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@shelf_systers

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We are @steph_steph_sy and @karlasywrites Sisters that read, write, and share Asian stories for kids.

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Hi everyone! Barnes & Noble is offering an awesome promotion right now: 25% off pre-orders with the code PREORDER25 at checkout until June 26.

I would be so grateful if you would consider pre-ordering STRONG AS A LION, my debut picture book, illustrated by the talented Felishia Henditirto.

As an author, pre-orders mean so much. They help build momentum before a book launches and can have a real impact on visibility, retailer support, and launch-week success. Every pre-order truly makes a difference.

If you’re able to pre-order, thank you. And if not, sharing this post with friends, family, educators, librarians, or anyone who might enjoy the book is another meaningful way to support its journey into the world.

Thank you for your support!

Pre-order STRONG AS A LION here:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strong-as-a-lion-karla-sy/1149583922 by @shelf_systers

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4 months ago

This is the story behind the story.

I used to be terrified of dogs. Like, cross-the-street terrified. Take-the-stairs terrified.

And now?

Swipe through to see how that happened.

👇 What are you afraid of?
Did you overcome it or are you still afraid?

JIA HAS A DOG PROBLEM is available now wherever books are sold. 💜✨

✍️ @steph_steph_sy
🎨 @isabellakungill
📚 @kokilabooks by @shelf_systers

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5 months ago

📣Meet JIA! The cutest, sassiest and bravest little girl I had the pleasure to illustrate! Jia is petrified of dogs and so when she leaves her home (to get her fav icecream @mistersoftee_hk 🍦) she has to gear up!
👷🏻‍♀️🍦🐶
JIA HAS A DOG PROBLEM written by Stephanie Ellen Sy @steph_steph_sy & illustrated by yours truly hits the shelves at a book store near you on May 12, 2026! Preorder now! Link in bio & stories! taken in Hong Kong by @shelf_systers

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5 months ago

Another fabulous Asian picture book haul from @vancouverpubliclibrary ! taken in Vancouver, British Columbia by @shelf_systers

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6 days ago

A group of kids on the playground are tired of the same old questions. Are you a boy or a girl? Why do you always have your nose in a book? Where do you come from? One by one, they share what they’d rather be asked. As they move through the playground, picking up new friends along the way, there’s a feeling of understanding and acceptance among them. And in the end, the new kid comes up with the question they’d all like to hear: “Hey kid, want to play?”

A KID IS A KID IS A KID is a warm celebration of all the things that make kids different and all the things that make them the same. Perfect for anyone who has ever been asked the wrong question. 🧡

✍️ @123olearyo
🎨 @qinillustrations
📚 @groundwoodbooks by @shelf_systers

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18 days ago

Ibraheem and his cat Mitu join Baba on a rickshaw delivery through the busy city. There are no traffic lights, so the vehicles talk to each other instead. Baba taps his horn: BEEP BEEP. A car answers: HONK HONK. A bus says TOOT TOOT. The mighty truck rumbles. And Mitu says MEOW MEOW. When a toad hops into the road, everyone stops to let it pass. Baba reminds Ibraheem: “Big and small, short and tall, everyone shares the road.”

HONK HONK, BEEP BEEP, PUTTER PUTT! is a joyful, noisy ride through a South Asian city. Perfect for anyone who loves vehicles, sounds, and busy streets. 🛺

✍️ @rukhsanabooks
🎨 @chaaya23
📚 @tundrabooks by @shelf_systers

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19 days ago

So-Hee is lonely. She has no siblings, and the other kids don’t want to play with her. More than anything, she wants a pet to hold and love. The problem? She’s allergic to almost everything with fur. Then she finds the perfect solution at a “giant non-furry pet sale”—a big yellow snake named Lowy. They become inseparable. They sunbathe, ride bikes, and take bubble baths together. But one winter day, Lowy disappears. A building-wide search brings the whole neighborhood together, and So-Hee discovers something she didn’t expect: a friend who also has a pet reptile.

SO-HEE AND LOWY is about friendship and finding community in unexpected places. Perfect for anyone who has ever felt lonely and wished for a friend. 🐍

✍️ @annakangbooks
🎨 @christopherweyant
📚 @amazonpublishing by @shelf_systers

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24 days ago

On the first day at a new school, a young Korean American boy chooses sneakers over his favorite red shoes because he wants to fit in. He notices his mom doing the same thing—wearing a plain shirt instead of her sparkly top. At school, people see an “Outside Mom” who is quiet and serious. But at home, he knows the real “Inside Mom” who tells stories, makes jokes, and laughs loudly. When he starts feeling shy in class, he realizes he’s become an “Outside Me” too. But with Umma’s encouragement, they both find the courage to let their inside selves come out.

OUTSIDE MOM, INSIDE MOM is a warm, insightful story about code-switching and the courage it takes to be yourself in a new place. Perfect for anyone who has ever felt like they had to hide part of who they are to fit in. 🧡

✍️ @janeparkbooks
🎨 @lennywendraws
📚 @simonkids by @shelf_systers

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25 days ago

A toddler’s first haircut can feel scary and strange. This interactive board book uses die-cut holes so little fingers can “wash,” “cut,” and “comb” the hair on every page. Simple text and playful illustrations turn a big milestone into a fun, comforting experience.

MY FIRST HAIRCUT is a clever, interactive board book that makes a toddler’s first trip to the salon feel safe and silly. Perfect for anyone getting ready for a first haircut, or anyone who just likes to comb hair with their fingers. ✂️

✍️ 🎨 @dongyang_32pages
📚 @chroniclekidsbooks by @shelf_systers

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a month ago

A young girl in Taiwan shares her days with Popo, her grandmother. They walk in the park, make dumplings, and bow together on New Year’s Day. Then the girl and her parents move to San Diego. She waves at Popo from the airport and talks to her across the sea. Time passes. The girl grows taller and her first language grows fainter. When she returns to Taiwan for a visit, “ni hao” feels strange in her mouth. But Popo’s arms still fit the same.

I DREAM OF POPO is a tender story about the love that survives distance and time. Perfect for anyone who has ever loved someone from far away. 💛

✍️ @lkblackburne
🎨 @juliaskuo
📚 @mackidsbooks by @shelf_systers

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a month ago

A little girl has a birthmark on her forehead. She calls it Toto. Her mom calls it a kiss from an angel. Her cousin says it means she has a superpower. But sometimes it feels like people only see Toto, not her. So before school starts, she gets bangs to cover it up. Then she makes a new friend, and Toto accidentally comes out of hiding.

TOTO is about learning to love the parts of yourself you once wanted to hide. Perfect for anyone who has ever wished they could blend in. 🧡

✍️ 🎨 @yumhyewon
📚 @nealporterbooks by @shelf_systers

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a month ago

The poet Basho sits by a pond, hoping for quiet and inspiration. But a school of carp want to be in his poem, a waterlily wants to be immortalized, and a mosquito who’s a “big fan” wants a starring role. Each creature tries their hardest to get his attention and their antics grow more desperate. But in the end, the poet’s inspiration comes not from the ones who demanded it, but from an unassuming frog who just wanted a morning swim.

A POND, A POET, AND THREE PESTS is a funny fable about artistic creation and the trouble with chasing fame. It imagines the inspiration behind Bashō’s famous haiku, “Old Pond.” Perfect for anyone who has ever wanted something so badly they got in their own way. 🌿

✍️ @carolineaddersonkids
🎨 @laurentamaki
📚 @groundwoodbooks by @shelf_systers

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a month ago