As Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month shines a spotlight on influential voices across industries, children’s author and illustrator Vicky Fang is helping shape the next generation through books that blend literacy, creativity, and STEM education.
A Chinese American writer and former Google product designer, Fang has built a successful career creating engaging stories that encourage children to explore science, technology, engineering, and math while seeing themselves reflected in the pages they read. Her latest picture book, Lots and Lots of Ocelots, is scheduled for release on August 11 through Workman Kids, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.
Designed for readers ages 5 to 7, the book introduces children to skip counting through playful rhymes, colorful illustrations, and memorable groups of animals. Featuring artwork by Angel Chang, the story transforms an important elementary math concept into a fun and interactive reading experience. Young readers will encounter piles of crocodiles, groups of kangaroos, and, of course, lots and lots of ocelots as they learn to count by ones, twos, fives, and tens.
The book reflects Fang’s long-standing commitment to making STEM subjects accessible and enjoyable, particularly for girls and children from underrepresented communities. She began writing children’s books after recognizing a growing need for educational content that inspires confidence and curiosity in young learners.
Fang’s career path is anything but conventional. Before becoming a full-time author and illustrator, she worked in a variety of creative fields, including television acting, theater directing, game design, and installation art. She also holds 12 invention patents, a testament to the innovative mindset she brings to both technology and storytelling.
Today, Fang is the creator of numerous children’s series and titles, including Layla and the Bots, Ava Lin, Friendbots, I Can Code, Invent-a-Pet, and The Boo Crew Needs You!. Her books frequently combine STEM concepts, social-emotional learning, and imaginative storytelling to help children develop critical thinking skills.
This June, Fang will represent Hachette Book Group at the 2026 Association of Asian American Journalists convention. As part of the company’s global Raising Readers campaign, she will participate in a discussion focused on declining childhood reading rates and the growing challenge of encouraging children to read for enjoyment.
For Fang, promoting literacy is about more than books. It is about empowering children to think creatively, approach challenges confidently, and see possibilities for themselves in every story.
With Lots and Lots of Ocelots, she continues that mission—one rhyme, one animal, and one young reader at a time.