Karina Yan Glaser

Karina Yan Glaser is a New York Times bestselling writer and illustrator with a varied career teaching and implementing literacy programs in family homeless shelters and recruiting healthcare professionals to volunteer in under-resourced areas around the world.

She is the author of the middle grade book The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street which received starred reviews and was a New York Times Notable Children’s Book, an Indie’s Introduction title, an Indie Next pick, and a Junior Library Guild selection. It was also awarded the New York City Book Award and was selected as World Magazine’s Children’s Book of the Year. It has been optioned for film by Amy Poehler’s production company, was featured on the Today Show, and has been translated into fifteen languages. The book grew into a series of seven books, finishing with The Vanderbeekers Ever After.

Karina is also the author of A Duet for Home, a standalone middle grade title that has received three starred reviews, was featured on the Today Show, was selected for inclusion in The Museum of the City of New York’s centennial exhibition, and has been nominated for a dozen state book awards.

She is the author of Poppy Song Bakes A Way, a part of the multi-author chapter book series The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class.

Karina’s next book, The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli, is historical fiction set in 731 Ancient China and 1931 Chinatown, New York City, and it will be available in September 2025.

Karina lives in Harlem with her husband, two teenagers, and an assortment of pets. One of her proudest achievements is raising two kids who can’t go anywhere without a book.