I'm a writer focused on sharing my love of food, celebrating my family's culture, & highlighting Asian American communities.
Hi, I'm Jenny.
I write stories for kids and adults on topics that include (but are not limited to) food, family, and Asian American identity. I'm the author of Everyone Loves Lunchtime but Zia, Everyone Loves Career Day but Zia, and With You In Spirit published by Knopf, an imprint of Penguin Random House. My writing has also been featured in Bon Appétit and The New Yorker.
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and currently live in Los Angeles with my husband, my toddler son and two calico cats, Donut and Beignet. When I'm not writing, I'm eating. You can find me bopping around searching for fried potatoes or Chinese takeout no matter where I am in the world.
With You in Spirit
New Release
A story about a young child who reconnects with her late grandfather on Qing Ming, a holiday honoring family members who are no longer with us, celebrated in Chinese communities around the world.
"A sweet introduction to a significant Chinese tradition, glimpsed through the eyes of a loving family."
"Liao and Wen’s picture book offers a touching introduction to a Chinese holiday that celebrates and pays respect to loved ones in the afterlife."
-The Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books, January 2026 issue
Everyone Loves Career Day but Zia
Knopf Books for Young Readers
An empowering story about a Chinese American girl who proudly translates for her mom, helping her to demonstrate her skill as a seamstress on Career Day at school.
"Liao lovingly weaves together the threads of immigrant life and allows Zia to take the initiative to solve the problem in a thoroughly modern way. This rich and multifaceted story is a perfect fit."
– Kirkus Reviews
Knopf Books for Young Readers
This is a story that’s very close to my heart. It’s about a Chinese American girl named Zia who grows to appreciate the Cantonese foods that her parents pack for her to bring to school. Ma and Ba explain what each food represents—cha siu bao for treasure, see yao gai for success—and once she eats them, their meanings come to life!
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"A familiar outsider experience inspires children to find pride in their identity in this celebration of Cantonese food and family."
–Booklist
The New Yorker
How the experience of losing my fluency in Cantonese and, as a result, the ability to communicate with my parents, has driven me to reclaim my first language and identity as a Chinese American.
"You are such a talented writer, and a terrific and very cool individual."
Ms. Tuckman, my 9th grade English teacher, to me
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