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ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Nainai’s Mountain
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.joeyart.com/
CITY: Los Angeles
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COUNTRY: United States
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LAST VOLUME: SATA 363
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Taiwan; immigrated to United States at age fifteen.
EDUCATION:Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, BFA.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Illustrator and concept artist. Netflix, visual development artist; worked previously for Disney, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, Paramount, and Sony Picture Animation. Has worked on productions, including The Emoji Movie, Hotel Transylvania 2, Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs 2, Surfs Up 2, and Kung Fu Panda: Legend of Awesomeness. Exhibitions: Work exhibited at galleries, including Arludik Gallery, Paris, France; and Q Pop Shop/Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
WRITINGS
It’s a Small World was adapted as an animated iPhone app. Also author of a blog.
SIDELIGHTS
Joey Chou is a Taiwan-born illustrator whose family relocated to Southern California when he was a teenager. He went on to study design and illustration at the Art Center of Design. After college, Chou worked as a visual development artist and illustrator for many major movie production houses, including Sony Picture Animation, Disney, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, Paramount, and Netflix. Among the movies he has worked on are The Emoji Movie, Hotel Transylvania 2, Cloudy with Chance of Meatball 2 Animated Shorts, Surfs Up 2, and Kung Fu Panda: Legend of Awesomeness. When he is not working on film production, Chou writes and illustrates children’s books. He released his first self-illustrated work, Crazy by the Letters: Mental Problems from A to Z, in 2006. Among the authors Chou has illustrated for are C.S. Lewis, Linda Ashman, Mallory Loehr, Jean Reidy, Kevin Lively, Vickie Lee, Marisa Polansky, and Linda Ashman.
In Captain Freddy Counts Down to School, written by Elizabeth Shreeve and illustrated by Chou, Freddy is nervous about starting school. He is enamored with space, so to feel more comfortable, Freddy fantasizes that he is about to embark on an interstellar mission. A contributor to Publishers Weekly noted, “Chou uses saturated colors and geometric shapes to create a retro atmosphere that evokes atomic-age fascinations with extraterrestrial exploration.” Freddy imagines his backpack as a jetpack, his shirt as his space suit, his new sneakers as moon boots, and a banana is his laser pistol. Something happens to his ship, and Freddy is cast out into the abyss, floating along until he finally lands on a far-off planet and encounters an alien who tries to steal his laser pistol. When mom comes to retrieve Freddy for school, she finds him and his younger sister playing on the floor. A Kirkus Reviews contributor made note of Chou’s artwork in Captain Freddy Counts Down to School, commenting, “Reflecting the space theme, Chou’s digital illustrations employ lots of deep blue, pops of bright color, and angular lines.”
It turns out being a monster kid is not all that different from being a human kid in Monster & Son, illustrated by Chou and written by David LaRochelle. A story told in verse, each spread in the book showcases a different set of monster parents and their children. A Frankenstein monster has a tickle fight with their young one. A wolf and two cubs watch the rising moon in anticipation for a night of howling. A mummy wrapped in a death shroud chases its children off to bed. A giant lizard monster roars at its child to wake up. A Kirkus Reviews contributor concluded that Monster & Son is “monstrous good fun to share with your own favorite beast.” Commenting on Chou’s artwork in the book, a Publisher Weekly contributor praised the creatures that “Chou renders as simultaneously adorable and destructive in crisp digital artwork with a subdued, creamy palette.”
Chou collaborated with Marisa Polansky to produce Hello, My Name Is … : How Adorabilis Got His Name in 2018. A new parasol-shaped pink creature with eight arms has been discovered off the coast of California. Once at the aquarium, scientists must determine the nature of this newfound cephalopod and must give it a name. In a conversation with the other fish in the tank at the aquarium, the new creature is told that many different creatures are named for their appearance. Others are named for their behavior. Among fellow tank-mates are a shark, an anglerfish, a crab, and a clownfish. The scientists eventually settle on the creature’s name—Adorabilis. In Booklist, Briana Shemroske commented on Hello, My Name Is … , “Little ones will eagerly dive into this all-around adorable first glimpse at ocean fauna.”
