Meet the Creators
Let Go to Let Grow was shaped through collaboration, conversation, and years of learning—both inside and beyond the classroom. Together, writer and educator Gina Kwon and illustrator Sarah Lei bring different perspectives to the same questions about growth, balance, and letting go.
Gina Kwon is a teacher, writer, and mom who finds meaning (and often humour) in life’s everyday lessons about holding on and letting go. With over fifteen years in education, she has guided countless students to experience learning as both exploration and self-reflection.
Her debut picture book, Let Go to Let Grow, was inspired by the life she has lived—the experiences, relationships, and quiet reflections that have shaped her understanding of what we collect in life, and the courage it takes to let go.
The story also draws from her classroom work and from the gentle wisdom of her inquisitive six-year-old daughter, who reminds her daily of the wonder found in small, everyday moments.
Gina lives in Ontario, Canada, where she continues to teach, write, and collect the simple moments that inspire her stories.
Sarah Lei is an architectural engineering graduate and structural designer currently based in Toronto, Ontario. While her professional work focuses on concrete and steel, her creative life has long been rooted in illustration, drawing, and visual exploration—interests she has carried with her since childhood.
After completing her degree at the University of Waterloo, Sarah continues to balance precision with creativity, finding inspiration both in the built world and in quieter, everyday moments. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring nature with her dog Diesel, discovering new places to eat, and finding moments to recharge—whether outdoors or curled up for a quiet movie night.
Sarah is especially proud to have illustrated Let Go to Let Grow, written by her former teacher, Gina Kwon. The collaboration felt like a full-circle moment, reconnecting her with the creative spark that first shaped her love for art. Through this story, Sarah is reminded to stay curious and to never outgrow her imagination.