UNHAPPY CAMPER is an
ALA 2024 Best Graphic Novels for Children
I’d love to personalize a signed copy for you!
“Some scenes are humorous, others are heartwarming and emotional, and the book captures the range of the girls’ moods, fears, and dreams perfectly. With compassion, the story teaches the benefits of embracing one’s identity.”
~~School Library Journal
“with nuance and care, this graphic novel captures the struggles and frustrations of those between cultures…The artwork has an appealingly exaggerated, mangalike flair, vividly bringing to life the sisters’ emotions.”
~~Kirkus
“Xu’s clean, two-dimensional linework complements Lamotte’s winsome story showcasing…this feast for the stomach and the spirit.”
~~Publisher’s Weekly
“In this story of cultural heritage and identity reconciliation, LaMotte and Xu explore the often nebulous, isolating experience of not quite fitting in…Moments of humor captured through playful anime-like facial expressions and gestures propel the plot.”
~~Horn Book
Chloe’s Lunar New Year is a Bank Street Best Children’s Book 2024 Edition.
It’s almost Lunar New Year, and Chloe can’t wait to celebrate! But first, Chloe and her family must prepare for the new year. They buy new shoes, lay out good-luck oranges in a bowl, decorate the red envelope, and make a crispy turnip cake. Everyone comes together to cook a fantastic feast, saving a plate for A-má, of course. Chloe enjoys the festive celebration and yummy food, but most of all, she loves spending time with her family.
“Dispensing with the external drama of the dragon, parade, or noisy firecrackers, this warm book depicts family as central. Back matter includes an author’s note and a recipe for fortune cake. VERDICT LaMotte’s success with Measuring Up looks likely to extend to younger readers here.”
~~School Library Journal Starred Review
“Themes of love and family underlie the snappy text.”
~~Kirkus
Chloe’s Lunar New Year includes a recipe for Fortune Cake. I’m making fortune cake with my daughter in this video.
New York Times Book review
“The increasingly suspenseful elimination rounds of the contest give this funny, fast-paced narrative its dramatic arc. And the graphic novel format, featuring Xu’s big-eyed characters, clean lines and simple, playful aesthetic, is a perfect vehicle, allowing readers to see for themselves what Cici’s creative rice dishes look like….The happy ending, meanwhile, is as satisfying as a juicy dumpling.”
Measuring Up is also available as a French edition Graines de Cheffes.
Measuring Up is honored to be included on these lists. Click on the links to see all the wonderful books to check out.
ALA Top Ten Graphic Novels for Children Reading List
Cybils Awards Winner Graphic Novel Elementary/Middle Grade
Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Honor Winner
Washington State Book Awards Finalist
Harvard Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study exhibit through December 17, 2022 “Drawing Us Together: Public Life and Public Health in Contemporary Comics”
Gold House Book Club Selection
On Today Show’s AAPI Heritage Month list of “24 beautiful kids’ books that reflect the Asian American experience.”
Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Awards Nominee
Virginia Reads Middle Grade Selection
Wisconsin State Reading Association Just One More Page Selection
South Carolina Association of School Librarians Junior Book Award Nominee
Georgia Children’s Book Award Nominee
Texas Library Association Little Maverick Selection
NEA January Reading Across America Selection
Seattle Public Library Global Reading Challenge Selection
Battle of the Books Selection in Idaho, Oregon, Gallaudet University and others
Amazon Best Books November selection
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection
Parents Magazine Book Nook October selection
Fall 2020 Indie Next selection
CBC October Hot Off the Press selection
Add Measuring Up, Unhappy Camper, and Chloe’s Lunar New Year to your Goodreads.
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Videos
Also, check out Lily’s cooking video for HarperCollins’ Shelf Stuff on YouTube
and Lily, Robin Ha, Shannon Hale, and Kathleen Gros at their NY Comic Con Metaverse panel.
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Lily is signing personalized copies at Liberty Bay Books. Please order by clicking here.
My Projects:
I am passionate about supporting libraries and serve on the King County Library System Foundation Board. I also support kidlit writers as a member of the SCBWI Western WA advisory committee in many roles such as SCBWI WWA Conference Coordinator, interim Assistant Regional Advisor, Monthly Programming Coordinator, and Weekend on the Water Retreat Coordinator.
This March 15, 2025, I will be a Literary Lion for the King County Library System Foundation Gala. I am excited about our keynote speaker Susan Orlean.
Gala Keynote: Susan Orlean, Author, Staff Writer for The New Yorker
Susan Orlean, journalist, television writer, and New York Times bestselling author will serve as our 2025 Literary Lions Gala keynote. Author of several books, Orlean is best known for The Orchid Thief and The Library Book. She has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1992, and has contributed articles to many magazines including Vogue, Rolling Stone, Esquire, and Outside. In 2021, Orlean joined the writing team of HBO’s comedy series How To with John Wilson. The Library Book weaves Orlean’s life-long love of books and reading with the fascinating history of libraries and the sometimes-eccentric characters who run them, presenting readers with a mesmerizing and uniquely compelling story. With her signature wit, insight, compassion and talent for deep research, Orlean investigates the legendary Los Angeles Public Library fire to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives, and reveals how these buildings provide much more than just books and are needed now more than ever.
I highly recommend these writing organizations:
SCBWI
Contact Lily to inquire about author visits.