Person sitting in a wheelchair, wearing a yellow top and black pants, smiling at the camera against a white background.

Carina Ho

Author

Carina Ho’s debut picture book, Mighty Mara, is about a girl who uses a wheelchair and doesn’t let it stop her from doing what she loves—dancing.

For her story, Carina drew from her own lived experience of becoming disabled and joining a dance company. Having trained to dance prior to her disabling injury, she had until that time only understood dance from an able- bodied perspective. Becoming a dancer in a wheelchair forced her to reshape her idea of who should be allowed on stages and how to react when others don’t understand the concept of someone in a wheelchair dancing.

She hopes young readers—with and without disabilities— come away from her work seeing the value of being committed to pursuing what they love.

When she isn’t writing, Carina is a musician and music producer who performs under the moniker ONIKHO.

If you’re interested in working with Carina, shoot us an email at hello@moonbeamlm.com

Featured Release

Mighty Mara

A young girl aspires to dance despite her disability.

Welcome to Sametown where everyone and everything is...well...the same. Except Mara! She's a little different. She's bright. She's sunny. And, unlike her classmates who are all planning on performing a similar magic show act at the school talent show, she is going to dance, dance, dance! One problem: everyone in Sametown - her classmates, her teacher-they all think she shouldn't do it. And it's not just (it seems) because dancing isn't the status quo in Sametown...It's because they just don't believe in Mara. Mara won't let their dissuading and even their heckling rock her spirit, though. She's Mighty Mara, and she's about to shake she some new life into her muted town. In the most surprising and beautiful of ways.

Written by Carina Ho and Jesse Byrd
Illustrated by Monica Paola Rodrigeuz
Cover of the book 'Mighty Mara' featuring an animated character dancing in a colorful outfit on stage in front of a cheering crowd. Title and author details are visible.
Illustration of a neighborhood in Sametown, showing people walking, cycling, and playing soccer on a field, with houses and a car on the street. Text describes a community with shared interests and activities.
Illustration of a person on stage holding a trophy with a dove flying nearby, and a person in a wheelchair applauding, set against a dark curtain backdrop.
Illustration of young girl in a wheelchair dancing on stage with colorful attire, energetic movements, and an audience in the background.
Illustration of two people in a bedroom with posters and a calendar on the wall. One person is lying on the bed, the other sits on the floor with a plate of treats, engaging in a supportive conversation about personal authenticity and dance.