Creator Spotlight – Page 2 – Tundra Book Group

March 20, 2025May 7, 2025

Creator Spotlight: Kallie George

At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our creators as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Kallie George!

About the Author:

KALLIE GEORGE is an author, editor and creative writing teacher. Her picture books include I Am a Meadow Mermaid, The Secret Fawn, and the Anne of Green Gables-inspired picture books If I Couldn’t Be Anne; Goodnight, Anne and Merry Christmas, Anne; as well as her chapter book series adapted from the Anne of Green Gables books. Kallie has written other acclaimed books for children, including I Hear You, Forest, as well as the chapter book series Crimson Twill, Bibbidi Bobbidi Academy, and Heartwood Hotel. She has also taught writing workshops for children and adults. Kallie always loves spending time at the beach, making sand cakes and other sandy treats with her family.

Spotlight on Kallie George:

What inspired you to write a story about a beachside baker?

Many of my book ideas come to me in different ways, but I would say overarchingly I’m outside when I think of ideas. I’m often hiking, exploring, or playing in nature. Sand Cakes was no different. I remember when I came up with it! I was with my older son, playing at the beach. I live on the West coast and spend a lot of time near the ocean. We were making cakes out of sand, instead of sand castles. We decorated them with shells and seaweed. The tide was rising, threatening to wash our cakes away. On the way home, the little song of “Sand-cake, sun cake, will you eat what I’ve baked” came into my head.

How did you come up with the idea of using sand as the main ingredient for the treats?

As I mentioned above, I was actually making a little sand cake instead of a sand castle. I think (if I can remember correctly) that my son and I didn’t bring any buckets or toys to the beach, and it was easier to pat a little cake out of the sand. I don’t remember now if it was me or him who called it a sand cake, I do know we pretended it was a birthday cake at one point and found a little sticks to be the candles.

How do you craft the poetic elements in your writing for young readers?

Each book is different. In this particular one, I use a simple rhyme pattern and lot of alliteration (“crispy-crusted”, “patted-perfect”), and repetition (“sand-cake, sun-cake”). There are long strings of adjectives in this book, almost like tongue twisters. I wanted it to be fun to read aloud. I suppose there’s a tradition of beachy tongue twisters, with “she sells sea shells by the seashore”!

Can you share any behind-the-scenes details about the making of this book?

I really loved working on this with the Tundra team. We spent a lot of time on word choice – which descriptions worked the best. I tried to think of all the things that I’ve used to decorate sand castles and sand cakes at the beach – sea foam and sea glass, seaweed and sticks.

Do you have a favorite treat that the little baker makes in the book? Do you have a favorite illustration or spread?

Devon’s artwork is sublime. I absolutely adore the spreads where the sea “eats” the sand cakes. I love how, if you look very closely, you can even see a “face” in the waves. I LOVE the endpapers on this book too. I think my favorite treat that the baker makes are the sunbeam-butter-cream tarts. They should so good, I would eat one of those!

Books by Kallie George:

Sand Cakes
Written by Kallie George
Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth
48 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882474 | Tundra Books
Available: April 22, 2025
Sand cake, Sun cake, Sprinkle-topped with rocks cake. Will you eat what I baked? A fun day at the beach means making some sweet treats to share with everyone! The main ingredient? Sand of course! No matter how yummy her rock-sprinkled cakes, seaweed pies and sea foam cream puffs look, this little beachside baker can’t seem to get ANYONE to eat her sandy sweets. Even the seagulls turn their beaks up! Will she ever find a customer willing to give them a try? Buoyantly poetic, this funny and sweet picture book from author Kallie George, featuring endearing illustrations from Devon Holzwarth, is a read-aloud treat for readers of all ages.

I Am a Meadow Mermaid
Written by Kallie George
Illustrated by Elly MacKay
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735271371 | Tundra Books
A little girl dreams of adventures in the water and feels the spirit of the ocean all around her . . . even though she lives on the prairie, with flat land as far as the eye can see. But she won’t let a little detail like that stand in the way of being a meadow mermaid! Frolicking in the “waves” of wheat and “oceans” of grass, spying sea horses and . . . a shipwrecked sailor? Even if that shipwreck is actually an overturned bike and the sailor a new kid from a neighboring field, it’s still a chance to make a new friend, one with an imagination as expansive and a love of the ocean as deep as the little girl’s own. This fanciful, whimsical picture book will charm young mermaids and little pirates everywhere, and inspire them to embrace the spirit of the ocean in the things around them, no matter where they live!

