Sarang And Halmoni Project Story
Written by Lia Joo, Art by Minsun Kim
Sarang and Halmoni — which translates to "Love and Grandma" — is a Korean-American heritage picture book written by Lia Joo, coming to Amazon and making its debut at 2026 Los Angeles Kids Book Festival.
I came on board as the illustrator, but this project grew into something much larger. From character design and color concept to book layout, cover design, and marketing materials, I held the full creative vision from start to finish. The character Sarang — whose name I suggested, drawn from the Korean word for love — became the heart of the book, and every visual detail was built around her story.
It's the kind of project that reminded me why I love this work: when illustration isn't just decoration, but the thing that brings a story to life.
If you’re interested in working with me, please click the button below and fill out the form with a few details about your project.
Picture Book Illustration.
