In 2016 I landed with my fabulous agent, Adria Goetz, and two years later, my first picture book, Rice from Heaven debuted. I wrote a lot for the educational market while learning the craft of picture books. I learned so much from them and then branched out to reading writing blogs, took online picture book writing classes, and joined critique groups. That led me to SCBWI (The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators organization) who hooked me up with a writing group.

So, in 2008, while living in California, I researched how to write them. Tina: Being an elementary teacher led me to a love of children’s books, especially picture books. Can you tell us about your writing journey? What made you want to be a writer? Me: You now have several picture books out and a MG graphic novel in verse (wow!) due out in 2023. And you know anything about the ocean and “mermaids” is going to be right up my alley! It’s incredibly well written and SO fascinating to learn about the traditions and processes involved in this heritage. Their tale is told from the point of view of a granddaughter who wants to be like her grandmother, but is afraid of the ocean. They can hold their breath underwater for incredibly long periods of time while looking for rarer seafood finds. “The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story” is a wonderful story of generations of women in Korea who practice a tradition of free diving. You can learn more about her at her website. Her lyrical middle grade graphic novel, The Tune Without Words, debuts from Harper Alley in 2023.

Tina Cho is the author of four picture books– Rice from Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Koreans (Little Bee Books August 2018), Korean Celebrations (Tuttle August 2019), My Breakfast with Jesus: Worshipping God around the World ( Harvest House June 2, 2020), and The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story (Kokila/Penguin Random House Aug. So when I heard about the picture book in today’s Simply 7 about Korean “mermaids,” you KNOW I had to track the author down! I love the ocean and I love swimming in it.

Rice from Heaven by Tina M. Cho