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ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: A Mouse Family Christmas
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://leahhong.com/
CITY: Vancouver
STATE:
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Children: yes.
EDUCATION:Graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Illustrator and graphic designer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2020, review of Happy Dreams, Little Bunny.
Publishers Weekly, July 29, 2024, review of A Mouse Family Christmas, p. 59.
School Library Journal, November 1, 2020, Emily Brush, review of Happy Dreams, Little Bunny, p. 50.
ONLINE
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez, https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/ (October 12, 2021), Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez, author interview.
Leah Hong website, https://leahhong.com (March 7, 2025).
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them), https://taralazar.com/ (September 8, 2020), author interview.
Leah Hong spent many of her childhood hours drawing stories, but it wasn’t until she had children of her own that she became re-immersed in the world of picture books, and fell in love with them all over again. An art school graduate with a visual arts degree in painting, Leah has worked both as an illustrator and graphic designer. Her lifelong love of making art and storytelling led her to create her picture book debut, Happy Dreams, Little Bunny (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2021). She lives with her family in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Cover Reveal: HAPPY DREAMS, LITTLE BUNNY by debut author-illustrator Leah Hong (plus a giveaway)
September 8, 2020 in Picture Books | Tags: Cover Reveal, Happy Dreams Little Bunny, Leah Hong | 62 comments
Today I’m welcoming author-illustrator Leah Hong to reveal the cover for her debut picture book, HAPPY DREAMS, LITTLE BUNNY from Little, Brown! (Are you ready to go “awww”? Because here it is…)
Leah, I’m struck by the light, airy softness of your illustrations. It looks like I could cuddle with this pillow of a cover! Can you tell me a bit about how you developed your unique style?
Lots and lots of experimenting! For this book I knew I wanted the artwork to have a classical feel and color palette, a kind of a throwback to the Little Golden Books I had as a child. The first test pieces I did were in gouache and although I was happy with them, I wasn’t achieving the depth of detail that I wanted and was feeling frustrated. Then I remembered one of the best pieces of picture book illustration advice I’ve ever been given; it was from an instructor who said, “You’ll be spending many hours, even months, on the final artwork so you have to choose a style that you enjoy working in”. She had also recommended that I try colored pencils and although I was initially resistant, I found that I really enjoyed the careful layering I needed to do in order to mix my colors. But I quickly realized that it would take forever to complete the artwork and decided I could still achieve the look I wanted by laying down a quick background in soft pastel and working overtop with colored pencils. As soon as I gave myself permission to go in a different direction, my style seemed to develop on it’s own. In the end my instructor was right, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of making the art for this book.
Besides the softness of the art, your characters are floating (and boating) among the clouds. What secrets about the story inside does this scene reveal? (P.S. But don’t give it all away!)
The story is about a little bunny who can’t fall asleep because he has too much on his mind. But with a little help from his mother, he finds he’s able to channel his whirling thoughts into plans for that night’s dreams. The book explores the fantastical space between storytelling and dreaming and many of the images in the book are quite surreal. The scene on the cover hints at the soothing dream-like quality of the imagery in the book, and the special relationship between Little Bunny and his stuffed elephant, without (I hope!) giving away any of the adventures that await these two friends.
I’d love to see more of your work. Can we get some sneak peeks of the book?
This is a spread in process…
And this is a peek at the final art proofs.
Oh, and I can’t forget the back cover…
Awww! What a sweet cuddle bunny!
I’m going to tiptoe quietly out (shhh!), but not before telling my blog readers that they can win an F&G of HAPPY DREAMS, LITTLE BUNNY before Little, Brown releases it in February 2021.
Leave one [quiet] comment below to enter.
A winner will be chosen in a few weeks.
Good luck! And HAPPY DREAMS!
