New Release: Be My Yummy ABC 🎉
A tasty journey from A to Z
I'm excited to share that my new picture book, Be My Yummy ABC, published by Hippo Park, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, is finally here! This book, which I wrote and illustrated, takes little readers on a delicious journey from A to Z, featuring sweet and savory bites from around the world.
From my childhood working at my parents' Chinese restaurant in Boston, Massachusetts to later living in New York City, where cuisines from all over the world are just steps away, and even to my first book with Scholastic, You Are My Cupcake, a food-centric book which launched my publishing career, food has been a constant thread, weaving through all of my life’s defining experiences.
During the early days of the pandemic, I found a new connection to food when a friend and I started a Facebook group to share our culinary adventures after we found ourselves making every meal at home. The group continues to be active today, with members sharing posts daily about their culinary creations and experiences (feel free to join us if you’d like!).
I’ve always been surrounded by the joy, creativity, and community that food inspires and I wanted to share that magic with kids everywhere. I also believe that introducing children to foods from different cultures at a young age will help foster curiosity and understanding.
One cool feature of this book is that the sparkly cover unfolds into a colorful alphabet poster featuring all the cutie food characters—perfect for decorating a reading nook, child’s bedroom, office, or classroom.
This alphabetically arranged feast is followed up with backmatter that lists each food’s pronunciation, its country of origin, and a brief description.
Be My Yummy ABC would be perfect for Valentine's Day, baby showers, or just for cozy storytimes with your little foodies. Find this book at your local bookstore, request it at your local library, or purchase online here:
Bookshop (a % of sales support indie bookstores)
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Check out my website for a FREE activity guide and coloring pages that go with the book. Plus, swing by my Bluesky, Threads, Instagram, and Facebook for a fun giveaway this week!
Take a sweet and savory journey with me—wandering through the ABCs one delicious bite at a time. I hope Be My Yummy ABC brings joy to your heart and your story time! Happy reading! ❤️
Cheers,
Joyce
p.s. I have to admit, it feels a bit strange to be promoting my work with everything happening on the West Coast right now. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the devastating LA fires. I’m thinking about you all. Sending love and strength to all those impacted.