Fusing Charlotte Cheng's Love For Taiwanese Heritage and Education
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Time to read 5 min
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Time to read 5 min
I'm Charlotte Cheng, a Taiwanese-American children's book author and illustrator. I've written and illustrated a variety of children's books including Roar-Choo!, Night Market Rescue, and I Miss You Most. My books have been selected for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of the Year. I’m also an educator with over 20 years of experience in EdTech and curriculum. I live in San Mateo, where I enjoy playing board games and the ukulele while sampling local boba beverages. My favorite board games include Tokaido, Canvas, and Azul!
My main passion in children’s books is to provide windows so that kids can learn more about new cultures or ideas – whether that’s about a Taiwanese night market or the ancient relationship between Dragon and Phoenix. I also want to provide mirrors so that kids can see themselves in the books they read.
In education, I’ve worked at organizations such as Wonder Workshop, CodeCombat, KQED, LeapFrog, and the Disney Company. All of my work is focused on exploring innovative ways to make education interactive, fun, and engaging for learners of all ages. Whether that’s programming robots, reading with Disney characters, or designing video games, I truly believe education is the way to help our future generation feel empowered and positively impactful in their lives.
I grew up surrounded by family, including 23 cousins and 2 sets of grandparents who lived close by. Every day, I experienced different aspects of my Taiwanese heritage. I learned to play mahjong before the age of 5. I would pour oolong tea at restaurants where golden dragons and phoenixes decorated the walls. My parents and I would chant nursery rhymes about the gorgeous mountains of AliShang. When I found out how little people knew about Taiwan, I decided that I wanted to share my heritage through picture books. I also incorporate my love of family. That’s why Roar-Choo! features bone broth soup and in, I Miss You Most, the memories of the girl’s grandfather are found in the click and clack of mahjong tiles. Now, I am so glad children are able to learn about Taiwan or see themselves through the stories I tell.
It truly takes a village to get a picture book into the hands of a child. I know the effort is worth it when I read my stories to children at school visits and book events. Their looks of wonder, laughter, and reflection let me know that I’ve made a connection with them. Parents and educators have told me how I Miss You Most has helped their kids process the loss of a loved one. Icy Fruit is about how my grandfather started a popsicle company in Taiwan and educators want to use the book to talk about design thinking and entrepreneurship. Many many many parents raise their hands when I ask if they struggle with self care, much like Dragon and Phoenix do in Roar-Choo! These are the moments when I feel the most proud – when my books make a positive impact in other people’s lives.
I’m so happy to see that there’s so much more AAPI/NH representation in the art industry and I truly appreciate the way On Waverly has highlighted the diverse artists that can be found in our local communities! If you haven’t, do come visit On Waverly! It is full of so many wonderful treasures – from books, to artwork, to home decor, and stationery. When you shop there, you know that you’re supporting our AAPI/NH artist community. I hope to see you there at a future event.
I’ve been drawing and writing for as long as I can remember. At the age of 2, I started drawing on walls, furniture, and any other surface I could get my hands on. I believe I wrote my first book when I was around 5 and started my first novel when I was 10. In high school, every shirt I wore had dabs of paint from the projects I was working on at home. Later on, even though I was encouraged to pursue a more stable career in education, I never stopped writing or drawing. I was selling art prints at the county fair or writing short essays in the middle of the night. Eventually, I discovered that picture books were the perfect format for me to be creative, because each book is a dance between words and pictures. From there, I decided to take classes and attend conferences to learn more about the picture book publishing process. Eleven books later and I still love the process!
When it comes to the process, my favorite part is collaborating with the illustrator and the publishing team to bring each book to life. There are many rounds of revision and polishing when it comes to layout, text placement, character design, and more. I love that each person is bringing a different expertise that makes the book stronger.
Most people aren’t aware that it took me over 10 years to sell my first book, Night Market Rescue. I wish they knew how much persistence it takes to get a book published traditionally. You need to believe in your story and constantly revise/iterate to make it better. Then, even though your story has been refined and is ready for publication, the timing of the children’s book market means editors aren’t looking for your type of book right now. However, if you stay focused, work on your craft, and put yourself out there, eventually that perfect timing will come! I submitted Night Market Rescue to the same agent 3 times and it took that third time before she could find the right editor for the book. Now, I’ve sold 6 books with my agent and it’s been a pleasure working through the launch of each book with her. I know this advice is easy to say and hard to do. I still struggle with the submission and revision process myself. It is difficult to submit a story that is so personal and precious to you, because some of the constructive feedback you receive will feel like a personal affront to who you are. I had to practice managing those feelings of rejection, to not take feedback so personally. Then, I was able to pick myself back up to work on the story again!
I’m excited about my two upcoming books in 2026 – A Name for Sister and Ama’s Purse. I’ll be planning book launches and events for them soon.
You can learn more about my work and upcoming author events at www.charlotte.art.
Instagram: @charlottemakesbooks
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charlottecreatives/
