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jenny liao 廖麗紅

@jeliao

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i write and eat a lot

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With You in Spirit, a story written by me (@jeliao) and illustrated by @lennywendraws, tells the story of a young child finding her own way to reconnect with her grandfather on Qing Ming, a holiday honoring family members who are no longer with us.

The holiday takes place during the first week of April each year, or the fifteenth day after the spring equinox. This year, Qing Ming takes place today, April 5th, 2026.

Qing Ming, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, is one of the most important holidays celebrated in Chinese communities around the world.

On Qing Ming, people honor their ancestors and loved ones who have passed away by cleaning, or “sweeping,” their family’s gravesite, sharing their favorite foods, and burning joss paper.

Food helps to nourish our loved ones’ spirits, while joss paper is burned to help them pay for goods. Paper items in the form of houses, electronics, and clothing are burned to better equip family members for a prosperous existence in the afterlife.

Burning these paper items is a way to transport offerings from the living world to the spirit world. In return for honoring them, our ancestors and loved ones bless and watch over us.

Swipe 👉 for a preview of Qing Ming traditions from With You in Spirit. Illustrations by @lennywendraws.

With You in Spirit is available for sale everywhere books are sold and in the link in bio. by @jeliao

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6 months ago

Wowwww the queen herself, after her historic wins, with theee hottest accessory this award szn 🤯

Asian American representation is increasing one major film and one lil children’s book at a time 🥹

Pick up a copy of EVERYONE LOVES LUNCHTIME BUT ZIA at bookshop.org or anywhere books are sold online/irl 🙃❤️

#everythingeverywhereallatonce #michelleyeoh #childrensbooks #picturebook #asiankidlit #thisisjustforfun #thejoelonetoo by @jeliao

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4 years ago

My very first byline in @newyorkermag and it’s for all the children of immigrants.

For anyone who has trouble communicating with their family.

For anyone who feels conflicted over their identity in this country.

This is for you.

Beautiful illustration by @howaboutacheesecake. Link in bio if you have a moment to read it ❤️ taken in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY by @jeliao

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5 years ago

Bao’s bravest chapter yet 🐴❤️

Written by @jeliao and illustrated by @theartofadriane

Learn how you can support Bao & @starlightchildrensfoundation at the link in bio✨ by @jeliao

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16 days ago

Had a blast signing books and meeting readers at @lakidsbookfestival with @chevaliersbooks ☺️ thank you for coming out on a hot day to learn more about With You in Spirit, and Zia’s adventures in Lunchtime and Career Day 📚 taken in Los Angeles Kids' Book Festival by @jeliao

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2 months ago

I’m so excited to be back at the Los Angeles Kids Book Festival @lakidsbookfestival this month!! This is a FREE event, RSVP link in bio!

If you’re attending, please stop by to visit me at the @chevaliersbooks booth! I’ll be doing a meet and greet and signing all three of my books:

Everyone Loves Lunchtime but Zia
Everyone Loves Career Day but Zia
With You in Spirit

I’m also bringing goodies to give away with every book purchase (all three books will be available) ☺️ come say hi! Hope to see you and your young readers there!!

Event: LA Kids Book Festival Meet and Greet
Date: August 23, 2026
Time: 10-11:30am
Location: West Hollywood Park (Chevalier’s Books booth) taken in West Hollywood Park by @jeliao

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2 months ago

Can I still call him Baby Ca$h even though he’s 2 years old? 🤔

Not sure what I did to deserve such a sweet, kind, smart, curious little guy in my life. Lucky that my days are filled with his laughs (with some tears and tantrums 🤡). taken in Disneyland by @jeliao

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5 months ago

听不懂, 谢谢 ✨🇨🇳 taken in China by @jeliao

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5 months ago

A big heartfelt thank you to my community for showing up and showing love to With You in Spirit 💕 What an honor to read to you, craft with you, and sign your books. It means so much to me that you’ve connected with the story and are reminded of the loved ones you miss.

Thank you @mcnallyjackson for hosting and making me feel at home for the release of With You in Spirit 🥰 It was a very special afternoon dedicated to loved ones who stay with us spiritually, even when they’re not with us physically.

Swipe to see my extremely happy face after seeing everyone 🙂🤪 taken in Mcnally Jackson Seaport by @jeliao

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7 months ago

Our family ❤️

📷: @kristineboel taken in Los Angeles, California by @jeliao

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7 months ago

✨❤️ Happy Book Birthday to WITH YOU IN SPIRIT: A Qing Ming Story! ❤️✨

This touching new picture book is illustrated by our very own Lenny Wen (@lennywendraws), written by Jenny Liao (@jeliao).

“A sweet introduction to a significant Chinese tradition, glimpsed through the eyes of a loving family.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Liao and Wen’s picture book offers a touching introduction to a Chinese holiday that celebrates and pays respect to loved ones in the afterlife....showing young readers that loved ones who passed on have never left them.” The Bulletin

A little girl and her family come together to honor her late grandfather on Qing Ming or Tomb-Sweeping Day in this heartwarming story about celebrating ancestors.

Join a young girl and her family as they prepare for Qing Ming: cooking favorite dishes and gathering everything they need to visit Yeh Yeh’s grave. The girl is worried because her memories of Yeh Yeh are fading and wonders if he is forgetting her too.
As the family sweeps and clears debris from Yeh Yeh’s grave, burn incense and joss paper, the little girl has an offering of her own. She shares about her adventures and accomplishments from the past year, burning a drawing of a bicycle, so that Yeh Yeh can ride like they used to at the park. With every story and offering, she feels closer to her grandfather. When the family gathers for a picnic at the grave, indulging in Yeh Yeh’s favorite foods—it is a tender moment of togetherness.

A heartwarming story about honoring and celebrating those who are gone.

We are so glad that this heartwarming and reverent story is now out on bookshelves everywhere from @knopfyoungreaders @randomhousekids. ❤️✨ by @jeliao

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8 months ago

Happy Birthday to my third book baby, With You in Spirit 🥳

It’s a book that moves across generations, when I see my mom reading it to my son, and a book that moves with bowels, when my son grabs it during his diaper changes. Truly a multipurpose and multifaceted story about reconnecting with the spirit of our loved ones. Hope you love it as much as we do 💕 by @jeliao

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8 months ago