Hello everyone, or, as one would say in China – Nǐ hǎo. My name is Yin (燕) which means “bird” in the Chinese language. Birds are messengers of spring and happiness and I hope to live up to my namesake by bringing fresh thinking and a passion for learning to schools across America.

There is something for everyone on my website. Children and students can test their knowledge with book-related word games and puzzles on the Fun Stuff pages. Educators can find out more about me, download lesson plans and schedule in-person or virtual author visits. There are also some interesting facts and figures I’ve collected about Chinese immigration to the United States as well as some useful links to other funtastic websites, and our new, quick and easy online bookstore.

As a writer and speaker, I try my best to enlighten children through storytelling and make them think for themselves. For more than ten years, teachers have used my books in their lesson plans and have invited me to visit their classrooms. And now, with more and more classrooms having access to the internet, I am able to set up virtual author visits all across America. The Author Visits section explains my services in more detail and the Contact Yin page is built with an easy author-visit request form.

Illustration plays such a vital role in books for children and I am so lucky to be married to the very talented and award-winning illustrator, Chris Soentpiet. Chris brings my work to life by taking time to paint from real models dressed in costumes which reflect the historical period of my books. Like the main characters in my book, Brothers, we support each other other fully. Chris often attends my speaking engagements, book signings and author visits, as I do his.