In the board book 12 Lucky Animals: A Bilingual Baby Book, Vickie Lee and Chou take readers through the animals of the Chinese zodiac. Released in 2018, the book dedicates each spread to the animal associated with the repeating cycle of the Chinese zodiac beginning with the rat. Each animal is shown with their Chinese character and English moniker. Additionally, the animals are presented with the zodiac principles that govern the personality traits of those born under their given year. The rat, for example, represents cleverness and night owls. A Kirkus Reviews contributor opined, “Little ones will love the adorable illustrations, and older ones will enjoy trying to pronounce the Mandarin Chinese words.” Robin Sofge, writing in School Library Journal, commented on Chou’s illustrations in 12 Lucky Animals: “Illustrations are cute and friendly and the layout is attractive and easy to follow.”
Linda Ashman’s Ways to Welcome may lack a narrative arch, but it poetically describes the concepts of openness, inclusiveness, kindness, and how to be a welcoming person. In the beginning of the book, a young boy and his family are welcomed by their neighbors to a new town. “The illustrations follow a diverse group of children who embark on various activities: attending story time, visiting the park, gardening, and arriving at an airport, among other things,” noted Amy Harper-Lilien in School Library Journal. The book culminates with a large neighborhood picnic showing that an entire town can be welcoming. Other examples of welcoming along the way are dogs that sniff each other, waves between neighbors, and hand-shakes between two people meeting for the first time. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews concluded: “Simple, stylized artwork in bright shades keep the focus on the interactions, and readers will delight in finding the blue butterfly in every scene.”
[OPEN NEW]
The author Jean Reidy’s What Would You Do in a Book about You? inspires youngsters to dream about all the different things that they might do. This includes everything from traveling in space to interacting with exotic animals like yaks, emus, and walruses. Reidy uses rhymes and a kind of call-and-response to create an exuberant book about possibilities. Chou amplifies that energy with his layered illustrations that combine cartoon characters with portraits of all the possibilities.
A reviewer in Kirkus Reviews called the book a way to imagine “endless possibilities for magic, mayhem, fun, and learning.” They were particularly impressed with Chou’s illustrations, praising them as “detailed worlds that burst with life and movement.” In Booklist, Shelle Rosenfeld also enjoyed the “fanciful illustrations” and “busy, cheerful animated art” that are filled with “lively details.”
Chou also illustrated Reidy’s follow-up, Group Hug. This picture book imagines how a slug helps a lonely beetle feel better by giving it a hug. Soon other animals are joining in, encouraging each other with an enormous group hug. When Bear shows up, however, the other animals have to decide whether to include it.
“Readers will embrace this captivating winner,” wrote a contributor in Kirkus Reviews. They were especially enamored of Chou’s “adorably simple lively illustrations” that portray the animals with “delightfully expressive charm.” The result is a “sweetly endearing charmer, highlighting kindness.” A reviewer in Publishers Weekly agreed, writing that “the text and art radiate a sense of unalloyed communal joy.” They also appreciated the text’s “aural pleasures” that are able to evoke a “comic tone that never sinks into sentimentality.”
Vera Ahiyya’s KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day is another picture book designed to inspire kindness. Leo is not sure what to make of his first day in kindergarten, but his teacher has already started encouraging her students about the importance of being kind. When Leo’s classmates point out how all the ways he has already been kind on that first day, he feels much more comfortable.
A contributor in Publishers Weekly noted that the book has the same “upbeat, proactively compassionate vibe” that Ahiyya captures in her social media posts about being a teacher. The reviewer also appreciated Chou’s “energetic scenes, digitally painted in vivid hues.” A writer in Kirkus Reviews predicted the book would “help alleviate fears and start kids thinking about ways to create their own KINDergartens.” They complimented Chou’s illustrations for being “full of bright colors and familiar school scenes.”
Nainai’s Mountain, written by Livia Blackburne, is about a young girl traveling to Taiwan for the first time with her family. She is understandably nervous about the flight and everything that might be different in Taiwan, but then her Nainai (her paternal grandmother) takes the girl under her wing and shows her all the wonderful things there are to see and eat. Even the bugs are interesting rather than scary. A writer in Kirkus Reviews was enthusiastic about this offering, calling it an “inviting love letter to a cherished homeland and family.” They were particularly pleased at how Chou creates a “kaleidoscope of color on every page that will transport readers” to the beloved island.
[CLOSE NEW]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, May 1, 2018, Briana Shemroske, review of Hello, My Name Is … : How Adorabilis Got His Name, p. 84; April 1, 2021, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of What Would You Do in a Book about You?, p. 68.
Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2011, review of Say What?; April 1, 2016, review of Monster & Son; June 1, 2016, review of Captain Freddy Counts Down to School; March 1, 2018, review of Hello, My Name Is … ; January 1, 2019, review of 12 Lucky Animals: A Bilingual Baby Book; 12 September 15, 2019, review of When the Snow Is Deeper Than My Boots Are Tall; September 15, 2019, review of When the Snow Is Deeper Than My Boots Are Tall; October 15, 2019, review of Teeny Tiny Santa; May 1, 2020, review of Ways to Welcome; March 15, 2021, review of What Would You Do in a Book about You?; November 1, 2021, review of Group Hug; June 15, 2022, review of KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day; September 1, 2022, review of Me and You in a Book Made for Two; January 1, 2024, review of Look How Much I’ve Grown in Kindergarten; March 15, 2025, review of Nainai’s Mountain.
Publishers Weekly, May 2, 2011, review of Say What?, p. 53; February 1, 2016, review of Monster & Son, p. 64; May 9, 2016, review of Captain Freddy Counts Down to School, p. 66; October 21, 2019, review of When the Snow Is Deeper Than My Boots Are Tall, p. 76; October 4, 2021, review of Group Hug, pp. 154+; November 23, 2022, review of KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day, p. 24.
School Library Journal, June, 2011, Tanya Boudreau, review of Say What?, p. 80; May, 2015, Jenna Boles, review of B. Bear and Lolly: Catch That Cookie!, p. 87; August, 2016, Etta Anton, review of Captain Freddy Counts Down to School, p. 67; December, 2017, Rachel Forbes, review of Ruby’s Chinese New Year, p. 86; February, 2019, Robin Sofge, review of 12 Lucky Animals, p. 43; June, 2020, Amy Lilien-Harper, review of Ways to Welcome, p. 47.
ONLINE
Disney, https://sites.disney.com/ (August 6, 2025), “Meet Joey Chou, the Artist behind the Art inside Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort,” author bio.
Eviltender, https://eviltender.com/ (April 30, 2015), Chris Jalufka, author profile.
Joey Chou website, https://www.joeyart.com (November 10, 2025).
Offset, https://www.offset.com/ (October 7, 2020), author profile.*
Joey Chou was born in Taiwan and grew up in Southern California. After Graduated from Art Center College of Design with illustration degree, he has been working as Visual Development artists in feature and TV animation for the past 10 years. He is currently working at Netflix Animation. He has worked with studios such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, Warner Bros, Cartoon network, Paramount, Sony, and many more.
Joey is also known doing illustration work for children's book such as "It's a small world", "Say What", "I'm a Ballerina little golden book", "Monster and sons", "B bear and Lolly series", working with publishers such as Simon and Schuster, Chronicle books, Random House, Disney Press, HarperCollins. His graphic sense of style is influence by many great illustrators from the 60s such as Mary Blair, Miroslav Sasek, Alice and Martin Provensen, and Ezra Jack Keats.
Meet Joey Chou, the artist behind the art inside Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
August 6, 2025
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At The Walt Disney Company, we partner with talented individuals to help us breathe magic into the places and spaces where guests vacation. This Life at Disney story goes beyond the nametag to feature a different kind of magic maker – the renowned artist whose mid-century-inspired artwork now breathes vibrancy and joy into the recently re-imagined villas inside Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. As expected, Joey Chou the creator is just as captivating as his creations.
Drawn to the artistic styles and movements seen in mid-20th-century Walt Disney Animation Studios classics like Sleeping Beauty (1959) and 101 Dalmatians (1961), Joey Chou felt compelled to put pencil to paper and recreate the scenes he saw on screen. What began as a young boy’s desire to doodle soon evolved into a fascination with characters and storytelling – particularly Alice in Wonderland (1951). By that point, Joey (and his parents, who quickly enrolled him in after-school art classes) realized this wasn’t just hyper-fixation but a true talent for artistry, in need of exploration.
With a world of inspiration at his fingertips, Joey admitted that it was challenging to harness a strong, artistic style, especially for a kid constantly absorbing animation. And even early on in his career as an Animator, few professional projects allowed him to explore and define his own artistic identity.
“Like so many artists who constantly jump from project to project, we tend to morph our style based on what we’re currently working on,” Joey explained during a conversation with Disney Files Magazine.
He recalled that it wasn’t until Disney Publishing hired him to illustrate the “It’s a Small World” (2011) picture book that he was able to fully immerse into the aesthetic of Disney Legend Mary Blair – an opportunity that ultimately cemented Joey’s signature style: mid-century design.
