reading less and less?
Many children today grow up between several languages and cultures. At the same time, phones and digital media take up more and more room in daily life, while books and Vietnamese stories often move into the background.
We believe that children do not find reading through pressure, but through curiosity, beautiful stories, and shared moments.
Mãi Tò Mò grew out of this idea. A project that wants to make Vietnamese children's books more visible and give children more joy in reading again.
Partners & publishers
FAQ
Mãi Tò Mò is a non-profit initiative that makes Vietnamese culture and stories more visible. By bringing children's books into restaurants, cafés, and community spaces, we want to spark curiosity, create shared reading moments, and offer a mindful balance to time spent on phones.
Mãi Tò Mò was founded by Thuy Le-Scherello. As the Global Ambassador for the Vietnamese Language 2024 and an author, she wants to share Vietnamese culture in Germany and open up a lively connection to language and stories for children and families.
A Mãi Tò Mò book shelf contains a carefully selected collection of picture books, stories, and poems. It includes bilingual books as well as books in Vietnamese, German, and English. Each selection is suited to the venue and the children who visit it.
We would be delighted to hear from restaurants, cafés, and community spaces that would like to offer children and families a place to discover books. Please contact us at info@mai-to-mo.com.
Everyone is welcome. The books are provided free of charge to enjoy at the venue. The shelves are especially made for children and families, but they invite all curious guests to browse, read, and discover Vietnamese stories.
Yes, we would be very grateful. Donations help us select books, set up shelves, and make Vietnamese stories accessible to more children and families. Find our donation options here.
We select books that make reading enjoyable and show the richness of Vietnamese language, imagery, and storytelling traditions. We work with Vietnam's largest book publisher as well as local publishers of bilingual books in Germany. We consider different age groups and aim for a varied selection.
You can help by connecting us with a suitable venue, sharing our work, or getting in touch about a possible partnership. We are happy to hear from you.
