“A colorful, modern adventure―with dragons as a bonus.” ― Kirkus Reviews

Vivian Truong is a British-Born Chinese artist from London. She is the illustrator behind various books and graphic novels including the bestselling middle grade series: City of Dragons: The Awakening Storm, Cooking with Monsters, I Am Fun Size and So Are You!, The Day the Teachers Disappeared, and her latest book, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

The ALA named “Best Graphic Novel of 2021” middle-grade series, City of Dragons: The Awakening Storm has won numerous awards globally including the Red Dot Award, Rebecca Caudill Award, and many more. Its following sequel, City of Dragons: Rise of the Shadowfire was consistently in the top ten on the Indiebound bestsellers list.

Outside of books, Vivian has been the UK’s official “World Book Day” artist, a charity that promotes reading for every young person and child. From 2023, she has appeared on BBC Live Lessons which teaches young children new skills such as how to get started in drawing. She often collaborates with the popular video game studio, Riot Games, drawing comics and promotional pieces including Pride 2022 which celebrated LGBTQA+ community artists.

Vivian's Featured Titles

Quest for the True Dragon: A Graphic Novel (City of Dragons #3)

Graphix |
Graphic Novel

Grace and friends return for a new adventure in this third installment of the bestselling City of Dragons series!

Daijiang’s continued pursuit of Grace has made it clear that she and Nate are crucial to his plan. But as her Hùnxuè powers grow stronger, Grace can’t help but feel it’s unfair she might be missing out on a normal school life. Other kids get to relax, watch movies with friends, and go on dates, while Grace is risking her life to save the world. Something has felt off about her connection with Nate lately, and she keeps dreaming of her father and his ominous insistence that she must wake the dragon kings.

When a trip to rendezvous with an old ally goes awry, Grace and her friends find themselves stranded in Tokyo with only one day to wake the Southern Dragon King. But with the race against the clock exacerbating tensions on the team, can Grace get back in sync with Nate and her friends before it’s too late?

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and Other Curiously Named Classic Chinese Dishes: A Graphic Cookbook―26 Recipes & Stories

Chronicle Books |
Cooking

Explore the unique nomenclature of traditional Chinese dishes through folklore, personal storytelling, and 26 easy-to-cook recipes in this entertaining graphic novel cookbook, perfect for lovers of comics and food.

Storytelling is one of the most universal and collaborative components in every culture. In Chinese culture, dishes are often connected to a classic legend, a famous person, or a historical event, underlining the importance of food.
In this delightful graphic novel-style recipe book, Chinese American cookbook author Ying Chang Compestine explores the folkloric stories behind beloved Chinese dishes and gives easy-to-follow recipes for each, such as:

  • Mapo Tofu, a savory dish named for the “old lady with a pockmarked face” who invented it
  • Goubuli Baozi (translation: “ignored by doggy stuffed buns”), classic buns with minced pork and vegetables made popular by an unusually taciturn village boy
  • Tear-inducing Heartbreak Jelly Noodles that combine chili oil, peppercorns, and other fiery ingredients and are believed to cure the sadness of a broken heart
  • Steamed Milk Custard, one of the most beloved desserts in China, originated during the Qing Dynasty by a hungry young cattle farmer as a way to preserve milk

These are dishes Ying grew up with, cooked with her grandmother, and prepares for her own family today. Stories and recipes are illustrated and presented in panel layout, with art by award-winning children’s book illustrator Vivian Truong.

UNIQUE VISUAL STORYTELLING: There are many classic and new Chinese cookbooks, but this visually rich graphic novel format combines Chinese food, history, and culture in humorous and engaging language and images, creating an irresistible new approach.

A COOKBOOK FOR EVERYONE: The 26 illustrated recipes—including appetizers, main courses, and desserts—are simple and accessible, utilizing ingredients anyone can buy at their local grocery store.

MEANINGFUL GIFT: With a sentimental and cultural focus, these recipes are about more than creating meals. Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is the perfect gift for anyone interested in Chinese cuisine and culture, readers with a passion for storytelling, or home cooks looking for delicious dishes with fascinating origins to return to again and again.

Perfect for:

  • Readers interested in Chinese culture, history, and folklore
  • Lovers of comics and/or graphic novels
  • People who enjoy humor and storytelling
  • Gift-giving to foodies or home cooks 
  • Fans of illustrated cookbooks and food magazines

Cooking with Monsters (Book 2): Harm-to-Table

IDW Publishing |
Graphic Novel

Fast-paced monster fights are back on the menu in this critically acclaimed YA graphic novel featuring high school romances and a diverse cast of LGBTQIA+ characters that is perfect for fans of Naruto, My Hero Academia, and other great manga.

Our heroic chefs-in-training are back for their second spicy year at the Gourmand Academy of Culinary Combat. Missed connections and bitter rivalries are rekindled as Hana, Olivia, Bobby, and the others struggle with new monsters, new techniques, and new recipes! But things are only made more difficult when the crew is split up.

As Hana and some of her classmates are sent on their first field mission to Clayton Ranch to uncover the secret behind attacks on the local livestock, Olivia, Bobby, and the remaining students in Gourmet City find themselves in the midst of a culinary crime ring. And both seem to be connected to a mysterious band of poachers working for a charismatic and dangerous leader… If the students can’t stop her, Gourmand may just go up in smoke!

Authors-Unbound_icon-web-link.png

Behind the Scenes: City of Dragons

This will show in detail the art behind City of Dragons: The Awakening Storm, including concept art, character designs, and the step-by-step creation of pages. This talk usually ends with a follow-along live demonstration of how to draw the mascot character, Nate the dragon.

Authors-Unbound_icon-web-link.png

How to design your own character

A popular talk, especially with younger kids, on how to use basic shapes and lines to create unique characters.

Authors-Unbound_icon-web-link.png

How to create a comic

This talk can also double up as a class lesson. I will show the basic principles on creating comics and how to get started on making your own.

Vivian’s Comics

Vivian’s Illustrations

Honors, Awards & Recognition

2023 Panda Book Award (China)
2023 Sakura Medal (Japan)
2023 Red Dot Book Award (Singapore)
2023 Rebecca Caudill Award Nomination (Illinois)
2023 Young Adult Library Services YALSA Great Books for Teens
2023 Read for Empathy Collection (UK)
2021 American Library Association Best Graphic Novels for Children
2021 Children’s Book Review Book Club Pick
2021 QBD Book of the Month (Australia)
2021 Dozens of weeks on the Indiebound Bestseller List
2015 NCCA Best Interactive Media Award
2012 Bexley Art Award
2012 Japanese Embassy Manga Jiman (4th place)

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

Similar Authors

Misako
Japanese Manga Artist
Rose
Comics Professional and Illustrator
Mirelle
Award Winning Artist
Ed
Children’s BookIllustrator
Jonathan
Cartoonist & Illustrator

We’ve received your Message!

An AU Representative will connect with you as soon as possible.