Best known for her distinct use of vibrant colors and abstract patterns for concept art used across Disney classics like Cinderella (1950), Peter Pan (1953) and the aforementioned Alice in Wonderland (not to mention numerous Disney Parks and Resorts projects), Mary’s influence added new depth to Joey’s work and elevated his confidence as a visual storyteller. It also created even more opportunities for Joey to make his mark at some of his favorite places.
Joey specially designed original art, celebrating the uniquely themed lands of Magic Kingdom Park for the villas at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort – years after contributing art to the resort’s sister tower.
"Orange against the mountain feels very iconic to Frontierland, so I created this piece with that in mind. I built the color palette with warmer tones that may complement a sunset during golden hour while also adding elements unique to the land.” - Joey Chou
"Orange against the mountain feels very iconic to Frontierland, so I created this piece with that in mind. I built the color palette with warmer tones that may complement a sunset during golden hour while also adding elements unique to the land.” - Joey Chou
"Fantasyland had such a warmth to it, so I wanted the piece to have a sunset-twilight atmosphere. Within the design, you see the carousel (Prince Charming Regal Carousel), smiling clock (“It’s a Small World”), Big Ben (Peter Pan’s Flight) and teacups (Mad Tea Party). It was a fun challenge choosing symbols recognizable to each ride, rather than drawing the entire attraction. It shows just show impactful a couple of teacups are.” -Joey Chou
"Fantasyland had such a warmth to it, so I wanted the piece to have a sunset-twilight atmosphere. Within the design, you see the carousel (Prince Charming Regal Carousel), smiling clock (“It’s a Small World”), Big Ben (Peter Pan’s Flight) and teacups (Mad Tea Party). It was a fun challenge choosing symbols recognizable to each ride, rather than drawing the entire attraction. It shows just show impactful a couple of teacups are.” -Joey Chou
Inspired by the land where the birds sing words and flowers croon; where skippers take sandstone for granite; where an orange bird has timeless a-peel; where a pirate can not only pilfer, filch and sack, but also maraud and embezzle...and even highjack, Joey Chou’s Adventureland art (framed in the bedroom) is midcentury magic.
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Inspired by the land where the birds sing words and flowers croon; where skippers take sandstone for granite; where an orange bird has timeless a-peel; where a pirate can not only pilfer, filch and sack, but also maraud and embezzle...and even highjack, Joey Chou’s Adventureland art (framed in the bedroom) is midcentury magic.
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Welcome to Liberty Square, a place where silversmiths put away their tools and march to the drum of a revolution, where all presidents stand together and where a haunted mansion offers a chilling challenge.
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A familiar Space Ranger soars over the spires of Space Mountain while planets orbit Rocket Tower Plaza in Joey Chou’s celestial celebration of a great big, beautiful Tomorrowland, framed near the Deluxe Studio bed. “Paging Mr. Morrow. Mr. Tom Morrow. Your artwork has arrived at Starport Seven-Five.”
As a tribute to Mary Blair’s iconic, multi-level Grand Canyon Concourse ceramic mural, he designed the lobby’s monorail mural pictured below (a similar stylized piece now adorns the exterior of a foldaway bed inside the refreshed villas) as well as the lobby’s wallpaper-wrapped columns.
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This bed is a showstopper, emblazoned with stylized art of the resort’s sister tower A-framing a monorail enroute to the most magical place on Earth.
Joey Chou’s artwork for Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort builds on a style established by imagery he created previously for the resort’s original tower, including these striking installations in the main tower lobby.
Joey Chou’s artwork for Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort builds on a style established by imagery he created previously for the resort’s original tower, including these striking installations in the main tower lobby.
“It’s amazing to see these projects come to life and it feels surreal that I’m contributing to an artist I’ve looked up to for many years,” he said. “I’m so grateful that this art style appeals to Disney Vacation Club Members and guests who stay at Bay Lake Tower and even at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel (where you’ll find more of Joey’s art).”
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort and The Villas at Disneyland Hotel share a special Disney DNA, with each mid-century modern property paying homage to renowned Disney artists like Mary Blair and carrying that legacy through a new generation of creatives, including artists like Joey.
Equal parts modern and nostalgic, Joey’s work embraces the spirit of Walt Disney himself, who famously had one foot in the past and one in the future.