Photo credit: Makito Inomata
Leah Hong spent many of her childhood hours drawing stories, but it wasn’t until she had children of her own that she became re-immersed in the world of picture books, and fell in love with them all over again. A graduate of Emily Carr University of Art + Design with a visual arts degree in painting and drawing, she has worked both as an illustrator and graphic designer. Her lifelong love of drawing and storytelling led her to create her picture book debut, HAPPY DREAMS, LITTLE BUNNY (Little, Brown Young Readers, February 2021). She lives with her family in Vancouver, British Columbia. Visit her online at leahhong.com.
Interview and International GIVEAWAY with Debut Author-illustrator Leah Hong about her Picture Book HAPPY DREAMS, LITTLE BUNNY
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez Artists, Debut writer, Giveaway, Interviews, Kidlit, Picture Books, Writers October 12, 2021 7 Minutes
Hi Math is Everywhere Readers,
As the days get colder and the call to cuddle up with a beautiful book begins, I’m so delighted to share with you today an absolutely gorgeous picture book author-illustrated by my friend and critique partner Leah Hong: Happy Dreams, Little Bunny.
Description of book from the publisher:
This stunningly illustrated debut is The Runaway Bunny for a new generation—a captivating flight of fancy that also helps children lull themselves into dreamland.
Little Bunny can’t sleep! There’s so much to think and wonder about, big and small. But with a nudge from Mommy, Little Bunny discovers that sometimes our thoughts can be turned into happy dreams . . . where anything is possible. Debut author and illustrator Leah Hong’s tender drawings and gentle dialogue between mother and child sing a modern lullaby for anyone who has trouble falling asleep—or whose imagination has soared at bedtime.
Kaitlyn: Hi, Leah, thanks so much for joining us!
Leah: Hi Kaitlyn, thank you for having me on your blog!
Kaitlyn: My pleasure! I’m so excited to chat with you. Can you start by sharing where the idea of this beautiful book came from?
Leah: Thanks so much, that means a lot to me. I have strong memories of lying in bed as a child with my mind whirling, not feeling anxious, but also not being able to settle down and go to sleep. I wanted to capture that feeling of bedtime, my head full of wonder and excitement and my thoughts slowly morphing and shape-shifting the sleepier I got.
At the same time that I started brainstorming ideas for this book, my son was having a hard time settling down at night himself. He went through a long phase of calling out to me over and over each night. He wouldn’t get out of bed, but he’d bang on the wall of his room (my studio is on the other side of the wall!) and holler “Mom, where are you?” or “Are you there Mom?” It felt natural to combine these two experiences into one story.
Kaitlyn: I love that you touched on the parent and child aspects here since being able to incorporate both makes such a wonderful selling point. Speaking of selling, selling a new twist on a bedtime story can be challenging, can you share how you created a new twist that editors wanted and/or how your agent pitched/sold it?
Leah: So true! But because Happy Dreams, Little Bunny is the very first story I wrote and illustrated let alone published, I have to admit that at the time I was developing this book, I was largely unaware of those challenges. I did (and still do!) read a ton of picture books though and I was pretty sure at the time that I hadn’t come across a story with quite the same POV as this one. Luckily the team at Little, Brown agreed.
Kaitlyn: WOW! You sold the very first book you ever wrote and illustrated AND it’s the first book you sold?! That has to be some kind of record and should tell you how born to be in this industry you are! Now I need to know: how did you decide on the characters? (Sketches would be awesome if you have some!)
Leah: I fell head over heels in love with a character I had developed in a picture book illustration class. So much so that I kept drawing this rabbit long after the assignment was due and the class was over. I knew I couldn’t let this little bunny go and I had to use them in a story of my own.
Here are some images showing the progression of Little Bunny, from early sketches to final artwork:
Kaitlyn: Just stunning! No wonder you couldn’t stop thinking about this adorable character! Thank you for sharing your sketches. What was your favorite part of author-illustrating this book? And what was the most challenging?
