The Picture Book Buzz - Interview with Kristen Mai Giang and A.N. Kang

Kristen Mai Giang is a Chinese Vietnamese American author of award-winning AAPI picture books for children. Born in Vietnam, ethnically Chinese, and raised in the United States, her work reflects themes of friendship, imagination, immigration, family, perseverance, and community action with playful, engaging language and imagery. Her books have received honors from Junior Library Guild, CALA, NCSS–CBC, and Bank Street Books.

When not writing, Kristen has spent the past two decades creating Emmy Award-winning interactive children’s media for Disney, PBS Kids Sprout, and Mattel, among others. She currently produces digital content for kids and family podcast company Tinkercast.

Kristen’s the author of Last Flight, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk (2023), The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan, illustrated by Alina Chau (2022), and Ginger and Chrysanthemum, illustrated by Shirley Chan (2020).

A. N. Kang started her career designing giftware, greeting cards, and holiday installations all over New York City.

In 2016, She debuted as an author and illustrator with the picture book The Very Fluffy Kitty, Papillon. Since then, she has been working as a children’s book author and illustrator.

A. N. Kang’s the author/illustrator of My Big Bad Monster (2019) and The Very Fluffy Kitty, Papillon (2016) and the illustrator of 10 books, including I Worked Hard on That! by Robyn Wall (2024), The Christmasy Cactus by Beth Farry (2023), Starla Jean Cracks the Case by Elana K. Arnold (2023), No Nibbling! by Beth Ferry (2022), Starla Jean Takes The Cake by Elana K. Arnold (2022), and Starla Jean by Elana K. Arnold (2021).

Their newest picture book, Action Jasmine, was released on March 10^th.

Welcome Kristen & A. N. Kang!

Hello! Thank you so much for having me on your blog!

Tell us a little about yourselves. (Where/when do you write or illustrate? How long have you been writing or illustrating? What is your favorite type of book to write or illustrate? )

KRISTEN – I’ve been writing children’s books since 2009. I was working fulltime at Disney then and looking for an outlet for my creativity – my own characters and stories. I was also pregnant with my first child and thinking a lot about children’s books. I decided to start taking classes, joined SCBWI, and read probably thousands of hours’ worth of picture books over the next few years. It was a long road; I didn’t sell my first book Ginger and Chrysanthemum until 2017, to Arthur Levine who was at Scholastic at the time, and it didn’t publish until 2020. But I do think every step was necessary – from reading and learning how to write stories for children (both classic and current) to the ins and outs of the publishing industry and meeting terrific talented people along the way. I definitely recommend all these steps to anybody getting started. I now have four picture books published, with two more releasing in the next couple years. I had originally focused on writing PBs and love this format that celebrates every single word, but I also just finished my first chapter book series, which will be publishing with Macmillan (FSG) next year. 

A. N. KANG – I am a Korean American children’s book maker. I have been imagining and creating stories since I was little, and now I get to do this for work. My first book was published in 2016, so it has been 10 years now. In 3rd grade, my mom transferred my sister, brother, and me to a city school. We took a bus to the city every day for the next 10 years, until I was a senior in high school. Soon after, our family moved to the U.S. I would sit on the bus and just daydream. My imagination helped me through many boring bus rides. I would make up stories about a dog I saw on the street or people I met on the bus. I’ve always loved quirky, funny stories with animals. One of my favorites is I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. It makes me laugh every time.

It is wonderful to "meet" you both. What is one of the most fun or unusual places where you’ve written a manuscript or created an illustration?

KRISTEN – I bring my laptop almost everywhere I go, because you never know when you might get a quiet moment. And for me, writing is a treat. Time to write is a luxury. My family knows, if they ever want to give me something nice, it’s the time to write. So, I had my laptop with me when we went to Italy for a big family trip celebrating my MIL’s 75^th birthday and wrote at a villa overlooking Mount Vesuvius. That’s as unusual for me as I can imagine! Most of the time, it’s butt in seat at my desk. Sometimes, I will also write on my phone. I learned this trick from Abby Jimenez, one of my favorite romcom writers. She did it because she didn’t have office space, but I’ve found that writing on my phone sometimes makes me feel like I’m NOT writing and can unlock something when I’m stuck. 

A. N. KANG – I like working in my studio at home so I can concentrate. I get distracted easily, and I procrastinate pretty often. I just have to make myself sit at the desk. That is the most difficult part of the job. Once I get started, though, I get into work pretty easily. I enjoy working on my projects, and time flies after that.

Wow, writing at Mt. Vesuvius sounds fun. Which has been your most interesting picture book to write or illustrate? Why?

