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Happy 2023, parents, librarians, book fanatics, writers, and readers of all sorts! We are so excited to kick off the New Year with the incredibly talented Maria Wen Adcock. Maria is here celebrating her debut book, It's Chinese New Year, Curious George. She's also sharing some behind-the-scenes insight on her path to publication with such a beloved and well-known character. Want to know more about Maria, her beautiful new book, PLUS want a chance to win a copy of It's Chinese New Year, Curious George? Read on...
Q: Hi, Maria! Thanks so much for joining #SeasonsOfKidLit. We're thrilled to have you and hear all about your new board book: It's Chinese New Year, Curious George! We're also thrilled to get a glimpse at how this book came about. First, can you share a little about yourself and how you became a children's author?
A: I have known since I was a kid that I wanted to write a book. I just didn't know how. So, it was an idea that was always in the back of my head. Through the years I stayed connected to the publishing world by working on the marketing side for Time Inc. magazines. Later in my career when I had my first child, I decided to step out of corporate America to spend more time with her.
It was at this point that I started writing picture book manuscripts. I also started the blog, BiculturalMama.com, which was originally intended to be a platform for my future books. It just ended up taking a really long time to get published. So, in the meantime, the blog because a multicultural parenting blog with a focus on Asian American culture. I also studied the craft of children's book writing by attending Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) conferences and workshops.
After my second child was born, I delved further into SCBWI by volunteering for them and learning along the way. Eventually, a literary agent, Lynnette Novak of The Seymour Agency, noticed my work and signed on to represent me. That opened doors to access the larger publishers who typically will not consider an author's manuscript without representation.
Q: Curious George is such a loveable and well-known character. How did the idea for It's Chinese New Year, Curious George come about?
A: The Curious George series of tabbed board books go back about 15 years. Almost all of these books are related to holidays. The publisher who owns the rights, HarperCollins, wanted to expand its series to include Chinese New Year. HarperCollins contacted agents in search of a writer who had the lived experience of this holiday. At that time, I had recently submitted my own picture book manuscript about Chinese New Year, so my agent knew I could write about this subject. I then had to submit samples of what I would write for It's Chinese New Year, Curious George. The publisher loved it and hired me to complete the book. It was an exceptional opportunity I was grateful for.
Q: What a fascinating path to publication. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Your book is absolutely stunning. I adore its gold lettering, vibrant colors, and illustrated tabs. What are some of your favorite images from the book?
A: When I was creating the book, I delved into my Chinese-American childhood and pulled out key traditions to highlight. So the content and illustrations feel very personal to me. I love the gorgeous cover! The colors and expressions on the characters' faces all work together to create an engaging illustration. I also like the Family Reunion Dinner scene. Food plays such an important part in the holiday, and eating together family-style with symbolic foods is one of the most memorable parts of the holiday from my childhood. Near the end of the book on the Chinese New Year's Day tab is the scene of the dragon dance in the parade. It's so colorful and festive that I really feel like I'm in the scene there with Curious George.
Q: What makes your book the perfect read for the New Year?
A: It's Chinese New Year, Curious George includes a tremendous amount of information about the holiday given the space dictated by the book's format. So much of the holiday is based on symbolism and traditions with deeper meanings. My book touches upon some of these, like how noodles are good luck because they are long and therefore represent long life. So make sure you don't break the strands while eating them!
Q: What can we expect to see from you in the future?
A: I have several completed picture book manuscripts that are ready for publication once it finds a home. My agent is sending them out. I'm also working on a middle-grade novel. The majority of my manuscripts have components of Asian American culture in them. I will have some exciting news to share soon regarding a future project, but can't quite announce it yet. Stay tuned! Congratulations! We can't wait to hear about your new project. Thanks again for joining us, Maria. It was a pleasure having you and hearing all about your book.
BONUS: Maria is offering a special treat today - a copy of her new book!
Giveaway Details: To enter to win Maria's new book, leave a comment below and 1) let her know why you're excited to read it and 2) let her know which social media channel(s) you follow her on.
For each social media channel you follow her on, you'll get an extra entry into the raffle.
Follow Maria Here:
Facebook Maria Wen Adcock Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/mariawenadcockauthor
Instagram: @BiculturalMama or https://www.instagram.com/biculturalmama
Twitter: @BiculturalMama or https://twitter.com/biculturalmama
Pinterest: @BiculturalMama or https://www.pinterest.com/biculturalmama
One winner will be announced on Sunday, January 22nd!
*Note: books will be shipped in the US only.
About Maria Wen Adcock:
Maria Wen Adcock is the author of It’s Chinese New Year, Curious George published by Clarion Books/Harper Collins. Maria is a first-generation Chinese-American writer and founder of the award-winning multicultural parenting blog www.BiculturalMama.com. She has appeared on The Dr. Oz Show, Bloomberg News, Newsday, and Huffington Post. Maria is a board member of Multicultural Kid Blogs, an organization supporting diverse parenting bloggers, and co-host of the annual publishing event Multicultural Children’s Book Day. She resides on Long Island with her husband and two children.
Website & Social Media Handles
Website: https://www.BiculturalMama.com
Facebook Maria Wen Adcock Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/mariawenadcockauthor
Instagram: @BiculturalMama or https://www.instagram.com/biculturalmama
Twitter: @BiculturalMama or https://twitter.com/biculturalmama
Pinterest: @BiculturalMama or https://www.pinterest.com/biculturalmama
To purchase Maria's book, or to leave a review, you can visit any of the following websites:
We are a multiethnic/racial household, my 3yr old daughter part Chinese, Korean and white. Having books like this and celebrating her heritage is important as she grows up. I follow you on Instagram.
Congrats again, Maria! This was such a fun post and such a cool book! ❤️📚
Beautiful book. Example of being prepared before opportunity hits! Congrats.
Congratulations and thanks so much for sharing your journey. I follow you on Facebook, Insta and Twitter.
I love Curious George stories and I follow you on Twitter