The Secret Fawn
Written by Kallie George
Illustrated by Elly MacKay
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735265165 | Tundra Books
A little girl is always missing out on the wonderful things her family gets to see and do, just because she is the youngest and smallest. She misses seeing shooting stars because she goes to bed too early; she can’t pick the first apple of autumn because she’s too short; and, this morning, everyone else got to see a deer . . . except her. She goes into her backyard in search of the deer, a sugar cube tucked in her pocket. She sees a flick of brown in the orchard – is that the deer? No, it’s just the neighbor’s friendly dog (shhhhh, Nala!). Is that it by the pond? No, that’s just a bird, playing in the water. Just when she’s about to give up, she spots a fawn, beautiful, quiet and small . . . just like her. The Secret Fawn beautifully captures the power of nature to inspire children and shows how connecting with animals can help kids who feel left out or overlooked.

If I Couldn’t Be Anne
Written by Kallie George
Illustrated by Geneviève Godbout
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781770499287 | Tundra Books
In this whimsical and magical picture book, Anne’s boundless imagination takes flight! She imagines being all the things she loves so dearly. If I Couldn’t Be Anne, Anne with an e, what would I be . . . Anne wonders what it would be like to be the wind dancing round the treetops. A tightrope walker, breathless and brave. A princess in a palace made of apple blossoms. A magical frost fairy or a plain little wood elf. . . . But even as Anne’s imagination soars far and wide, she comes back down to earth, recognizing that some things – like friendship! – are even better than the imagination.

March 13, 2025May 7, 2025

Creator Spotlight: Tanya Lloyd Kyi

About the Author:

TANYA LLOYD KYI is the author of more than thirty-five books for children and young adults, including Emily Posts and Me and Banksy. She grew up with a racoon-sized tortoiseshell cat named D.C. (for Darn Cat), who would have felt right at home in The City. Tanya has worked in the past as a graphic designer, an editor, and a dishwasher. (She considers herself entirely qualified for that last one.) Her favorite color is blue, her favorite food is cheese, and her favorite book is A Wrinkle in Time. When she’s not telling cat tales, Tanya teaches at the UBC School of Creative Writing in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Fast Five with Tanya Lloyd Kyi:

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

I would live exactly where I live now, in Vancouver. I moved here for a co-op work term at a publishing house when I was 23 years old. Soon after I arrived, a friend’s aunt took me to see a reading at the Orpheum. I fell in love with the theatre, and the thought that I could spend my evenings hearing people read from their books, and basically the whole idea of living in this city forever. I haven’t changed my mind yet!

What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?

My dog, Coby. Look at this face!

Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Breakfast. Which my husband very kindly cooks for me every morning. (Really. This may be why I married him.) I need to be fed every few hours and I get grumpy if I don’t eat. It’s possible I’m actually a Tamagotchi.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

My first concert ever was Kiss, Slaughter, and Winger in Spokane when I was seventeen. If I remember correctly, the guitarist in Winger was famous for playing his guitar with an electric drill, and the members of Slaughter were famous for whipping their long hair in giant circles. There were no assigned seats, so we spent the whole time squashed with thousands of sweaty people on the floor. I loved every second of that concert, but . . . I don’t actually listen to music. I like to write in silence, and I’m probably the only person in the world who works out to podcasts instead of songs. I’m weird that way!

You grew up with a racoon-sized tortoiseshell cat named D.C. (for Darn Cat), what’s the story behind their name?

My parents owned a restaurant and they found D.C. in the dumpster behind the building. My dad called him “that darned cat,” because he kept jumping out and scaring the restaurant staff. After Dad brought him home, D.C. spent the next decade or so terrorizing our tiny terrier cross, monopolizing sunbeams, and ruling the household. So I of course had to dedicate The City of Lost Cats to D.C.!