Leah: Hands down the best part of illustrating a book I authored was having that deep emotional connection to the story and getting to choose what to include in the imagery. Having said that, since this was my first book as either author or illustrator, I felt some fierce imposter syndrome. Luckily there was so much work to do I didn’t have a chance to wallow too deeply in it and really just had to buckle down and get the work done. There’s nothing like a looming deadline to keep you grounded!
Kaitlyn: Thank you for sharing that; we all have imposter syndrome, and it’s so great to know that an author-illustrator who does absolutely stunning work feels this way too, and that deadlines can be a great cure. Haha! Okay, now how did you find your agent, and how did you know she was the one?
Leah: I’m with Kirsten Hall of Catbird Agency—I’m still pinching myself! I did a ton of research when I was ready to start querying and what I began to notice early on, was that a lot of my very favourite illustrators were with Catbird and I decided to begin my querying there. I’m incredibly grateful that Kirsten connected with my story and that she took me on.
Kaitlyn: Sounds like a perfect match, and I’m so glad you did the research that led to your wonderful agent! Who was your editor for this book, and what was it like working with him or her?
Leah: My editor was Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. She was fantastic to work with. She took the time to walk my newbie self through the process of editing with patience and kindness. She also pushed me to do my very best work in the gentlest and most encouraging way possible. I count my lucky stars that I had such a supportive introduction to the world of publishing.
Kaitlyn: Yes! Andrea is such a dream editor; the perfect mix of passionate and kind; so happy for you, my friend! Can you share with us what you’re working on now?
Leah: …I wish I could! Sorry for being so coy but it’s too early to share right now.
Kaitlyn: Haha, I love the mystery! The anticipation is what keeps us coming back. Readers, make sure to follow Leah on social media so you won’t miss out when she has more news! Until then, Leah, can you share some advice for illustrators or author-illustrators?
Leah: Hands down the best piece of illustration advice I was ever given was from one of my picture book illustration instructors who said, “You’ll be spending many hours, even months, on the final artwork so you have to choose a style that you enjoy working in”. It seems so obvious but hearing those words really helped me focus on what materials work and don’t work for me and gave me permission to just have fun. It was so freeing. She also said, “Don’t include anything in your portfolio in a style you wouldn’t want to illustrate an entire book in.” Such sage advice.
Kaitlyn: Yes! Sage advice indeed! Finally, if you could meet your favorite author, illustrator, or mathematician would you chat by a fireside or go on an adventure?
Leah: Gyo Fujikawa is one of my all time favourite illustrators and since she is no longer with us, I guess meeting her would automatically be an adventure! Is it too boring to admit that I hope the adventure would include me getting to watch how she works?
Kaitlyn: Not boring at all; I got all excited just thinking about watching Gyo work, too! It just shows we’re in the right industry! Thank you so much for sharing and for joining us today to talk about your beautiful book!
Leah: Thank you, Kaitlyn! You are such a fierce champion of the kidlit community. I feel honoured that you invited me onto your blog.
Kaitlyn: Well, now, as I wipe the happy tears from my eyes from those kind words, I hope all the readers check out the following info and get in on the giveaway, too!
Author-Illustrator Bio and links
Leah Hong spent many of her childhood hours drawing stories, but it wasn’t until she had children of her own that she became reimmersed in the world of picture books, and fell in love with them all over again. A graduate of Emily Carr University of Art + Design with a visual arts degree in painting and drawing, she has worked both as an illustrator and graphic designer. Her lifelong love of drawing and storytelling led her to create her picture book debut, Happy Dreams, Little Bunny (Little, Brown Young Readers, 2021). She lives with her family in Vancouver, British Columbia.
www.leahhong.com
Instagram: @leahhongdraws
Twitter: @leahhongdraws
HONG, Leah. Happy Dreams, Little Bunny. illus. by Leah Hong. 40p. Little, Brown. Feb. 2021. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780316536011.
