ALEX with Strawberries
Written & illustrated by Alex Huynh

From Tears to the Sea

A children’s poetry book where collage artwork, rhyming verse, water, and wildlife meet.

From Tears to the Sea book cover
Award-winning book

A celebration of the magical little worlds created by water.

From Tears to the Sea combines original collage illustrations with rhyming poetry and an environmental theme centered on water and wildlife. Alex wrote and illustrated the book at age thirteen.

Gold Medal2023 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards
Bilingual English and Chinese edition
Highly Rated★★★★★ Reader Reviews
Buy English Paperback on Amazon Buy Bilingual Hardcover on Amazon
Recognition & community

Beyond the page.

The book has been shared through literary and bookselling communities in Georgia.

Georgia Writers Museum

From Tears to the Sea was presented at the Georgia Writers Museum.

Little Shop of Stories

The book is available on the shelves of the nationally top-ranked children’s bookstore Little Shop of Stories and other bookstores.

Behind the Book

From Poem to Picture Book

From Tears to the Sea began with a poem Alex wrote in fourth grade. During the COVID lockdown, she returned to it and transformed each line into an illustrated page, completing the book over three summers.

Made by Hand

Alex created the illustrations as handmade collages, experimenting with painted paper, cardboard packaging, recycled canvas, old maps, and other found materials.

A Book with a Purpose

Alex hopes the book inspires young readers to appreciate and protect our water—and encourages young creative minds to explore and share their own ideas through art and writing.

Framed collage illustrations from From Tears to the Sea exhibited at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art
From Page to Gallery — Each page illustration was created as an original collage artwork. The framed collages were exhibited at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art for six months.

Beyond the Book

Creating with Young Readers

Through readings and hands-on collage activities, Alex shares the book’s creative process with young readers—encouraging them to explore their own ideas through art and storytelling.

Young readers gathered for a book-related creative activity
Alex helping children create collages at a hands-on workshop
Children exploring From Tears to the Sea and collage artwork
Media

Listen & Watch

From Tears to the Sea — Podcast video thumbnail

From Tears to the Sea — Podcast

A conversation about the book and its creative journey.

Book video thumbnail

From Tears to the Sea — Video