To learn more about starting your Disney career journey, visit DisneyCareers.com.
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Chou, Joey NAINAI'S MOUNTAIN Neal Porter/Holiday House (Children's None) $18.99 4, 8 ISBN: 9780823452187
A family trip to Taiwan is rife with memories.
After a long plane ride with her parents and Nainai (Grandmother), a girl awakens in the dark; a backdrop of city lights includes the unmistakable silhouette of the Taipei 1010 skyscraper. Nainai is up, too, so the two decide to leave the city and watch the sunrise from a nearby mountain. Along the way, Nainai relates fond memories of growing up in Taiwan: riding in pedicabs instead of taxis, playing the pinball games offered by the sausage vendors, and enjoying frozen pineapple cores on hot summer days. The two purchase breakfast and ascend the mountainside, where Nainai spent time as a child; they walk through fields and beneath a cool green forest canopy, where natural delights abound. At the top, they're warmly welcomed by Nainai's old friends. Though Nainai loves her homeland, she doesn't regret immigrating to California--after all, "California has you," she points out. Drawing from personal experience, Blackburne captures the emotional essence of each scene, from the seemingly endless airplane ride to the bustle of Taipei to the verdant mountain hike. Geometric shapes create a kaleidoscope of color on every page that will transport readers to this place that both Nainai and Blackburne clearly adore--as much as grandmother and granddaughter love each other.
An inviting love letter to a cherished homeland and family. (author's note)(Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Chou, Joey: NAINAI'S MOUNTAIN." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A830532264/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=473ce55e. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
Ahiyya, Vera LOOK HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN IN KINDERGARTEN Random House Studio (Children's None) $18.99 3, 5 ISBN: 9780593643969
Everything grows better with a little help.
Mason doesn't want to attend school anymore because there are things she can't do and everyone else seems to do everything right. Mom encourages her to discuss these concerns with her teacher the next morning. Mason does, and at school, Ms. Perry thanks her for articulating her feelings. Later, Ms. Perry announces that, since today's the first day of spring, the class's morning meeting will focus on growth. She tells the class that everyone's growing and changing in myriad ways. Next day, Ms. Perry displays a chart on which she invites students to indicate ways they'd like to grow. Ms. Perry encourages Mason to reflect on how much she's growing--she knows the letters in her own name, for instance, and is "growing to be a reader"--and provides tools to help Mason learn to tie her own shoelaces. Mason begins to realize that some classmates also need help learning a few things. On the last day of school, Ms. Perry reminds everyone it's always OK to request help in order to grow. This is a rather bland story, but it should reassure youngsters who feel doubtful about their ability to learn new skills. The colorful digital illustrations depict a multiracial cast of characters in a lively, active classroom setting. Mason, her mom, and Ms. Perry have skin in various shades of brown.
A valuable reminder that learning and growing take time, practice, and patience. (how to write a thank-you card, author's note, tips for fostering a growth mindset) (Picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Ahiyya, Vera: LOOK HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN IN KINDERGARTEN." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Jan. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A777736750/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f2b2816b. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
Reidy, Jean ME AND YOU IN A BOOK MADE FOR TWO Harper/HarperCollins (Children's None) $18.99 8, 23 ISBN: 978-0-06-304151-6
Time to start an adventure!
The arrival of a purple-hued owl inspires two brown-haired, tan-skinned children staring out the window to ponder: "Life's an adventure-- / a story-- / that's true! / Now imagine our tale / in a book made for two! / What would we do in a book, / ME AND YOU? // Would we dance in a rainstorm / and dodge every drop? / Would we race on a rainbow / and meet at the top?" From there, the characters seem to climb into their own book as the pages change from one far-flung adventure to another. The poetic text may inspire imaginative readers to consider their own daydreams and fantasies, but some may need a shot of insulin to counter the saccharine sweetness of the poem. The digital illustrations don't temper that feeling, as their diverse array of rosy-cheeked children seem to take inspiration from the animatronic characters of It's a Small World but with unnerving dead-eyed stares, all set against backgrounds created through shapes and designs in varying degrees of subtlety. Even the most ardent bibliophile would suggest they pull it back a little. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Sometimes too much is too much. (Picture book. 4-6)
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"Reidy, Jean: ME AND YOU IN A BOOK MADE FOR TWO." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2022. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A715352991/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7e5be50e. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
Ahiyya, Vera KINDERGARTEN Random House Studio (Children's None) $17.99 6, 21 ISBN: 978-0-593-48462-3
While shy Leo wants no part of sharing ways to be kind aloud with his new kindergarten class, that doesn't mean he isn't kind.
