Profile picture with giant origami star wand

Hello, thanks for visiting! I grew up in Queens, New York and I've also lived and worked in Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Paris, and Tokyo... and now reside in the Seattle area with my husband and two sons. As a former science fair competitor, Juilliard Pre-College piano alumni, Townsend Harris High School alumni, statistics major at Columbia University, and avid researcher for both consumer and business market needs, my goal now is to craft picture books that spark kids’ interest in STEAM and creative thinking. I often stay up late into the night puzzling away with wordplay and working on quirky ideas. 


When it comes to the writing community, I am a member of SCBWI and 12×12, a #PBParty Judge (and Ninja Rockstar!) since 2022, a 2023 and 2022 #PBRisingStars mentor, and the creator of #PBStudyBuddy, which features amazing picture book creators and mentor texts on social media for fellow creators, teachers, and librarians

Represented by Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Birch Path Literary

Media kit available here.

Little did I know my massive glasses would resemble those worn by a lot of today’s spectacled PB characters! Recipient of the Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition Memorial Award in 1988 and 1990 (the latter book Sandra’s New Sister pictured at top, hand-written, illustrated, and if-I-recall-right white-floral-wallpaper cover bound with duct tape).

Throwback picture as a child next to handmade book and award medals
PBChat Mentorship announcement with quote by Pam Calvert: "I remembered Sylvia's manuscripts from last year, and they'd impressed me. But since then, her work has not only improved but she now has an arsenal of REALLY cute, intelligent, and totally impressive picture books that I can't wait to work on with her. I think she has an amazing story voice and she can even meld her Asian background with STEM elements. If you can do something excellent in a different way, that's a winning combination!"
Member of SCBWI
12x12 Official Participant

(2022, 2023)

(since 2022)

PBParty 2021 Finalist
2021 Storystorm Participant
2019 PBChat Mentee
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