Laan Cham is is a first-generation Singaporean-British-American illustrator from New Jersey who currently lives in Vancouver. In addition to illustrating creators’ children’s books, Cham has published a couple works that she both wrote and illustrated.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Mao Mao’s Perfectly Imperfect Day
New York: Random House Books for Young Readers, 2025.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From the Penguin Random House Canada website)
Mao Mao strives for everything to be absolutely, 100%…PERFECT!
But when Olivia joins his class, Mao Mao realizes that not everyone is this way. Olivia is messy. And noisy. And clumsy.
So, Mao Mao decides to teach Olivia the art of how to be *PERFECT.* How hard could it be?
With speech balloons and kawaii-influenced illustrations by Laan Cham, this relatable picture book celebrates individuality and self-expression and invites little ones to redefine what it means to be “perfect.” It also champions embracing differences and learning from one another—an important lesson for any child starting school.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Somewhere In Between
New York: Random House Books for Young Readers, 2024.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From the Penguin Random House Canada website)
In Somewhere In Between, Pink has just landed in a new world. First she meets Fireball, a red creature who rules the Land of Sunshine—home to the sun (of course), beaches, and swimming. Then she meets Snowball, who rules the Land of Snow, and who enjoys building snowmen, ice skating, and sledding.
To Pink, it’s all fun and games… until the two creatures start bickering, and ask her to pick a side. It’s up to Pink to help Fireball and Snowball find common ground by showing them a third side—one in which magic exists, if only they can come together to make it.
This whimsical picture book about friendship, conflict resolution, and the complex emotions of being caught somewhere in between is perfect for middle children, or any child who finds themselves stuck in the middle.