Leo enjoys quiet activities and time with his extended family, so it's only natural that he's nervous about starting school. Luckily, Leo has the perfect teacher. Not only does she greet Leo personally and offer to help him get through his nervousness, but she also sets him up with new friends who also prefer quiet activities. Still, Leo, who wears a zipped-up jacket with the hood up, attempts to blend in and hopes Ms. Perry won't call on him to contribute ideas to the Kindness Pledge the class is working on. But Leo and his kindness are certainly not invisible to his new classmates, who specifically call out the many ways he has been kind during the day. Suddenly, Leo feels ready for this new adventure called kindergarten, and his now-unzipped jacket and bare head reflect that confidence. The digitally painted illustrations are full of bright colors and familiar school scenes. An author's note describes how to use the Kindness Pledge in classrooms, when it may be especially helpful, and reminds readers that it's also important to be kind to yourself. Leo, his family, and Ms. Perry are brown-skinned, and Leo's classmates are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Will help alleviate fears and start kids thinking about ways to create their own KINDergartens. (Kindness Pledge poster) (Picture book. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Ahiyya, Vera: KINDERGARTEN." Kirkus Reviews, 15 June 2022. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A706932815/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=b2462f96. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
Reidy, Jean GROUP HUG Godwin Books/Henry Holt (Children's None) $16.99 11, 16 ISBN: 978-1-250-12710-5
Paying it forward with cuddles.
Starting with an affectionate slug, a bevy of down-in-the-dumps animals, including a beetle, a mouse, a skunk, a beaver, a porcupine, a goose, and a fox, encounter one another, one by one. Each needs something to lift it out of the doldrums. That's soon taken care of as each newcomer in turn is invited to become enfolded in an ever larger GROUP HUG! The cumulative hug always manages to make room for others and become more inclusive--until Bear lumbers onto this cozy scene. Suddenly, all the huggers quickly skedaddle, leaving only Slug and Bear in their wake. At this point, Slug shares a very important secret with the forlorn ursine and readers: "that a hugger finds happiness / 'longside the hugged!" Unsurprisingly, the book concludes with a very heartwarming (and expansive) bear (and slug) hug. This sweetly endearing charmer, highlighting kindness, is expressed in jaunty, witty rhymes that read and scan beautifully and will develop kids' aural skills and vocabulary. They beg to be read aloud in order to capture the verses' full emotional and punchy effect. The adorably simple, lively illustrations layer colors to depict the various critters with delightfully expressive charm. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Readers will embrace this captivating winner. (Picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Reidy, Jean: GROUP HUG." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2021. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A680615755/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a0a18e83. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
Reidy, Jean WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN A BOOK ABOUT YOU? Harper/HarperCollins (Children's None) $18.99 4, 6 ISBN: 978-0-06-304150-9
If someone wrote a book about you, what would happen in it?
Who would you be? What would you do? This rhyming, cheerily illustrated picture book offers some possible answers. You might, for example, travel on a broomstick or find yourself a magic wand. You might travel to outer space or the Arctic, or you may stay closer to home. You might do incredible, important things like rescuing royalty or giving huge speeches or tearing down walls. You might heal the world by curing polar bears of their blues or simply apologizing for something you did wrong. You might go on wild adventures that give you the opportunity to interact with walruses, dinosaurs, emus, yaks, and tea-sipping frogs. When you use your imagination and tell your own stories, there are endless possibilities for magic, mayhem, fun, and learning. The layered, geometric illustrations include cartoon characters with various skin tones inhabiting colorful, detailed worlds that burst with life and movement. The text has a call-and-response feel that lends itself to reading out loud. Some of the pages reference possible choices that could occur both in dreams and in real life, such as doing small kindnesses or choosing your own path. At times, however, the words feel repetitive, with, perhaps, scenarios added to fill out the page count rather than because they were strictly necessary. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 56.3% of actual size.)
This quirky picture book is sweet but overlong. (Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Reidy, Jean: WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN A BOOK ABOUT YOU?" Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2021. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A654727237/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8d74d7e6. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
Chou, Joey WAYS TO WELCOME Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Children's None) $18.99 6, 16 ISBN: 978-0-374-31318-0
Ashman and Chou look at some simple ways to say, “Hello, friend. / I’m glad you’re here,” with acts of kindness and friendly gestures.
