Xinlei Zhao
(She/Her)
Xinlei Zhao is a children’s picture book maker and illustrator based in Guangzhou, China. Her work is delicate, shaped by a close observation of everyday life. She is interested in small moments and familiar scenes, and in how simple details can carry emotion and meaning for readers. Through illustration and visual storytelling, she explores relationships and feelings of ordinary experiences.
Her recent work was shortlisted for the NAMIC Concours, and she has twice been selected for the finalist of the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition. She is currently developing new picture book projects alongside her illustration practice.
Website: www.xinleizhao.com
Instagram: @zhaoxinlei_draws
Email: zhaoxinleistudio@outlook.com
Who will I meet
A picturebook about making friends and meeting all kinds of people along the way. Through a series of encounters, the story explores different kinds of friendship, gently encouraging readers to be brave enough to reach out.
I see you
A tender visual story celebrating connection, where love grows from noticing everyday moments, emotions, and the unseen parts of one another.
The journey
The character escapes home in search of the wider world. Yet throughout the journey, traces of home remain — supporting and guiding the way — until the child returns with new understanding and acceptance.