Photo: My dad and D.C., circa 2000

Books by Tanya Lloyd Kyi:

The City of Lost Cats
By Tanya Lloyd Kyi
288 Pages | Ages 10+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882108 | Tundra Books
When Fiona wanders into an abandoned mansion down by the harbor, she discovers the house is full of stray cats (and two chaotic parakeets). Fiona feels a great deal of sympathy for the animals; she understands what it’s like to need a safe home. Ever since her parents died, she’s been struggling to adjust to the tiny apartment where she and her Aunt Tanis now live. And Aunt Tanis has little time to spare for Fiona, between her job at The Municipal Hall and her horrible, hair-gelled boyfriend. When the mansion is threatened by a demolition team, Fiona is determined to save “The City” and its residents. But the cats have their own priorities. Cot (short for Cottonball Fluffikins Magnificent III, a name he refuses to acknowledge) has lived in the mansion for two years and is the self-proclaimed king. He’s convinced the demolition effort has been organized by the recently arrived parakeets. Those birds have got to go! Cot’s feline rival, Piper, is sure she can intimidate the demolition team and force them to leave, if Fiona will simply stay out of her way. And the parakeets . . . well, the parakeets just want to go home. As the demolition team begins tearing down the house next door, Fiona looks for any help she can find – at the library, the butcher shop, and even at The Municipal Hall. Can the efforts of one small girl and an assortment of animals stop a luxury condo development? Can they create something better in its place? It’s going to take some quick thinking on the part of Fiona, not to mention the cooperation of all the cats, to give The City a future.

Emily Posts
By Tanya Lloyd Kyi
256 Pages | Ages 10+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882047 | Tundra Books
Emily is the ringleader for her school podcast, Cedarview Speaks – Sponsored by CoastFresh! But her plans for middle-school fame and social media influence are derailed when Amelie joins her eighth-grade class. The new arrival has a seemingly endless supply of confidence and a gift for leading people. Or leading them astray, as far as Emily’s concerned. Emily puts her old-fashioned sense of etiquette into practice. Rather than confronting Amelie, she focuses her energy on creating a podcast story about an upcoming climate march. But her story is censored by the school principal. When she protests, Emily gets cut from the podcast crew . . . and Amelie takes her place! Can Emily use her influence to spread the news of the climate march, reclaim her place on the podcast team and expose the flaws of CoastFresh? Can she balance her impeccable manners with twenty-first century activism? And how will she ever manage to work alongside Amelie? With a light touch and plenty of humor, Emily Posts explores issues of social media, influence, corporate sponsorship . . . and the fraught waters of middle-school friendship.

Me and Banksy
By Tanya Lloyd Kyi
272 Pages | Ages 10+ | Paperback
ISBN 9780735266933 | Puffin Canada
Dominica’s private school is covered in cameras, and someone is hacking into them and posting embarrassing moments for the whole school to see. Like Ana picking her nose. When Dominica quickly changes her shirt from inside out in what she thinks is the privacy of a quiet corner in the library, she’s shocked – and embarrassed – to discover a video has captured this and is currently circulating amongst her schoolmates. So mortifying, especially since over the past three years, they’ve had a half-dozen school talks about social media safety. Who has access to the school security cameras and why are they doing this? Dominica and her best friends, Holden and Saanvi, are determined to find out, and in the process start an art-based student campaign against cameras in the classroom.

Mya’s Strategy to Save the World
By Tanya Lloyd Kyi
200 Pages | Ages 9-12 | Paperback
ISBN 9780735265264 | Puffin Canada
Mya Parsons runs her school’s social justice club with her best friend, Cleo. Her lifelong desire is to work for the United Nations and change the world, and then bask in all the ensuing adulation. Her more immediate desire is to get a phone, preferably one like Cleo’s, with a leopard-print case to match. When her distracted dad and her long-distance mom (temporarily in Myanmar taking care of Mya’s grandmother) both say no, no way, and possibly never, Mya launches a campaign to prove herself reliable and deserving. She advertises her babysitting services, takes on more responsibility around the house, and attempts to supervise her sister’s skateboarding lessons. Her efforts leave her ego bruised and the kitchen slightly scorched. She’s no closer to touch-screen victory, let alone the Nobel Peace Prize she deserves. But all that changes after an accident leaves Mya to take charge-an experience which helps her realize how much she’s grown, with or without access to proper communications.

March 6, 2025May 7, 2025

Creator Spotlight: Robin Rosenthal

About the Author:

ROBIN ROSENTHAL is an author, illustrator and art director. She has illustrated Two Dogs on A Trike and the Big Ideas for Little Philosophers and Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists series of board books. SWEET BABE! is her authorial debut. She grew up in Connecticut and now lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her sweet, sweet family. You can see more of her work at robinrosenthal.com.

Fast Five with Robin Rosenthal:

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

I’ve lived in New York City for about 28 years and there is no place I would rather be. There is so much energy here and so much to see and do. I love that New York accepts all kinds of people and that you can be creative and weird and different and that is celebrated. I love looking out my own apartment window at the other buildings and thinking about how a different person lives in each one of those apartments, with a different life, different goals, dreams, loves, fears, histories. We are all living together and coexisting in this relatively small area and making it work.

