As a first-generation British-born Chinese woman and mother of two, Ann Hamilton is passionate about creating bilingual children’s books that make language learning fun, engaging and accessible for families from all backgrounds. As the founder of Mooliprint, she draws on her own experiences of raising children between cultures to create beautifully illustrated stories that celebrate language, heritage and diversity, while helping children connect with their cultural roots and develop a lifelong love of reading. Here, Ann talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind her business, the challenges she has overcome, and how she is turning a childhood dream of becoming an author into a reality.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
It all started nearly ten years ago when I became a mum. As a British-born Chinese woman, I realised there were very few children’s books in which my daughter could see herself. The Asian representation that did exist often felt stereotypical, and I wanted something more authentic.
At the same time, I was searching for Chinese books and learning resources to help teach my daughter the language from an early age. There simply wasn’t much available that was engaging, beautifully illustrated and easy for families to enjoy together.
I also understood the challenges many overseas Chinese families face. For many second-, third- and later-generation children, it’s easy to lose confidence in a heritage language when they’re not surrounded by it every day. I wanted to create books that made learning Chinese feel fun, accessible and something families could enjoy together, regardless of their language level.
Instead of waiting for those books to exist, I decided to create them myself.
That decision became the foundation of Mooliprint. Today, I write bilingual children’s books in five languages that celebrate language, culture and diversity, helping children connect with their heritage while opening the door to language learning for families from all backgrounds.
As an optometrist, helping people protect their sight has always been central to my career. Encouraging children to develop a lifelong love of reading feels like a natural extension of that.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I’d always enjoyed writing and had dabbled with it over the years, but it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that I finally had the opportunity to take it seriously.
I’m an optometrist by profession, and at the time, I was working as a locum. When the first COVID-19 lockdown began, routine eye care was suspended almost overnight, and as a locum, I was one of the first to lose work. Like so many others, my diary suddenly went from being completely full to completely empty. While it was an uncertain and unsettling time, it also gave me the opportunity to focus on something I’d been dreaming about for years.
I spent that time writing, learning about self-publishing and, most importantly, spending precious time with my children. What began as a personal project gradually grew into a publishing business.
One of the things that made the journey possible was the incredible online self-publishing community. Through social media and online groups, I connected with authors and publishers who were willing to share their experiences, offer advice and support one another. As an independent publisher, that sense of community has been invaluable and has helped me grow both personally and professionally.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
For me, the biggest breakthrough wasn’t reaching a particular sales figure; it was hearing directly from the families using my books.
When I started, Cantonese-English children’s books were an incredibly niche market, and there wasn’t really a blueprint to follow. I wanted to create books that reflected the Cantonese families actually speak at home, rather than formal written Chinese that many heritage learners don’t use in everyday life. I often questioned whether there was an audience for what I was creating.
Then I began receiving messages from parents thanking me for helping their children connect with their heritage language or telling me how much they enjoyed reading the books together. Those conversations gave me the confidence to keep going.
Another milestone was being invited into schools and libraries to deliver storytime sessions and language workshops. Seeing children engage with the books in person was incredibly rewarding, and it was wonderful to know that educators valued them enough to include them in their reading collections and recommend them to other families.
That was the moment I realised I wasn’t just publishing books; I was making a genuine difference to the families I had set out to help.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
It’s definitely a juggling act.
I still work as an optometrist, so writing and publishing often happens during evenings and weekends. Having a family has taught me to make the most of the time I have and to focus on steady progress rather than perfection.
My children have also been a wonderful source of inspiration. Seeing the world through their eyes reminds me exactly who I’m writing for.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Without a doubt, my biggest challenge has been overcoming my own inner critic.
Like many creatives, I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome and often questioned whether I was good enough or whether anyone would want to read the books I had created. Those doubts can be difficult to silence, especially when you’re putting something so personal out into the world.
Writing bilingual books has also brought unique challenges. As mentioned above, I wanted to write Chinese (Cantonese) as it is genuinely spoken within families, rather than using formal written language that many young children or heritage learners don’t use in everyday life. That approach wasn’t always understood, and I received criticism from some people who felt it should have been written differently.
I’ve also experienced judgement because of my interracial marriage. At times, people have questioned whether I was “Chinese enough” or the “right” person to create Chinese children’s books. Those comments have been hurtful, but they’ve also strengthened my belief that culture isn’t defined by who you marry. It’s something that can be celebrated, shared and passed on to future generations.
Over time, I’ve learned that you can’t create something meaningful if you’re trying to please everyone. Instead, I focus on the families who tell me my books have helped their children connect with their language, culture and identity. Those are the voices that matter most, and they’re what keep me going.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
As a parent, one of the greatest advantages is the flexibility. Being your own boss allows you to choose when you work and to fit your business around family life where possible. It isn’t always easy, and there are times when the lines between work and home become blurred, but having the freedom to be there for my children while building something I’m passionate about is something I really value.
The biggest challenge is that you’re responsible for every aspect of the business. From writing and publishing to marketing, administration and finances, there’s always something that needs your attention. It can be demanding, but for me, the rewards far outweigh the challenges.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
One of my most vivid memories is from primary school, when I dreamed of becoming an author. I can still remember the very first book I wrote. It was handwritten, with a hand-drawn picture of my dog on the cover, and I held it together with a split pin. I was so proud of it. I remember thinking, How amazing would it be if I could do this for real one day?
Looking back now, I feel incredibly grateful that I’ve been able to turn that childhood dream into reality. For a long time, I thought I had to choose one career path, but I’ve realised that life doesn’t have to work that way. Today, I’m proud to be both an optometrist and an author, and I think we’re increasingly living in a world where people can pursue more than one passion and build a career that’s uniquely their own.
Alongside Mooliprint, I’m also writing my first novel, and I’m excited to see where that journey takes me. Every book I create, whether for children or adults, reminds me of that little girl proudly holding her homemade book.
If my books can help children discover the joy of reading, connect with their language and culture, or simply bring families together through stories, then I’ll consider that a success.
Visit the Mooliprint website to find out more and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
