Everyone Loves Career Day but Zia

A Zia Story

Author Jenny Liao
Illustrated by Dream Chen
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.

It will soon be Career Day at Zia’s school and she cannot wait for Mama to tell her classmates all about her job as a seamstress and about the beautiful dresses she sews. There are just two problems: Mama cannot take time off from work and she also cannot speak English fluently. Zia is determined, however, and hatches a plan.

When Career Day arrives, we meet a vet, a stay-at-home dad, and more. And when Mama finally makes her debut, Zia is the proudest kid in class. Everyone loves career day, but most of all, Zia.
Jenny Liao is a Chinese American author of stories that inspire children to find pride in every part of their identity. Her work has also been featured in the New Yorker and Bon Appétit. Jenny is the author of Everyone Loves Lunchtime But Zia. View titles by Jenny Liao
Dream Chen is an artist with a background in both illustration and animation. She received her BFA in animation at Communication University of China and completed her MFA in visual art at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Her illustration and animation work has won awards from competitions and festivals worldwide. View titles by Dream Chen
"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

About

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.

It will soon be Career Day at Zia’s school and she cannot wait for Mama to tell her classmates all about her job as a seamstress and about the beautiful dresses she sews. There are just two problems: Mama cannot take time off from work and she also cannot speak English fluently. Zia is determined, however, and hatches a plan.

When Career Day arrives, we meet a vet, a stay-at-home dad, and more. And when Mama finally makes her debut, Zia is the proudest kid in class. Everyone loves career day, but most of all, Zia.

Author

Jenny Liao is a Chinese American author of stories that inspire children to find pride in every part of their identity. Her work has also been featured in the New Yorker and Bon Appétit. Jenny is the author of Everyone Loves Lunchtime But Zia. View titles by Jenny Liao
Dream Chen is an artist with a background in both illustration and animation. She received her BFA in animation at Communication University of China and completed her MFA in visual art at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Her illustration and animation work has won awards from competitions and festivals worldwide. View titles by Dream Chen

Praise

"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

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