BIG 2026 Curators

Xiaoyan Huang, Founder & CEO of Everafter Books, has 32 years experience in publishing, founded Macmillan & Bayard’s JVs in China, worked at top global publishers, and served as a juror for the 2024 Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators’ Exhibition.

Lucia has been working in academic libraries, and also as a freelance illustrator and editor in the children’s publishing industry. Trained in Cultural Anthropology, Chinese Literature, Art and the Library and Information Sciences, she is now the language specialist for Chinese and Korean children’s literature at the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.

Young-Eun Chang holds a PhD in German Literature from the University of Bamberg in Germany and is a Professor in the Department of German Language and Culture at Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul. Since 2025 she has been an honorary Professor. She is an Advisory Board Member of the Korean Research Center for International Children’s and Adolescent Literature in Seoul. She specialises in comparative studies of German and Korean children’s books. Her interests include reading and teaching children’s literature.

An anglicist and translator, Reina works at the International Library of Children’s Literature, Tokyo, and as the International Youth Library’s Japanese language specialist.

Since 2024 works as a curator at the Chihiro Art Museum. Has curated exhibitions including “Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II: Chihiro Iwasaki and Picture Book Artists from Around the World Creating Peace Through Picture Books,” as well as the museum’s collection exhibitions. Is also responsible for the research and display of historical materials related to picture books.

Since 2012 works at the Chihiro Art Museum looking after public relations and the library. Is in charge of workshops and events and has instructed local students to conduct watercolor workshop & museum tours. Also has managed Piezograph exhibitions in hospitals and in institutions abroad in India, Korea, and Indonesia.

Angela Ang is a librarian with the National Library Board who works with books, collections and programmes that connect readers with stories and images. Alongside her library practice, she maintains a personal art practice and enjoys exploring visual storytelling, illustration and creative experimentation.

Elizabeth Gohis a children & teens librarian who plans and manages educational initiatives, including festivals and exhibitions, to bring reading and art to young people in Singapore. As an English literature graduate, she enjoys exploring how visual mediums and storytelling intersect.

David Liew, an illustrator of children’s books, also crafts miniature worlds. Formerly a junior college teacher, he transitioned to professional illustration. His works include series like Ellie Belly, The Plano Adventures, and Change Makers. Liew instructs Picture Book illustration at the National Institute of Early Childhood Education and teaches art at Republic Polytechnic. He serves as Regional Advisor for the Singapore Chapter of the Society of Children’s Books and Illustrators.

Noe Jeungmin is the director of the Hyundai Museum of Kids’ Books & Art-MOKA. She received a Ph.D. at the University of Iowa, focusing on art education.

Dr. Myra has served as an educator for 25+ years and has led projects / initiatives connected to diverse picturebooks, social and emotional learning, inclusive and culturally sustaining pedagogies. She is a self-proclaimed nerd who enjoys organizing international events where fellow nerds converge and attempt to joyfully change the world.

Najla Al Owais is a PhD candidate in the Curriculum and Instruction department at the College of Education, UAEU. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Math Education, and a Master of Arts in Interpreting & Translation. Her research interests include math and literature, math anxiety, dyscalculia, problem solving and mathematics assessment methods. She has previously worked as a middle school mathematics teacher and a freelance translator.

Dr. Fajer Bin Rashed is an Assistant Professor at the Australian University in Kuwait, holding a PhD in Language and Literacy Studies. She leads a one-of-a-kind online Picturebook Club initiative where adult readers explore picturebooks to promote Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), connection, and thoughtful dialogue.

Isabel Ruiz Cano is an Associate Curator at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Growing up in El Salvador as the granddaughter of an artist and as the daughter of a fifth-grade teacher, she learned to appreciate visual storytelling from an early age. As a curator, she hopes to inspire curiosity and connection across all cultures through art.

Pham Thị Hoai Anh is an independent children’s picture book author and the founder of Vietnam’s ICBC (Initiative of Children’s Book Creative content). Through ICBC, Hoai Anh spearheads diverse educational programs and art activities, including visual art exhibitions, reading concerts, and drama performances. Passionate about reading with children, she strives to enrich their artistic experiences and spread the joy of reading, considering it a vital responsibility as a children’s book author.

Phương Vũ is a curator and producer dedicated to accessible arts and community engagement. She is the co-founder and founding curator of the Initiative of Children’s Book Creative Content (ICBC) and a curator at the Vietnam Youth Music Institute (VYMI). Recognized as one of the most dynamic curators in Vietnam, she champions cultural exchange and supports young artists through her projects.