PreS-Gr 1--One night, sleepless Little Bunny pitter-patters down the dark stairs, clutching a beloved stuffed animal, Elephant. Little Bunny finds Mommy illuminated by the glow of her computer, and begins asking questions about growing up. Mommy validates the big worries of her small child, saying, "I can see why your thoughts are keeping you up." The mother suggests that Little Bunny instead think about dreaming, and a journey begins that combines the adventure of Where the Wild Things Are and the tenderness of Goodnight Moon. With Elephant, Little Bunny hitches a ride on a bumblebee over a late afternoon field of purple flowers, sprouts wings, soars into the air over the sea, and ventures to the moon and back. Little Bunny is depicted as gender-neutral in a long-sleeve yellow onesie, and an identifying pronoun is never used. Hong's text is dialogue only, which feels a little limiting compared to the soft, surrealist whimsy of her pastel, pencil, crayon, and graphite illustrations. VERDICT Cozy and well intentioned, this winsome story is an additional purchase.--Emily Brush, Novi R L, MI
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Brush, Emily. "HONG, Leah. Happy Dreams, Little Bunny." School Library Journal, vol. 66, no. 11, Nov. 2020, p. 50. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A640012954/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=cd86be35. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
Hong, Leah HAPPY DREAMS, LITTLE BUNNY Little, Brown (Children's None) $17.99 2, 2 ISBN: 978-0-316-53601-1
Worried Little Bunny can’t sleep and seeks reassurance from mother.
Little Bunny fears staying small and never growing big enough to do anything. Mommy is totally supportive, engaging her little one in imagining what could be and urging her little one to visualize it all in dreams. Little Bunny gives it a try, though insisting that a beloved toy elephant be a constant companion in those dreams. Maybe they’ll pretend they’re giants, or stay small enough to ride on a bumblebee, or even grow their own wings, and have lots of brave adventures, soaring over oceans or visiting outer space. Of course they will always come home to read books with Mommy. Little Bunny is finally ready for bed, with Elephant already there, dreams awaiting. The tale is told entirely in dialogue, with Mommy’s words appearing in italics to distinguish them from Little Bunny’s. Mommy’s tone is calm, thoughtful, and always encouraging, with Little Bunny open to suggestions and ready to enlarge on the possibilities. The nighttime, indoor illustrations appear softly edged and are gently hued in grays and light greens while the imaginary sequences are more colorful, with sharper edges. Mommy is depicted wearing a dress while Little Bunny is wearing pajamas before appearing in a spacesuit in the final, fall-asleep dream. No gender is assigned to Little Bunny. Young readers and their grown-ups might add their own imaginations to the proceedings as they read the tale together in two voices.
A tender, loving, nearly perfect bedtime story. (Picture book. 2-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Hong, Leah: HAPPY DREAMS, LITTLE BUNNY." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A643410543/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f881d643. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.
A Mouse Family Christmas
Deborah Underwood, illus. by Leah Hong. Little, Brown, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-316-46718-6
A mouse family spreads holiday cheer in Underwood's dual domestic tale, which centers creaturely empathy. As the rodents trim a tree-shaped bough in an attic appointed with mouse-size furnishings, one struggles to feel "Christmas spirit." Looking for inspiration, the protagonist ventures to see the "glorious" decorated fir downstairs, an outing that takes a suspenseful turn when the critter is spotted by the home's pale-skinned human inhabitant, alone for the holiday due to a snowstorm ("I ought to put you outside.... But it's so cold, and your little family would miss you"). When the intrepid mouse returns home, describing the kindness shown and the still-bare tree below, the whiskered family shows their appreciation with a festive interspecies gesture. The clean lines and thoughtful details of Hong's careful gouache and colored pencil illustrations--from the mice's jaunty outfits to their embrace of found-object decor--lend the text a crisp believability. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"A Mouse Family Christmas." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 29, 29 July 2024, pp. 59+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A803782857/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e824b586. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.