New Release
The First Moon Festival
Houyi the hero received a pill of immortality as a reward for saving the world. When a villain went after the pill, Houyi’s wife Chang’e made a choice that got her trapped on the moon.
Come discover the fantastic legend behind the Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival. Be drawn into the world of Chinese mythology, and learn a few Chinese words along the way.
#1 New Release in Children’s Holiday Around the World (Sep 2023)
The First Chinese Festivals series
Come discover the legends and history behind traditional Chinese festivals! Celebrated for thousands of years, each festival has a unique and fascinating origin story. Learn how the festivals are celebrated today, and experience the original Chinese words with pinyin and English pronunciations.
The story of
L Sam Zhang PhD
Sam is the author and illustrator of the picture book series The First Chinese Festivals. She is a 2023-24 National Leaders of Color Fellow, and a finalist for the 2024 PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship.
Sam was born in Shanghai and grew up in Buffalo, NY. After getting a BS in Biology from Cornell and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan, she spent a decade on the West Coast doing marketing and design for startups, research institutes, and nonprofits. Sam now lives in Michigan and is the Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy, a nonprofit organization that provides Chinese language, arts, and cultural experiences to youth from all backgrounds. She hopes to share her interest in Chinese culture and mythology with everyone.
Hobbies: In my spare time, I enjoy playing piano, flute, and would sometimes picks up the ukulele to learn some songs from video tutorials. I also likes doing needlework, building Legos, and exploring different crafting techniques.
Projects: In addition to The First Chinese Festival picture book series, I am finishing up a YA fantasy novel based on Chinese mythology. I’ve started to work on a memoir as well, which explores my incredible family history as seen through the lens of a 1.5 generation immigrant dealing with the loss of my beloved grandparents.
Currently seeking representation.
The First Lantern Festival
To help a servant girl see her family again, the famous Dongfang Shuo convinced everyone that the gods were coming to burn down the city! Even the emperor believed him.
Come discover the legend of how the Lantern Festival began over 2,000 years ago. Along the way, you may learn a few Chinese words and meet some interesting historical figures.
#1 New Release in Children’s Multicultural Literature (Jan 2023)
The First Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival celebrates the first Chinese poet, Qu Yuan. And before the poet came along, this Chinese holiday was all about getting rid of bugs that came out at the beginning of summer!
Come explore the many traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival. Along the way, you may learn a few Chinese words and get to know some interesting historical figures.
#1 New Release in Children’s Asian History (May 2023)
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Upcoming events
25 Feb
2024
KCA Lantern Festival 2024
Come celebrate the Lantern Festival (元宵节）There'll be performances, specialty foods, cultural workshops, games, prizes, and fun for the whole family. I'll be by the front door for book signings and more.
1 Mar
2024
Kalamazoo Art Hop
I'll be at the Kalamazoo Public Library for the March Art Hop. I hear there'll be a concert too.