KRISTEN – It’s so hard to pick! Every single one of the books I’ve written inspired enough interest for me to dedicate years to each one, when you consider the journey from ideation to publication. But I will say that Last Flight, about my family’s escape from Vietnam on the very last commercial flight out of Saigon six days before its fall — and the heroic measures of the team that got us out — might be the most fascinating. I lived almost my whole life without knowing that my family and I were on that historic flight.

Many books, articles, and even a made-for-TV movie starring James Earl Jones tell this story, but my parents never shared it with us. I just knew that I immigrated to the United States from Saigon at the end of the war on a Pan Am flight because my father worked there. I had no idea there was so much more to that story until one of my editors Arthur Levine encouraged me to learn more about it, my sister shared a news article she’d found, and Allan Topping the station manager — who adopted more than 300 of us so we’d have the official papers required to leave — spoke to me on the phone and sent me a photo of our handwritten names on the passenger list. Without his intervention and that miraculous flight, we might not have made it out. He shared that photo with me at Christmastime when my whole family was over for the holidays. It was an incredible moment.

A. N. KANG - My first book, Papillon, was the most interesting experience. I learned how to write and illustrate children’s books while working on it. It was also the first time I realized I could turn the stories in my head into an actual book people could hold in their hands.

I sometimes wish I could redo the book with the knowledge I have now. Still, that book is the most special to me.

Thank you both for sharing your experiences in writing these books. Kristen, what was your inspiration or spark of curiosity for Action Jasmine?

KRISTEN – Action Jasmine was inspired – and named – by my daughter. She used to be quite shy when she was very young, and I’d watch her literally cling to the walls while in preschool. But one day, at home, she zoomed up to me on her scooter that she had customized with flames, streamers, and a cupholder and said, “I’m Action Jasmine! Ready for action!” I was struck by how bold and imaginative she was at home compared to how quiet and shy she was at school. How all of us can hold worlds within us that might not be apparent to others at first. And how imagination can be the pathway to courage and self-determination in real life. That is how Action Jasmine was born. (I give my daughter full credit in the book’s dedication :)

I love how your daughter inspired the story. I bet she was excited to hold the book. A. N. Kang, what about the Action Jasmine manuscript appealed to you as an illustrator?

A. N. KANG - When I read a manuscript for the first time, I’m usually in work mode. I don’t really think about how good the story is. It’s all about figuring out what each page is going to be. But when I read the Action Jasmine manuscript, I found myself smiling and really getting into the story because I felt like I knew who Jasmine was, a girl full of imagination and stories. I thought, “Hey Jasmine, I see you.” She made me laugh. So, I sent my agent an email right away: “I love it. I will do it.”

I adore that this was your response to the manuscript! How many revisions did Action Jasmine take for the text or illustrations from your first draft to publication?

KRISTEN – I started writing Action Jasmine in 2017. I probably had to do three or four page-one rewrites, starting over from scratch, and I just counted the revisions: 52 altogether. The wildest part is that when you get to that final version, it always seems so obvious that that should have been the one all along, but it takes all the other drafts and revisions to get there. I was thrilled when it sold at last in 2022 to Nancy Paulsen, of whom I’ve been a huge fan. And it has been a dream working with both Nancy and Caitlin Tutterow, who are both brilliant and an absolute delight to work with, to bring Action Jasmine to life on shelves.

A. N. KANG - It was tough because we all had our own ideas about the story and what we wanted to express. I went through many revisions, from rough sketches to final artwork. The art director and I went back and forth many times. Looking back, the whole process helped me pay attention to every little detail, and it made the book that much better. I’m so happy there were so many people who cared deeply about this book, and I think it definitely shows. I would say this is one of my favorite books I’ve worked on so far.

Thank you both for sharing the book's progress and the upsides and downsides associated with working through the process. Kristen, what was the toughest part of writing Action Jasmine? What was the most fun?

KRISTEN – The toughest part was nailing down the concept. I knew the title, Action Jasmine, but there were so many possibilities for the character, setting, storyline, etc. I liked the idea of Action Jasmine not being a typical heroine though – that she’d be quiet on the outside, unassuming – not somebody you’d imagine being an action hero. So, I clung to that core concept and tried different approaches. I think the thing that clicked, and was also the most fun, was when I imagined her grandfather being her partner in crime, and that their going “undercover” at night (reading stories under a blanket fort) would spark her zest for action and adventure. From there, it was fun to really lean into all the action adventure words like “incognito” and “petrified” as Jasmine slowly unleashes the heroine within.

