The inspiration behind Mommy Eats Fried Grasshoppers! It started when a Lao-American author, Vilayvanh, shared her Lao culture with her daughters as their bedtime stories. The stories included her making toys out of banana tree parts, snacking on grasshoppers, and many more intriguing stories for them to get curious about how different their mom's experiences are to them.

Then, it led her to give a presentation about her Lao cultural heritage to her daughter's first-grade class. Eight years later, Mommy Eats Fried Grasshoppers! was published to spread her profound message of cultural acceptance & preservation and the pursuit of dreams.

Another inspiration behind Mommy Eats Fried Grasshopper! The book's main character, Mahlee, was in Girl Scouts. Vilayvanh was an active troop mom teaching the girls about coming-of-age issues as a Registered Dietitian. She was proud to be a part of impacting the girls' lives during their impressionable developmental years.

Mahlee and her sister Leela are grown up now. However, the award-winning book's timeless charm continues to be enjoyed by many across the globe. Vilayvanh hopes to reach more Girl Scouts and discover while learning new things using their imaginations.

Vilayvanh wants to inspire the Girl Scouts to use their curiosity, empathy, and respect for different cultures and cuisines. In addition, she wants to foster a love for reading and learning to equip them with the skills needed to succeed.