About Katrina LiuIndependent children's book author and self-publishing coach
Hi! I'm Katrina Liu, a Chinese-American and Taiwanese mom of three in San Francisco, California. I'm the founder of Lychee Press, where I make Chinese bilingual children's books and stories about Asian American families.
I grew up in the 80s and 90s and went to a mostly white elementary school. Like a lot of children of immigrants, I wanted to fit in, so I pushed my culture away. I stopped speaking Chinese at home and didn't appreciate my heritage until much later.
As a kid I was always making something: storybooks, poems, short videos, friendship bracelets. That led me to study graphic and web design, and my first job out of college was at a small publishing company. Later I moved into tech, got my MBA, and built a career in product management in Silicon Valley.
Then I became a mom.
Reading bedtime stories with my oldest daughter brought back my love of children's books. I wanted her to be proud of who she is and know where she comes from. I also wanted her to have the chance to be bilingual, the thing I gave up as a kid and always regretted.
Now I have three kids, and I write books that help children see themselves and feel connected to their roots.
About Lychee Press
Lychee Press is an independent children's book publisher in San Francisco, founded in 2021 by author Katrina Liu. Liu published her first bilingual picture book in 2018, and the catalog now includes 25+ titles in more than 100 editions across English, Simplified Chinese with Pinyin, Traditional Chinese with Pinyin, Cantonese with Jyutping, and Tagalog, written for ages 2 to 7.
Most bilingual titles come with free Mandarin or Cantonese audio readings. The Gratitude Jar and Let's Go on a Hike! have won book awards, and I Love BOBA! was featured on BuzzFeed. Lychee Press books are sold on this site, on Amazon, through independent bookstores and libraries, and wholesale to retailers on Faire. Katrina Liu also coaches first-time children's book authors through self-publishing.
Why I write bilingual Chinese children's books
I write Chinese-English bilingual picture books for families who aren't fluent in Chinese but want their kids to hear the language and feel proud of their culture. The books use Simplified or Traditional Chinese, Pinyin, and English, and they come with Mandarin audio read-alouds to help with pronunciation.
Kids pick up language most easily in early childhood. My books are for parents who want to raise bilingual kids, even if they're learning right alongside them.
The books are also about seeing Asian faces in everyday stories and helping kids feel proud of who they are.
I also do school and library visits, in person or virtual. If you'd like me to come to your school, you can request a visit here.
Independent and self-funded
I publish every book independently and pay for it myself. This work is personal to me. If you care about Asian representation in children's books or dual language learning, I hope you'll share my books with your family, school, or community.
For more of my story, read my interview with Chalk Academy.
Thanks for stopping by and for supporting diverse children's books.
Take a look around
Browse my books and bundles, or get help publishing your own children's book.
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Meet the Illustrators
Afa Tazkia
We Shop Small, Naptime Powers, Let's Go on a Plane Ride
Afa lives in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. She grew up loving Disney and anime. She's shy, so drawing became her favorite way to tell stories.
Anastasiya Klempach
I Found It!
Anastasiya Klempach is a digital illustrator who really loves dogs. She has two funny whippets and one fat cat.
Bella Ansori Putri
The Gratitude Jar, Carly Only Eats Carbs, Mama's Fruit Belly
Bella Ansori Putri lives in Indonesia with her husband and little girl. She loves Disney art, and you can see it in her style.
Rosalia Destarisa
I Love My Grandpa, Mina's Scavenger Hunt, Mina's Ups and Downs, Mina Goes to the Beach
Rosalia Destarisa, or Desta, is a freelance children's book illustrator in Indonesia. She graduated in 2016 from Universitas Sebelas Maret with a degree in Visual Communication Design.
Heru Setiawan
How Do Vaccines Work?, Let's Go on a Hike!, A Gift for Popo, Let's Go to the Farmers' Market
Heru Setiawan is an illustrator from Indonesia and a happy introvert. He loves telling stories through drawings, with soft painted brushwork and calm, cozy colors.
Eve Farb
Corgi State of Mind
Eve Farb is an illustrator and a psychologist in Izhevsk, Russia. She loves drawing, design, and Russian fairy tales, and has illustrated multiple books published in Russia.
Dhidit Prayoga
I Love BOBA!
Dhidit Prayoga is an artist from Pekanbaru, Indonesia. He has been drawing since elementary school and loves watching cartoon series like Doraemon.
Anselm Medina
Mina's First Day of School
Anselm is a digital illustrator from Lima, Peru. He has a bachelor's degree in graphic design from Pontificia Universidad Cat‚àö‚â•lica Del Per‚àö‚à´. He mostly illustrates children's books and loves coming up with fresh ideas.