The Ambassador interviewed Karina Zhou, a 21-year-old Chinese Canadian writer and artist about the inspiration behind her book, Kai’s Tea Eggs.
Zhou is based in San Francisco and is “on a mission to enhance stories that explore cultural identities and diverse global perspectives”. Her book, Kai’s Tea Eggs, was published by Arsenal Pulp Press and gained recognition across Canadian education systems.
She is pursuing a BFA in Animation at California College of the Arts with a Minor in Writing and Literature. From CG Animation to hand-drawn watercolor paintings, she has started to specialize in designing stories for children and young people.
Zhou tells The Ambassador, “As a child, I remember trying to separate myself from my Chinese heritage, wishing to be anything but “different” from my friends. That is until one day, I brought tea eggs to my class! I wrote and illustrated my debut picture book, Kai’s Tea Eggs, in hopes it inspires children to appreciate their unique cultural identities and celebrate Asian food”.
The story follows a little girl named Kai who’s so nervous about sharing her family’s food on Multicultural Day that she runs away! She’s stopped by a dragon named Ming and together, they explore how to appreciate and celebrate Asian food and culture.
Karina Zhou published this book at 19 years old with no prior experience working in this industry. According to Zhou, “It was intimidating to try new things. Even with the barriers to entry, I knew this book had to be shared with kids”.
“I never thought I could publish a book, but I believed that the story could help inspire or uplift young kids. If you don’t see your story represented on the bookshelves, maybe it’s a sign for you to create it yourself”.
Purchase Kai’s Tea Eggs by Karina Zhou here!: https://arsenalpulp.com/Books/K/Kai-s-Tea-Eggs
Amy Zhang
July 14th, 2024
Amy Zhang
July 14th, 2024