PRESS KIT
Welcome to the press kit for Maple Lam, an award-winning children’s book author-illustrator, graphic novelist, and speaker based in Greater Los Angeles. Here you’ll find downloadable author photos, book covers, official bios, awards, interviews, and media resources for school visits, bookstore events, festivals, podcasts, articles, and publicity use.
Publicity, Media & Event Inquiries
Please use the approved author photos, book covers, and bios below for interviews, articles, event listings, school visit announcements, bookstore events, festival programs, and promotional materials.
For interviews, school visits, workshops, bookstore events, festival invitations, podcast appearances, and general media inquiries, please contact Maple directly at maplelam@gmail.com.
For publishing, rights, permissions, title-specific publicity, and all other inquiries,
please visit the Contact page.
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Author's Photos | Book Covers | Biography | Awards & Honors | Interviews | Appearances | Book Trailer
AUTHOR PHOTOS
Click on photo to download high-resolution, 300dpi JPG image, suitable for print and web use.
Photo credit: Karen Chan. Please include credit when possible.
DOWNLOADABLE BOOK COVERS
Click on image to download high-resolution, 300dpi JPG, suitable for print and web use.
Monkey King and the World of Myths:
The Battle of the Beasts
Middle grade graphic novel
mythology | humor | action-adventure
Shake My Sillies Out
Board book
song | animals | bedtime
Frenemies in the Family
Middle grade non-fiction
history | siblings | humor
Monkey King and the World of Myths:
The Monster and the Maze
Middle grade graphic novel
mythology | humor | action-adventure
寶藏在哪裏?
Picture book
family | travel | culture
My Little Sister and Me
Picture book
siblings | responsibility | growing up
Dim Sum, Here We Come!
Picture book
family | food | culture
What Can You Do with a Toolbox?
Picture book
tools | creativity | building
Two Girls Want a Puppy
Picture book
pets | siblings | responsibility
BIOGRAPHY
Maple Lam is an award-winning author-illustrator, graphic novelist, and speaker who creates funny, heartfelt books for young readers. Her work often explores mythology, history, culture, family, and creativity through visual storytelling.
She is the creator of Monkey King and the World of Myths, a middle grade graphic novel series that has received Kirkus starred reviews and award recognition, including a CALA / Chinese American Librarians Association Award win and honors from the SCBWI Golden Kite Awards, the Cybils Awards, and the Hong Kong Golden Dragon Book Awards. She is also the author-illustrator of Dim Sum, Here We Come!, My Little Sister and Me, and Where Are the Treasures?, and has illustrated books by Raffi, Kathleen Krull, Ryan and Evie Cordell, Anthony Carrino, and John Colaneri.
Born in Hong Kong and raised in Los Angeles, Maple studied Studio Arts at the University of California, Irvine, and took night classes at ArtCenter College of Design. Before becoming a full-time author-illustrator, she worked for seven years as a designer and art director. She now lives in sunny Greater Los Angeles, where she makes books, comics, and visual stories for children.
One-line bio:
Maple Lam is an award-winning children’s book author-illustrator, graphic novelist, and speaker who creates funny, heartfelt stories about mythology, history, culture, and creativity.
SELECTED AWARDS, HONORS & REVIEWS
Monkey King and the World of Myths
• CALA / Chinese-American Librarians Association Children's Fiction Award Winner
• Kirkus starred reviews
• SCBWI Golden Kite Awards Finalist
• Hong Kong Golden Dragon Book Awards Younger Reader Shortlist
• Cybils Awards Finalist
• Featured in BookTrust's Great Books Guide
- Selected for BookTrust’s annual guide to great children’s books,
distributed in print to every primary school in England and Wales.
Dim Sum, Here We Come!
• Kirkus starred review
• Publishers Weekly starred review
• Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
• Society of Illustrators Original Art Show Selection
• CCBC Choices Selection
• Bank Street College Best Children's Books of the Year
• Booklist Review of the Day
My Little Sister and Me
• CCBC Choices
Illustration Honors
• SCBWI Bologna Showcase Finalist / Shortlist
• SCBWI National Conference Illustration Portfolio Mentorship Award
• SCBWI Artspot Featured Artist
SELECTED INTERVIEWS & FEATURES
Maple has been featured in interviews and articles about children’s books, comics, creativity, reading, and illustration.
Maple Explains How Reading Can Help You Focus
Maple Lam Is Mashing Up Mythologies
On Dim Sum, Here We Come!
• UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts
Featured alumna on Arts Alumni Appreciation Month
• Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
Cover Artist Chat
In Her Own Words
Life & Work with Maple Lam
• ShoutOut LA
Meet Maple Lam: Author and Illustrator
Meet SMHS Grad and Children’s Book Author-Illustrator Maple Lam
Three Questions for Maple Lam
Illustrator Spotlight Maple Lam
Maple on Brunch with Noreen, interviewed by Noreen Mir, on RTHK / Radio Television Hong Kong.
Maple on Rainbow Under the Sky, interviewed by Elsa, on KMRB AM430 in Los Angeles.
SELECTED APPEARANCES & TALKS
Festivals, Conferences & Book Events
• Hong Kong International Book Festival / Young Readers Program, 2025
– Invited author-illustrator; completed 15 school visits across Hong Kong.
• CSLA (California School Library Association) Conference, 2026
– Invited panel speaker: "Telling Stories with Graphics: Graphic Novels for Young Readers."
• American Library Association Annual Conference, 2024
– Author signing at the Penguin Random House booth: "Celebrates Graphic Novels."
• AAPI LA Kids Festival, 2024
– Featured author-illustrator.
• Grand Rapids Comic Con, 2024
– Guest author signing.
• San Gabriel Public Library AAPI Heritage Month Book Party, 2024
– Featured participating author-illustrator.
• LitFest in the Dena, 2023
– Invited panel speaker: "Making a Picture Book: From Process to Publication."
Workshops & Presentations
• SCBWI, SCBWI SoCal, SCBWI Hong Kong, SCBWI MD/DV/WV
• Kids Comics Unite
For interviews, school visits, workshops, bookstore events, festival invitations, podcast appearances, and general media inquiries, please contact Maple directly at maplelam@gmail.com.