Kris Tan

About the Author

Hi, I’m Kris Tan—former U.S. Marine, current Berkeley High custodian, and poet of spilled juice boxes and late-night inspiration. By day, I keep the school clean. By night, I try to capture the magic of parenting before my memory gives out (usually mid-sentence).

My debut book, Perfectly Imperfectly Perfect, is a picture book wrapped in a poem, inspired by haiku and powered by heart. It’s got the 5-7 rhythm of tradition, the soul of a dad in his feelings, and just enough rhyming rebellion to make it uniquely mine. Hidden inside are secret numbers tied to my kids’ birthdays—and maybe a wink to anyone who’s ever tried to write a haiku while being climbed on by a toddler.

My second book, Universal Truth of Water, is on the horizon—a quiet splash of wonder and cosmic reflection, inspired by late-night questions, fatherhood epiphanies, and a healthy obsession with Neil deGrasse Tyson.

I write for anyone trying to raise kids, hold onto fleeting moments, or find beauty in the daily mess. If that’s you—pull up a chair (bonus points if it’s covered in crayon marks). Let’s find some poetry in the peanut butter smudges.