As a group of avid readers in the LRP team we are very happy to have recently expanded our book offering online and in the showroom. We knew you would be interested in finding out more about some of the wonderful authors and illustrators who have created the ones we've selected. All books have a Hong Kong theme whether it be written or illustrated by someone who lives here or is about the city, the stories and the history of the place so many of us call home.
We have created a series of Ask The Author blog posts where we ask the same three questions (with an added bonus one at the end!) to find out more about their connection to the city, what their book is all about, what inspires them and their favourite things to see and do in the 852.
Jamie Li
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Jamie spent her early adulthood in the U.S. for 10-plus years. She received her Master in Counselling Psychology from Columbia University and worked in New York for a bit before returning to her hometown. Jamie's profession is mainly around addressing children’s mental health, family dynamics, and parenting.
Jamie sees how picture books play a role in children’s development, therefore seizes every opportunity to read with children and share life experiences. In creating this book, she hopes it elicits a personal resonance in children in Hong Kong.
Grace Lai
Grace obtained her Ph.D. in Social Work from New York University. She has been a clinical social worker and play therapist in the mental health field for over a decade.
As a mother of three who experienced moving to various countries with her family, she understands the importance of supporting children through the process. She wants her children to know her “roots” and hence decided to write a book with Hong Kong, her country of origin, as the backdrop.
About the book
The Lion in My Heart was written by both Jamie and Grace. Changes affect adults as well as children at different levels. This book uses immigration as a theme to guide children to think about the various "losses" they have faced and to understand what it feels like to experience loss. We want children to learn that as long as they manage these experiences and the emotions that come with them well, "loss" can also be transformed into positive energy.
Meanwhile, we have seen a large number of families moving away from Hong Kong in recent years. We wanted to use our professional training to create a book to help prepare children and their families who are experiencing changes in their lives. We collaborated with a local illustrator to come up with this Hong Kong-themed bilingual picture book. We hope to reach families from different cultures and backgrounds who share a love of Hong Kong and help them remember their lives here.
Jamie loves traveling in the vibrant city to appreciate the different infrastructures in HK and understands the unique history of this place. Enjoying local street food is of course on the agenda as well.
Grace loves hiking in the countryside in Hong Kong! Nothing in the world beats the night view from Victoria Peak!
What is it that you love most about children's picture books?
Children's picture book is a great tool to connect with children, to create conversations while spending quality time with them. The pictures and the story also convey meaningful messages to children that could have a lifelong impact on them.