It really works so well to have them being undercover "spies." A. N. Kang, what was the toughest part of illustrating Action Jasmine specifically? What was the most fun?

A. N. KANG - The toughest part was coming up with scene ideas that everyone agreed on as I mentioned in the earlier question. The most fun part was doing the final artwork, where I could loosen up and do my thing. I enjoy adding unexpected little surprise details. I always warn everyone that the final color artwork won’t be exactly the same as the drawings. It gives me room to be spontaneous and creative.

I love that you bake in the room for creativity. Is there something you want your readers to know about Action Jasmine?

KRISTEN – I hope kids will feel the joy of self-discovery with Jasmine. Heroism, bravery, and adventure can be whatever you want it to be. And everything you need to be your own hero is already inside of you. In the end, it’s actually Jasmine’s own quiet observation skills and imagination that save the day (and help her make a new friend). She was always exactly who she needed to be – and ready for anything she wants to be. 

A. N. KANG - She is quirky like me.

That is such an awesome gift to give the readers - "you are exactly who you need to be." Kristen, did anything surprise or delight you when you first saw Basia’s illustrations for the first time? Which is your favorite spread?

KRISTEN – I literally screamed when I first saw the black and white sketches from Anna. One of the best parts of being a picture book author is getting to see the art before it’s final, and I was blown away. Anna captures Jasmine’s emotions, shyness, and desire to blend in at the beginning of the book with so much HUMOR. And FUN. It is truly a delight. Because being shy and quiet is not a bad thing, and she got that. The contrast between that and the scenes of Jasmine’s imagination coming to life in her artwork are incredible. It’s so hard to choose just one favorite spread. May I point out two?

Text © Kristen Mai Giang, 2026. Image © A. N. Kang, 2026.

Grandpa reads to Jasmine “undercover” as her imagination comes to life:

Text © Kristen Mai Giang, 2026. Image © A. N. Kang, 2026.

Action Jasmine and Grandpa brave the world – INCOGNITO.

I adore the support and playfulness you imbued into Grandpa! And these are amazing images. A. N. Kang, is there a spread that you were especially excited about or proud of? Which is your favorite spread?

Text © Kristen Mai Giang, 2026. Image © A. N. Kang, 2026.

A. N. KANG - My favorite spread is the one where she is drawing and imagining herself defeating the monster. I loved getting to fully enter her imagination in that scene.

It is such an amazing and action packed image! A. N. Kang, many illustrators leave treasures or weave their own story (or elements) throughout the illustrations. Did you do this in Action Jasmine? If so, could you share one or more with us?

A. N. KANG - I love animals so if I can I always add animals throughout the story. There are a few fun extras in this book too! I do this with all the books I make. I love adding recurring animals or tiny visual jokes in the background.

Okay, now I'm going to have to go through it again and see how many animals I can find. Are there any projects you are working on now that you can share a tidbit with us?

KRISTEN – I have an as-yet-unannounced picture book coming out with Nancy Paulsen Books about a little ninja who’s having trouble adjusting to a strange new land called kindergarten (looking forward to revealing more about in the near future!). I also have a four-book chapter book series releasing from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan) in 2027 about Lian Song, another heroine with an epic imagination, and her real-life adventures with her crew of latchkey kids. And finally, I have a picture book releasing in 2027 from Chronicle about the one and only Michelle Yeoh: From Ballerina to Action Hero.

A. N. KANG - I’m currently working on a story about friendship and acceptance, learning how to care for one another even after discovering we are fundamentally different.

So intriguing. I can't wait for these books - especially the one on Michelle Yeoh! Last question, what is your favorite National Park or Forest, regional park, or city park (anywhere in the world)? Or the one you’re longing to visit. Why?

KRISTEN – Oh wow, that is tough to choose. But I think right now, it’s Sequoia National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. We camped there a couple years ago with two other families, hiking among giant redwood trees, chilling out in freezing clear streams, and gazing at the most dazzling display of stars I’ve ever seen. I’m anxious to go back and visit Kings Canyon National Park next to it.

A. N. KANG - I always wanted to visit Sedona. I’ve always admired pictures of Sedona. It seems so magical to me, almost out of this world. I would love to hike there one day. 

Thank you, Kristen and A.N. Kang for stopping by and sharing with us. It was a pleasure chatting with you both.

Be sure to come back on Friday for the Perfect Picture Book #PPBF review of Action Jasmine.

To find out more about Kristen Mai Giang, or contact her:

Website: https://kristenmaigiang.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kmgiang/

To find out more about A. N. Kang, or contact her:

Website: https://www.annakangdesign.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annakangdesign