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jenny liao 廖麗紅

@jeliao

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i write and eat a lot

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This book about Qing Ming, or Tomb Sweeping Day, is a sweet story about a family’s tradition of visiting the cemetery to honor relatives and ancestors. It’s a Chinese tradition similar to Día de los Muertos and Undas. Pausing to remember helps the girl feel gratitude for the times she spent with Yeh Yeh and share updates of her life with him in a hopeful and comforting way.

Words by @jeliao
Art by @lennywendraws

This book also prompted me to reflect about family values. Read my newsletter for more.

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Bao’s bravest chapter yet 🐴❤️

Written by @jeliao and illustrated by @theartofadriane

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

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A special day at Castelar Elementary School 📚👑❤️

Queen Victoria Yip and 1st Princess Ashley Lai had the joy of reading with students, answering their questions, and sharing stories from our life journeys and pageant experiences. They also read @jeliao ‘s Qing Ming storybook to the kids.

Through the support of our “A Journey Back to Our Roots” Gala, our 2026 Court was also proud to dedicate $1,000 to the Castelar Elementary School Music Program. 🎶❤️

Beyond the crowns and sashes, we hope our stories inspired these bright young minds to believe in themselves, embrace their journeys, and dream big. ✨

Thank you to Principal Luu for welcoming us and making this special visit possible! 🥹📚❤️

#MissLosAngelesChinatown #MLAC2026

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📚✨ a beautiful day at the LA Kids Book Festival celebrating the magic of storytelling, imagination, and early education. 🥹💗

we loved meeting so many wonderful authors and seeing the creativity and heart behind the stories that inspire our next generation. 🌸📖 there’s something so special about watching children discover new worlds, dream a little bigger, and fall in love with reading. 💭✨

thank you for having us, LA Kids Book Festival! we hope to return again soon. 👑💕📚🧸🌈

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Planning your Labor Day read-aloud experiences for next week? 📚💛Check out these picture books that honor the hardworking people all around us! These books introduce children to a variety of careers and inspire appreciation for the dedication and passion behind every job. What are your favorite worker-focused books? Share in the comments! #laborday #readalouds #kidlit @corwin_press

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missing my yeh yeh and nene ❤️ thank you @jeliao for teaching kids to learn about qing ming 💛🧧

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Stop by our tent at LA Kids book festival and meet Author Jenny Liao @jeliao

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🍎Back to school lunch inspiration but instead of planning what to pack, here are some books to prepare for being in the lunch room.

🥕These 9 books features stories to spark conversations around kindness, inclusivity, curiosity, bullying, respect, and delicious food! (Recipes included in several 😋)

Home in a Lunchbox by @hellocherrymo
Geraldine Pu and Her Lunchbox, Too! by @maggiepchang
The Sandwich Swap by @kellydipucchio
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by @mariadismondybooks
This is How We Do It by @mattlamothedraws
Tomatoes in My Lunchbox by @costantia_author_illustrator
Lunchbox from Home by @joshuadavidstein
What’s That? by Karen Chan
Everyone Loves Lunchtime but Zia by @jeliao

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During high school and college I didn’t really put much time or effort into practicing my Chinese, so it really deteriorated. It was only in 2023 that I went to China and was like oh wow I’ve gotten rusty, then I picked it back up. I was calling my dad on Friday to talk about a poem I read 人人尽说江南好 , and he recommended I read 忆江南 and then I was thinking to myself how we are able to talk about so much more now than before, and talk about things he’s interested in. I mentioned an article and a short story in the video - take sometime to read it’s highly worth!

#china #asianamerican

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It’s officially August, which means it’s back-to-school season! 🍎📚

To help start the school year with kindness, empathy, and inclusion, I’ve created this month’s picture book calendar featuring stories that celebrate school, different cultures, multiple languages, friendship, and belonging. As we welcome students into our classrooms, it’s important to remember that every child comes from a different background, has different experiences, and may not have the same resources or support at home. A little understanding and compassion can make a world of difference.

And if you’re not an educator, these books are a great way to start meaningful conversations with your own kids about being kind, making everyone feel included, and becoming the kind of friend every child deserves this school year. ❤️

Drop a 🍎 for the 🔗’s.

#backtoschool #newschoolyear #teacher #school #kidsbooks

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I came across two beautiful picture books today, both celebrating the ways we remember and honour those who came before us.

“With You in Spirit” introduces young readers to Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping Day) observed by many Chinese families all over the world. As a little girl prepares for the day’s rituals with her parents, memories of her beloved Yeh Yeh (grandfather) resurface, reminding her of the quiet ways he is still part of her life. Gentle illustrations beautifully complement this tender story of love, loss, and remembrance.

“I Am a Bon Dancer” takes readers to Obon, the Japanese Festival of Souls. Excited to join the Bon Odori dance, a young girl loses confidence when she realises she doesn’t know the steps. Her grandfather gently reminds her that they are dancing not only with those around them, but also with the loved ones who live on in their memories. In that moment, the dance becomes an act of connection, love, and gratitude.

Both books offer children a meaningful window into cultural traditions while gently exploring grief, memory, and the enduring bonds between generations.

#mitrasuggests #readlikeawolfeats #picturebook #kidlit

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Wanted to share a few picture books I've added to our home library recently! There are so many gems!

📚HOLD by @randyribay and @zpvisual
📚WITH YOU IN SPIRIT: A QING MIND STORY by @jeliao and @lennywendraws
📚BECOMING REAL: THE TRUE STORY OF THE VELVETEEN RABBIT by @mollygoldenbooks and @paoesco8ar
📚NUNU AMD THE SEA by @isabellakungill
📚ALL THE WAYS WE LEARN by @chloeitoward and @odnatamyara
📚BROKEN by @xfang_studio
📚BECAUSE OF A SHOE by @juliefogliano and @marlafrazee
📚THIS IS NOT MY HOME by @eugeniayoh and @viviennechxng
📚FIREWORKS by @matthewburgessj and @catia_chien
📚DON'T EAT EUSTACE by @liantomato
📚PIG TOWN PARTY by @liantomato
📚NANI CAMP @raakstarwrites and @hollyhatamillustration
📚MAIN STREET: A COMMUNITY STORY ABOUT REDLINING by @britthawthorne @tiffanymjewell and David Wilkerson
📚EVERY MONDAY MABEL by @jasharawan

What picture books have you loved lately?

#picturebook

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