Charlotte

Cheng

Children’s Author

Illustrator and Educator

Travels from: San Mateo, CA

“Cheng draws on her own memories of Taiwanese night markets to write a lively readaloud about finding one’s way home . . . neat digital illustrations from Ren glow brightly in iridescent hues that grow more vibrant as the story reaches a happy ending for the solitary pooch.” — Publishers Weekly

Charlotte Cheng has written and illustrated a variety of books including Roar-Choo!, Night Market Rescue, A Name For Sister, BoBo Loves Dumplings, and I Miss You Most. Her books have been selected for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Children’s Book Council’s Favorites, and Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of the Year.

Represented by Red Fox Literary, Charlotte has spoken at a wide variety of events and taught interactive workshops for both children and adults. These events have included the National American Librarian Association Conference, LA Times Book Festival, and the Bay Area Book Festival. Charlotte has also been a guest speaker at both Harvard University and Stanford University.

With over 20 years of education experience, Charlotte has written and published K-12 curriculum for influential companies including Common Sense Media, LeapFrog, Disney, Wonder Workshop, and KQED Education.

Charlotte lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she enjoys playing board games and the ukulele while sampling local boba beverages.

Charlotte's Featured Titles

Ama’s Purse

Rocky Pond Books |

August 4, 2026

Children’s

Grandmother’s purse is filled with the magic of memories and the joy of her Chinese culture in this warm and lively read-aloud, illustrated in dreamy pastels.

A young girl is just where she wants to be, next to her grandma in the back seat of the car as her family heads out on a day trip. She knows there are always delightful surprises inside Ama’s purse. Sure enough, out come all sorts of special items, one after another as the trip continues: a compact that frees a powder-white moon rabbit, tarnished coins that smell of island blooms, buddha beads that chime together like bells and drums. And best of all, a worn book of photos that brings cherished memories circling around them all.

Inspired by the author’s own grandmothers, this heartwarming story bursts with love for home and family.

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage, Family Narratives, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

A Name for Sister

HarperCollins |

March 3, 2026

Children’s

When Sister was born, she had toes like grains of rice. She had hair as dark as sesame sweets . . . But she had no name.

Only a name as passionate and graceful as Fire, honest and stable as Earth, strong and ambitious as Gold, bright and wise as Water, and creative and prosperous as Wood could fit a baby like Sister.

Discover how a young girl and her family find the perfect name in this magical, whimsical and stunning ode to Chinese tradition and sisterly bonds. This sweet tale is one that growing families will treasure.

Charlotte Cheng (Roar-Choo!, Night Market Rescue) and New York Times bestselling illustrator Sophie Diao (I Am Golden, Tiny Troubles) dazzle in this unforgettable collaboration that is:

a perfect baby shower and birthday gift
a wonderful bedtime read
a positive story for big siblings welcoming a new baby to the family
a great pick for fans of Alma and How She Got Her Name and Little Miss, Big Sis

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage, BIPOC Representation, Family Narratives, Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Social & Emotional Development

Icy Fruit: How My Grandfather Spread the Joy of Ice Pops Across Taiwan

Rocky Pond Books |

May 6, 2025

Children’s

This fun and fascinating biography of a Taiwanese ice pop entrepreneur—the author’s beloved grandfather—is a terrific read-aloud about inventiveness and the treats of summer.

Charlotte Cheng’s grandfather always had a bag of coins rustling in his pocket. That bag carried with it “a story of joyful jingles, sultry summers, and fresh frozen fruit which began in 1965 in the lush valleys and mountains of an island called Taiwan.”

This story of Agong’s Icy Fruit company, from first inspired idea through experimentation to countrywide success, is a lyrical, lively, and richly illustrated read that’s part biography, part family tribute, and part celebration of summer. Gather round for Icy Fruit!

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage, BIPOC Representation, Family Narratives, Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

I Miss You Most

Rocky Pond Books |

August 27, 2024

Children’s

A girl remembers her grandfather fondly in this heartwarming, comforting picture book about coping with loss.

The memories of a beloved grandpa bring sadness but also solace to the young girl in this glowing and nourishing book. We see the close and lively relationship they shared and all the ways she has been enriched by knowing him—the ways he will always be there for her. This book is just right for starting necessary conversations about grief, and for paying tribute to the loved ones we’ve lost.

“When I miss you dearly, which is almost every day, I know your love is with me and will never go away.”

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage, BIPOC Representation, Family Narratives, Friendship & Community, Grief & Loss, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

Roar-Choo!

Rocky Pond Books |

April 9, 2024

Children’s

Patient, peaceful Phoenix tries to take care of rambunctious and cold-ridden Dragon, which leads to hilarious and sweet results (with vibrant illustrations by the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of Beekle).

Everyone knows that dragons are fierce, capable of taking on the world!

But this dragon can’t stop sneezing long enough to get a roar out. Even with friendly Phoenix insisting that Dragon get some rest, this powerful creature refuses to stop for any orange ginger tea or a drop of bone broth soup.

It’s only when Dragon realizes Phoenix has caught the same cold that they are both able to take the break they so badly need. This tale of helping your friends and valuing differences is a sure-thing for story time.

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage, BIPOC Representation, Fantasy, Speculative & Science Fiction, Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

Night Market Rescue

Rocky Pond Books |

May 2, 2023

Children’s

A stray dog stumbles upon the gift of friendship — and maybe even the promise of home — while wandering the delight-filled night market in Taipei.

