Our Lake

Angie Kang is a Chinese American writer and illustrator living in LA. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Narrative, The Believer, and elsewhere, and has been generously supported by MacDowell and other organizations. Angie graduated from the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program with a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design and a BA in Literary Arts from Brown University. She enjoys painting places she remembers and places she would like to go. Learn more about Angie’s writing and art at AngieKang.net or @anqiekanq on social media.

Praise for Our Lake by Angie Kang; illustrated by Angie Kang:A 2026 Randolph Caldecott Honor BookA 2026 Charlotte Zolotow Award The Society of Illustrators Original Art Show selection (The Dilys Evans Founder's Award)An ALSC 2026 Notable Children’s Book (All Ages category)A 2026 Comstock Read Aloud Book Award Honor WinnerA 2025 Chinese Children's Book Festival Golden Pinwheel People's Choice AwardA BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Publisher's Weekly, Evanston Public Library, School Library Journal, NPR, Kirkus, Children’s Book Review, Horn Book Fanfare, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature (CSMCL)A 2026 Golden Kite Award finalist (Picture Book Illustration category)A Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Awards (PADIBA) Longlist Book★ “A deeply felt story about siblings returning to a cherished place…in loosely painted, expressive gouache, crayon, and colored pencil. Foregrounding the hard work of moving forward, this story about loss offers a vision of a place where “we are all together.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review★ “With lyrical descriptive language and breathtaking illustrations, this book tenderly explores themes of loss, bravery, and family. A gentle and heartfelt exploration of grief, this book is a must-have addition to any library shelf.” —School Library Journal, starred review★“ Kang’s debut picture book is a quiet portrait of the ways in which grief takes us by surprise, and its glorious final celebratory splash offers a radiant reminder of how joy and connection can exist alongside sadness.” —The Horn Book, starred review“A sensitive look at the delicate process of navigating loss. The gouache, crayon, and colored pencil illustrations convey a sense of calm and comfort while also acknowledging the anxiety of the unknown.” —Kirkus Reviews“Lyrical…The text has a contemplative quality to it, never taking up more than three short lines at a time and allowing the viewer space to process every word…Vibrant eye-catching colors splash across every page.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books“A heartfelt story of overcoming grief. Mixing gouache with the texture from crayons and colored pencils, Kang paints the sky a soft yellow with foliage in deep blues and greens. Combining these elements with the unlined art adds a softness to the delicate subject matter. A valuable addition for even the most robust collections.” —Booklist