We’re delighted to reveal the cover for If Lin Can by Richard Ho, illustrated by Huỳnh Kim Liên and Phùng Nguyên Quang! The book was designed by Associate Designer Jon Simeon, edited by Executive Editor Alyssa Mito Pusey, and will be released on April 16, 2024 by Charlesbridge. Preorder it here, here, or here.
Keep scrolling for exclusive author and illustrator’s notes!
Have you ever been told that you can’t? Growing up in California, Jeremy Lin heard that over and over again. People made fun of his size and his race and wouldn’t give him a chance. But Jeremy persevered until he became the first American of Taiwanese or Chinese descent to play in the NBA. And when his big moment came, he seized it! Jeremy’s meteoric rise, dubbed “Linsanity,” inspired the world and a whole generation of Asian Americans, including author Richard Ho. If Lin Can is an anthem of Asian pride that speaks to any child who feels underestimated or misunderstood.
*
A word from the author:
I’m a lifelong basketball fan who grew up watching NBA games with my father and rooting for my hometown New York Knicks. But I never saw anyone on the court who looked like me . . . until Jeremy Lin arrived on the scene. Those unforgettable few weeks of Linsanity in 2012 were a thrilling reminder that dreams do come true. And while I was already an adult at the time, I couldn’t help but marvel at how inspiring Lin’s story is for Asian American kids. I hope this book empowers all readers, especially those who have been told that they can’t, to dream big and shoot for the stars! — Richard Ho
A word from the illustrators:
In Vietnam, people are huge football (soccer) fans, so we grew up with that sport. We love watching 3×3 street basketball, though. The players have so much energy and passion! We feel a connection with this story because we understand Jeremy’s effort and dedication; we admire how he tries his best to do what he loves, no matter the challenges. That’s why the scenes where he’s training—and where he accomplishes his goal—were especially exciting to draw. — Huỳnh Kim Liên and Phùng Nguyên Quang
******
As a child, Richard Ho harbored perfectly reasonable career aspirations: professional basketball player, astrophysicist, and Jedi master. As a grown-up, he gets to live out some of these dreams through his work as an author. His acclaimed picture books include The Lost Package and Two New Years. Richard lives with his family in New Jersey, where he sometimes still daydreams about playing for the New York Knicks.
Huỳnh Kim Liên and Phùng Nguyên Quang are inspired by the energy and passion of athletes from the sports arena to the schoolyard. As book creators, Liên and Quang are following their dreams, too. They have illustrated several children’s books, including My First Day, Hundred Years of Happiness, and The Floating Field. They live and work together in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
