Mr. Chow's Night Market

“A sure hit for fans of Joanna Ho and Grace Lin.” —Booklist

“Eloquent but child-friendly, food-related imagery enlivens the text (the moon is compared to a “wok full of simmering oil,” the sun to a “melting mango”), while smiles on inanimate objects, from doors to lanterns, create an enchantingly sweet world. A visual delight—and vindication for night owls.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Colorful illustrations created both digitally and with pencil are endlessly expressive, as even inanimate objects—from shopping carts and windows to pomelos and corn chips—have faces, and their reactions to Mr. Chow and his antics add a fun, playful element to the story. Meanwhile, the text is poetic, employing comestible metaphors and similes as a motif to draw in listeners and add to the overall night market theme. The author includes an end note that details the history of Taiwan’s night markets along with her own experiences at these unique destinations in Taiwanese culture. Any night owl or kid who goes against the grain will see themselves in Mr. Chow’s contented smile.” —BCCB

Rendering bustling days and serene nights, dynamic pencil and digital cartooning captures the protagonist’s night-owl innovation, while visuals of anthropomorphic Taipei buildings and food-related phrasing (“The sun is an egg dripping hot yolk on Mr. Chow’s face”) add levity to this tale of transition and self-understanding.” —Publishers Weekly

Emily Sun Li (she/her) is a Chinese American author who spent two years studying Mandarin Chinese in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, as a Fulbright scholar. Afterward, she received an MA in children’s literature and an MFA in writing for children at Simmons University. Her experiences have inspired her to write her debut picture book, Mr. Chow’s Night Market. When she’s not writing, she’s probably procrasti-cleaning, drinking milk tea, or traveling.

Yu Ting Cheng (she/her) was born and raised in Taiwan. As a child, her adventures began at her great-grandfather’s private zoo, with three crocodiles, two peacocks, and many dogs. Yu earned an MFA in computer art from the School of Visual Art in New York and interned at Bill Plymptom Studios as an animation coloring artist. She hopes to express happiness through her illustrations.

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