I write in order to stay sane, even though it might not seem like it at 2 AM when I’m stumbling for a nightlight, a journal, scribbling furiously. But jumping from the shower with bubbles in my hair to write my thoughts down on a toilet paper square helps me forget any anxiety. Plus, I always have another scene to jot down.

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The best part about writing is that it’s never done, never perfect. Even my idea of perfect grows rougher or smoother, darker or lighter, harder or softer.  It can still be polished, sanded, shaped. Sometimes the rhythm of my poem works out on the first draft. Other times, I pore over a rhyming dictionary to find the right word. There’s always a paragraph to relocate, a phrase to delete, a word to exchange. 

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One word. Two words. Three words. Four. The combination of simple symbols can inspire death and destruction or harmony and happiness. Like nucleotides on a DNA strand. Or like notes in a melody. Four notes. Three notes. Two notes. One.

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AWARDS

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• Beth Lisa Feldman Prize in Children’s Literature for “Bright Side of the Moon” 2024 (Designer)

  • ​Judge's comments: "The Bright Side of the Moon" is a cheerful exploration of how to take every pleasure from our surroundings. The moon -- associated with dark skies, seeks to gain access to the daytime glow -- when the world is bustling with activity. The sun points out to the moon that there are wonders to be found in the dark sky as well -- shooting stars, for instance. Providing the moon and the sun with human attributes is a clever way to bring attention to the capacity to find wonder everywhere. The intersection of text and image affords the young reader with interlocking pathways for exploring their own feelings -- and encourages us to be mindful of how they can learn from another's point of view, and that there are wonders to be found wherever we turn.

• Beth Lisa Feldman Prize in Children’s Literature for “Caring for Terra” 2023 (Author)

  • ​Judge's comments: "Caring for Terra" is a cautionary tale about how human action can undermine our environment, but one laced with hope and a call for action. Through compassion and reason, we learn, we can overcome the challenges caused by industrial pollution and nurture nature back to health. The evocative artwork complements a light rhythmic voice through which the narrative unfurls. How we treat the earth is made understandable and the stakes are made personal in such a way that this story-book may help to educate both the youngest readers as well as the adults who might read it to them.

 

CREATIVE WRITING WORKS

 

​Author = (A), Editor = (E), Layout Designer = (D)

[1] Chen I, Zhu HJ, Wong AM (D), “Saving Sprout’s Garden” (2025). Fiction for Kids.

 

[2] Lougee C, Bushee R, Morgan P, Wong AM (ED), Wong C, “Andromeda Rising” (2024). Fiction for Kids.

 

[3] Wu E, Maka H, Chen A, Wong AM (E), “The Great Maple Falls Bake-Off” (2024). Fiction for Kids.

 

[4] Kelly M, Cho J, Choi S, Meyer C, Wong AM (E), Xie H, “Henrietta Cuddle Doesn’t Want to Snuggle” (2024). Fiction for Kids.

 

[5] Xie H, Walford K, Morgan P, Wong AM (ED), “When Poppy Lost Her Petals” (2024). Fiction for Kids.

 

[6] Angelino D, Che E, Jiang A, Cover K, Wong AM (D), “Snack Time for Nina” (2024). Fiction for Kids.

 

[7] Czesnolowicz A, Morgan P, Romig L, Wong AM (ED), Xie H, “Sunny the Sea Serpent” (2024). Fiction for Kids.

 

[8] Smith A, Bennett K, Angelino D, Wong AM (D), “The Bright Side of the Moon” (2023). Fiction for Kids.

 

[9] DeJournett S, Kim D, Morgan P, Wong AM (E), Wong C, Kang A, “Feeling Squirrely” (2020). Fiction for Kids.

 

[10] Wong AM (AD), Nicholas S, Morgan P, “Caring for Terra” (2019). Fiction for Kids.

 

[11] Kang A, Wong AM (ED), “Sharing Starlight” (2019). Fiction for Kids.

 

[12] Wong C, Elliott N, Wong AM (ED), “Flying Colors” (2019). Fiction for Kids.

 

[13] Razunguzwa T, Czesnolowicz A, Morgan P, Sun C, Wong AM (E), Morgan P, “Zuri Finds Home” (2019). Fiction for Kids.

 

[14] Wong AM (A), Elliott N, Le J, Morgan P, Li T, “The Invisible Armor” (2018). Fiction for Kids.

 

[15] Sheih A, Wong AM (A), Kang A, Britt S, Morgan P, Page T, “Venus & Mars” (2018). Fiction for Kids.

 

[16] Calouro V, Britt S, Morgan P, Wong AM (AD), Fasol L, “Pottle, the Glowing Axolotl” (2018). Fiction for Kids.

 

[17] Le J, Janes M, Morgan S, Wong AM (ED), “The Dragon Knight” (2018). Fiction for Kids.

 

[18] Morgan B, Morgan P, Czesnolowicz A, Wong AM (ED), “Archie & Karla” (2018). Fiction for Kids.

 

[19] Morgan B, Morgan P, Elliott N, Britt S, Wong AM (ED), “Judy’s Dance” (2018). Fiction for Kids.

 

[20] DeJournett S, Alvarez S, Britt S, Wong AM (ED), “A Seal’s Search” (2017). Fiction for Kids.

 

[21] Le J, Zacharzewski F, Britt S, Morgan P, Wong AM (ED), “Molly the Otter!” (2017). Fiction for Kids.

 

[22] Chan J, Kuo A, Qian A, Wong C, Benbassat J, Britt S, Morgan P, Wong AM (ED), “The Penguin Predicament” (2017). Fiction for Kids.

 

[23] Ho L, Winter M, Qi Christina, Britt S, Morgan P, Wong AM (ED), “The Same Spots” (2017). Fiction for Kids.

 

[24] Wong AM (AD), Janes M, Kang A, Bravo M, Britt S, Morgan P, Wong C, Ottinger D, “Rocky Saves the Day” (2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[25] Calouro V, Alvarez S, Chiu T, Britt S, Morgan P, Rodrigues R, Wong AM (ED), “A Lesson in Littleness” (2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[26] Morgan B, Morgan P, Holland E, Chiu T, Britt S, Wong AM (ED), “Delphinus” (2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[27] Calouro V, Winter M, Czesnolowicz A, Kang A, Britt S, Morgan P, Rodrigues R, Wong AM (ED), “Pillow Perfect Panda” (2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[28] Ho L, Winter M, Elliott N, Kang A, Britt S, Morgan P, Wong AM (ED), “Kela & Sai” (2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[29] Martinez N, Janes M, Bravo M, Britt S, Nguyen K, Morgan P, Wong AM (ED), “Peter, Glim, and the Magical Island” (2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[30] Calouro V, Winter M, Takeda C, Kang A, Britt S, Morgan P, Rodrigues R, Wong AM (ED), “Battling the Bzurks” (2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[31] Ho L, Winter M, Chiu T, Janes M, Britt S, Morgan P, Wong AM (ED), “Homecoming” (2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[32] Martinez N, Nguyen K, Velayo M, Kang A, Britt S, Wong AM (E), “Adventures with Khari” (2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[33] Le J, Fasol L, Kang A, Britt S, Morgan P, Wong AM (ED), “Saving Sarah” (2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[34] Morgan B, Morgan P, Janes M, Chiu T, Britt S, Cohen W, Wong AM (ED), “Wingless’ Flight”(2016). Fiction for Kids.

 

[35] Wong AM (A), “White” (2015). Rhode Island Medical Journal.

[36] Wong AM (A), “The War on Cancer” (2013). Johns Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth Imagine Magazine.