From waves and handshakes among humans to nose-to-nose sniffing between two dogs, the text looks at the many ways one can share a welcome with someone else, be they old or young, well known or someone new to you. Retrieving a blown-away hat, helping a new student find their way, showering love on a newly adopted dog, holding a homemade sign at the airport arrivals gate, and providing toad abodes and birdhouses are all put forth in the gently rhyming text. ”An offering, / A smiling face / That lights an unfamiliar place” shows neighbors bringing garden largesse and a neighborhood picnic invitation to a family that’s just moved in—cardboard boxes are piled outside, and they were previously seen arriving at the airport. That neighborhood picnic ends the book on a high note, people from all walks of life and every shade (many from previous pages) sharing a wonderful day together. Two women wear hijab; a small kid uses a wheelchair; and there is a same-sex couple raising a baby. Simple, stylized artwork in bright shades keep the focus on the interactions, and readers will delight in finding the blue butterfly in every scene.
A springboard for readers to consider their own ways to welcome. (Picture book. 3-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Chou, Joey: WAYS TO WELCOME." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A622503170/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=2df1f09b. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
Matson, Rachel TEENY TINY SANTA Cartwheel/Scholastic (Children's Fiction) $5.99 9, 17 ISBN: 978-1-338-31849-4
A small fox receives a special holiday visitor: a Santa who is just his size.
How often do young children fear the world is too big and overwhelming to notice them? In this adorable board book with an appropriately tiny trim, a diminutive fox worries that Santa will overlook him because he is "too little / And Santa's sled too high." But the "teeny tiny fox"--and toddler listeners--is reassured that he won't be forgotten when the titular "teeny tiny Santa" not only notices the fox, but brings him a fun-sized "teeny tiny treat," finishing up the visit with a "teeny tiny pat"--all images that are sure to delight youngsters. Santa leaves as the fox curls up in a den carpeted with a cozy blanket and bedecked with lights; it's a gratifying ending. The text is related in a staccato rhythm, and it takes a verse or two to become accustomed to the book's clipped tone, but the repetitive "teeny tiny" refrain is catchy. Visually, it's holly-jolly, with clean-looking digital art using simple geometric shapes to form triangular trees and circular, grinning snowman while icy blue-green backgrounds allow the flashy copper fox and pale-skinned Santa, with his "ruby-colored" cheeks, to look vibrant. The rotund Santa, the angular and sleek fox, and a team of wee reindeer all have a vintage, 1950s look that well complements the straightforward story.
Festive fun. (Board book. 1-4)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Matson, Rachel: TEENY TINY SANTA." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A602487485/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=425dcddb. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.
Reidy, Jean WHEN THE SNOW IS DEEPER THAN MY BOOTS ARE TALL Godwin Books/Henry Holt (Children's Fiction) $16.99 11, 5 ISBN: 978-1-250-12712-9
Oh! The thrills--and chills--of the season's first snowstorm!
A child slips on snow pants, "loopty-loops" a scarf, zips up a jacket, and gets ready to "Step! Stamp! Stomp!" in the snow until it is finally "deeper than my boots are tall." Oh dear! Luckily, playful parents "swoop" the child out of the deep snow and stay to enjoy family play in the snow. Chou's blocky, bright illustrations show a peach-complected, brown-haired father, mother, and child against changing snow-blue backgrounds. The child's pink-and-purple hat, orange scarf, lime-green parka, and pink mittens make for vivid spots of color on the icy pages. A friendly dog and somewhat dubious cat provide additional visual interest. One playmate is a child of color. Although the rhyme and meter aren't technically perfect, this snow ballad (with repeated and expanding chorus and onomatopoeic exclamations) sings: "And my nose drip, drips, / and my wet cheeks freeze, / and the drifts, oh they drift / to the tops of my knees, / and my feet get soaked, / toes one and all, / because the snow is deeper-- / it's really so much deeper-- / the snow is deeper than my boots are tall." It's just waiting for a performer and a young audience eager to participate.
This celebration of the first day of snowy play hits the right notes. (Picture book. 3-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Reidy, Jean: WHEN THE SNOW IS DEEPER THAN MY BOOTS ARE TALL." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Sept. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A599964413/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=56d7ece7. Accessed 14 Aug. 2025.