While resting on a stoop, Gogo smells something sweet and spicy on the breeze. It leads him to a place he’s never been—a bustling night market where vendors sell delicious treats. As he wanders, sniffing for scraps, GoGo discovers something else as well: a little girl who has gotten separated from her parents. He knows he can help and guides her through the market . . . to where her worried parents wait for her—with open arms for their daughter and GoGo, their new pet!

Animals & Wildlife, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage, BIPOC Representation, Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

Persistence Pays Off: The Path to Success

Charlotte will share how she has used the design thinking process to stay persistent in past projects, which have included building robots, making Roblox games, and of course, writing and revising books! This presentation if chock full of concrete examples of how failing forward, embracing the revision process, and staying focused on your goals can help you tackle any problem.
Available for Young or Adult Audiences

Storyboarding and Creative Writing

Storyboarding is a method that illustrators and artists often use to plan out the pacing of their story. Charlotte will share how she has used storyboards to map her stories as both an author and an illustrator. This talk will include activities for audience members to practice creating a story and storyboard themselves through guided brainstorming along with an optional art project.

The Art of Revision: A Toolbox of Hands-On Strategies

Do you get lost or stuck in the middle of revising your children’s book? From gathering inspiration to revising story arcs to gathering constructive feedback, we’ll explore a wide variety of hands-on strategies that will help you stay focused and motivated throughout the revision process!

Finding Your Unique Voice and Story

The best way to stand out in a pool of submissions is to tell a story that is uniquely yours. In this workshop, you’ll take part in a series of interactive writing exercises to help you identify stories that are unique to your personal experiences and background. We’ll then collaboratively flesh out story ideas so that everyone can walk away with a publishing path for their own personal stories.

Staying Focused on Your Publishing Journey

When should I start networking? When do I join a critique group? How can I stay motivated while revising my work? When should I start submitting to publishers? Discover tips and tricks that help you stay focused during each stage of your publishing journey.

Fostering Lasting Publishing Relationships

How do you grow with critique groups and peers? How do you maintain relationships with agents and editors across multiple submissions and projects? Dive into tips and tricks for staying connected and collaborative as you build a personal children’s book network.

Solving Everyday Problems with STEAM and Computational Thinking

Charlotte breaks down how we can solve everyday problems through the 4 pillars of computational thinking. This talk is chock full of examples and activities that audience members can try themselves. Great for schools and educational program that want to foster proactive problem solvers in their community.

Combining Coding and Art to Express Your Ideas

Charlotte will share how her past projects have often included merging art and coding together. From designing a sketch accessory for a robot to developing 3 dimensional creative spaces in a Roblox game, Charlotte will leave audience members with inspiring ideas of how they can find coding and art connections in their own projects!

Bringing Authentic Representation to EdTech and Literature

Charlotte Cheng will share how she brings authentic representation to children’s books, video games, and EdTech learning experiences. We’ll then explore ways you can foster authentic representation in your students’ day to day environment through strategies that include identity maps, design thinking, focus groups, and so much more!
Available for Young or Adult Audiences

“Charlotte Cheng’s engineering presentation was amazing!!! Our preschoolers loved it. It was engaging and interactive! The children had lots of fun!! We highly recommend Ms. Cheng!” — School Director of Beresford Montessori Academy

“Charlotte Cheng’s Night Market Rescue aims to expand kids’ palates. Her picture book was inspired by the vivid sights, sounds and smells of the Taiwanese night markets and meals of her childhood.” — Berkeleyside

“With lovingly created illustrations that move between the sepia tones of memory and full color of the child’s current life, this book conveys a beautiful depiction of grief. It reminds readers who may be going through similar situations that it’s okay to be sad and miss that person. This picture book will be an important tool to facilitate conversations surrounding death and loss. A meaningful take on grief and loss that will fill a hole in many collections.” — School Library Journal

Story Map Activity Packet

Night Market Rescue Activity Sheet

Roar-Choo! Activity Sheet

Honors, Awards & Recognition

Dolly Parton Imagination Library Selection (Roar-Choo!)
Starred review from School Library Journal, (Roar-Choo!, Ama’s Purse)
Starred review from Publishers Weekly, (Ama’s Purse)
Common Sense Media Selection (I Miss You Most, Ama’s Purse)
2025 Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year Selection (I Miss You Most, Roar-Choo)
2026 Read Aloud Indiana Selection (I Miss You Most)
2026 Tandem Partners in Early Learning Selection (I Miss You Most)
2027 Siam Book Award Winner (Night Market Rescue)
2024 Children’s Book Council Teacher and Librarian Favorite List, (Night Market Rescue)
Southern California Indie Bestseller, (Roar-Choo!)
Featured in a New York Times article, which spotlights 6 picture books that “bring maximum read-aloud joy”, (Roar-Choo!)
#1 Amazon New Releases in their respective categories, (Night Market Rescue and Roar-Choo!)
Powell’s Picks of the Month (Night Market Rescue and Roar-Choo!)
Starred review from School Library Journal, (Roar-Choo!)
Riot’s Best New Children’s Books in April 2024, (Roar-Choo!)
The Taiwan Academy selected Night Market Rescue as their top 7 books about Taiwan in 2024
Visiting author for the Your Author Series for LA Public Library
Awarded the Scholar-in-Residence for SCBWI San Francisco/South