A child, an amah and Taiwan drive the plot of a charming children’s picture book

Margaret Chiu Greanias grew up in San Jose, thousands of miles from where her grandmother lived in Taiwan.

“It wasn’t often that we saw each other,” remembers Greanias, who uses the Taiwanese word “amah” to reference her grandmother. “So, whenever we did see each other I was always a little bit shy around her in the beginning. It took some time to get to the point where I really didn’t want to be separated from her. By the end of our visit, I was always really sad for us to be apart.”

Memories of those visits remained so vivid for Greanias, they eventually became the foundation for the Los Altos-based author’s newest book, “Amah Faraway” (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, $19), which was released in 2022.

“When I first started writing picture books, one idea that always came up as one I wanted to write was the story of my relationship with my amah,” she says.

The picture book, which features illustrations by Tracy Subisak, tells the story of Kylie, a young girl who is nervous about taking a trip to see her “amah” in Taiwan. Kylie’s trip turns out so much better than she could have dreamed, as the two have a great time checking out the night market, visiting the hot springs and eating with relatives. As the trip comes to a close, the youngster can’t wait to return to Taiwan and her amah again.

“Kylie is inspired by my child self,” Greanias says. “In writing, I also used my kids as inspiration, because I took them to visit Taiwan, and my mom was there — just their reactions to a new place.”

“Amah Faraway” is Greanias’ second picture book, following her 2018 “Maximillian Villainous,” which is about a young monster who just doesn’t have the heart to be evil.

“Like a lot of picture book writers, I started out after I had kids,” she says. “I had been reading lots and lots of picture books to them and remembering my childhood and how much I loved picture books. When they were napping or sleeping at night, I was awake and reading all their books. One day, I had my own idea for a book, and I wrote it. Of course, it wasn’t very good. But it was a start.”

She was thrilled to partner on this latest project with Subisak, a Portland-based illustrator and San Francisco ex-pat, who is also of Taiwanese ancestry. Subisak wrote and illustrated “Jenny Mei Is Sad” and provided artwork for Curtis Manley’s “Shawn Loves Sharks” and Kirsten W. Larson’s “Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane.”

“When I saw the illustrations for the first time, I felt like Tracy had been with me on this journey,” Greanias says. “Her illustrations were so perfect. She just added so much to the story.”

One concern Greanias had during the process was whether people would be able to relate to such a distinct storyline, a child going to Taiwan to visit a grandmother.

“I’m writing the story that I want to tell from my heart,” she says. “(But) I was afraid, because it was so specific. Then I realized, it is a universal story for anyone who has family or friends that they don’t see very often because they are away. I feel like — especially for kids — there is this period of getting reacquainted that I think is pretty common.

“Also, this story is about trying new things and being open to new things. That feels very universal, too.”

What’s on her bookshelf?

Here are 5 picture books recommended by Margaret Chiu Greanias