KCU Pitchfest Showcase 2023 (Top 50)
L.B.
Hong
Illustrator/Author
Unagented
Land of Memories
Chen and her favorite toy, Tiger, have been together since the day she was born. But one awful day, the unimaginable happens. Tiger was lost and never ever found. Unable to move on, Chen refuses to play with other toys ever again. Wanting to feel close to Tiger, she looks at old photographs and falls into the wonderful and enchanting Land of Memories. There, she journeys through tender, beautiful vignettes of her memories with Tiger. After reliving all her birthday parties and playing all their favorite games, Chen needs to make an impossible choice. Stay here and relive old memories forever, or face the rest of her life without Tiger.
Age Range:
Picture BookGenre:
Adventure, BIPOC, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Social-EmotionalPage Count Estimate:
32My Why:
I created Land of Memories from the aching sorrow and loving joy I felt while grieving my mom. After she was gone, I obsessively poured through photos and videos of her, hoping to grasp the deep warmth that she’d given me all my life. Writing this story through the eyes of a child who lost their favorite toy, was a deeply healing process. It enabled me to see how to move forward while honoring my mom.
I hope Land of Memories guides children and their grownups through loss of any kind, whether it’s the loss of their favorite toy or their favorite person.
L.B. Hong
I’m an author and illustrator of picture books about quirky characters who try to outwit their own feelings.
My illustrations have been showcased in the Battery Park City Annual Art Exhibition and the Brooklyn Cat Cafe Winter Art Show. Additionally, I’ve honed my craft through the School of Visual Arts Continuing Ed courses, Cátia Chien’s mentorship program, SCBWI and Highlights Foundation.
L.B.
Hong
Illustrator/Author
Unagented
Land of Memories
Chen and her favorite toy, Tiger, have been together since the day she was born. But one awful day, the unimaginable happens. Tiger was lost and never ever found. Unable to move on, Chen refuses to play with other toys ever again. Wanting to feel close to Tiger, she looks at old photographs and falls into the wonderful and enchanting Land of Memories. There, she journeys through tender, beautiful vignettes of her memories with Tiger. After reliving all her birthday parties and playing all their favorite games, Chen needs to make an impossible choice. Stay here and relive old memories forever, or face the rest of her life without Tiger.
Age Range:
Picture BookGenre:
Adventure, BIPOC, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Social-EmotionalPage Count Estimate:
32My Why:
I created Land of Memories from the aching sorrow and loving joy I felt while grieving my mom. After she was gone, I obsessively poured through photos and videos of her, hoping to grasp the deep warmth that she’d given me all my life. Writing this story through the eyes of a child who lost their favorite toy, was a deeply healing process. It enabled me to see how to move forward while honoring my mom.
I hope Land of Memories guides children and their grownups through loss of any kind, whether it’s the loss of their favorite toy or their favorite person.
L.B. Hong
I’m an author and illustrator of picture books about quirky characters who try to outwit their own feelings.
My illustrations have been showcased in the Battery Park City Annual Art Exhibition and the Brooklyn Cat Cafe Winter Art Show. Additionally, I’ve honed my craft through the School of Visual Arts Continuing Ed courses, Cátia Chien’s mentorship program, SCBWI and Highlights Foundation.