What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?

So many things . . . a quality hug from my husband or daughter, a breakthrough on a project I’m working on, or a long catch-up with a friend.

Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Definitely breakfast. I love anything egg related: eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs with cheese, eggs over-easy, bacon gruyere egg bites from Starbucks. My mom used to make me scrambled eggs with cream cheese and buttered cinnamon-sugar toast when I was home sick as a kid. Delish. Cracker Barrel hack in case you didn’t know: they serve breakfast all day but you have to ask for the breakfast menu when it is lunch or dinner time.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

Indigo Girls back in the 1990s. They have also been my top choice for sing-at-the-top-of-my-lungs-in-the-car music since high school.

What’s your favorite Yiddish word?

My favorite Yiddish word is b’shert. It is pronounced “buh-SHARE-t” and it means “meant to be.” It’s often used in a romantic context but our family uses it in a more general way. It’s a nice way to mark a positive, serendipitous moment when the world seems right and good. You look at your family member and say, “b’shert,” and they say “b’shert,” back and you both nod your heads knowingly.

Books by Robin Rosenthal:

Sweet Babe!
By Robin Rosenthal
32 Pages | Ages 2-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774884324 | Tundra Books
Look at this baby . . . what a genius! And such a shayne punim, too! From the top of baby’s adorable head to the tips of their toes, there’s nothing for a grandma not to adore in her little bubbeleh. Sweet Babe takes babies and their bubbies, not to mention grandparents of every stripe, on a delightful read-aloud journey that practically cries out for frequent cheek-squishing and keppie (head)-kissing in this irresistible celebration of the connection between grandparent and grandchild, and of Jewish joy through the generations. Includes a Yiddish glossary at the back with transliterated vocabulary.

Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists: Conservation with Jane Goodall
Written by Maureen McQuerry
Illustrated by Robin Rosenthal
20 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780593323601 | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR
Even little children can make a positive impact on the environment. Jane Goodall has dedicated her life to studying chimpanzees, and realized that sometimes people hurt the places where animals have always lived. She began to teach others how we can enjoy nature while also making sure that the homes of animals aren’t suffering. Kids will come away from this book with questions about what animal habitats they can care for in their own community, and how conservation work makes sure all people and animals have a healthy home.

Big Ideas for Little Environmentalists: Ecosystems with Rachel Carson
Written by Maureen McQuerry
Illustrated by Robin Rosenthal
20 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780593323649 | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR
Even little children can make a positive impact on the environment. Rachel Carson was an environmentalist who studied the way the land, plants, and animals interact with each other, beginning when she was a child. She noticed that everything is connected, and all of nature must stay healthy for living things to thrive. When she realized that the chemicals people used outdoors were making plants, animals, and even other people sick, she began teaching others about the ecosystems, and how we must take care of them to keep the Earth balanced. Kids will see, through Rachel’s curiosity and passion for all creatures, that even seemingly small choices can have big consequences on the world around them.

Big Ideas for Little Philosophers: Kindness with Confucius
Written by Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry
Illustrated by Robin Rosenthal
22 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780593322956 | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR
Even little children have big questions about life. Confucius believed always treating people with kindness can make us wise, and Kindness with Confucius brings his philosophy to the youngest thinkers. He believed we should use our own feelings as a guide to how to treat others. We feel good when people are kind to us and should want to make others feel that way. Emphasizing the importance of being in touch with your own emotions in order to be kind to others, this book will lead to inspiring conversations about human dynamics between people of all ages.

Big Ideas for Little Philosophers: Love with Plato
Written by Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry
Illustrated by Robin Rosenthal
22 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780593322994 | G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR
Even little children have big questions about life. Plato believed showing and receiving love makes us wise, and Love with Plato brings his philosophy to the youngest thinkers. Asking young readers what being loved feels like to them and how they can show others love prompts questions about how we treat one another and ourselves. This book will lead to inspiring conversations about loving people for what is on the inside, and helping others do the same.

February 28, 2025May 7, 2025

Creator Spotlight: M.L. Fergus

About the Author:

M.L. FERGUS‘s many books for young people have been translated into more than a dozen languages, optioned for television, adapted for stage, and won or been shortlisted for numerous prestigious awards. She writes illustrated books for young readers under the name Maureen Fergus. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada with her family.

Fast Five with M.L. Fergus:

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

I would split my time between the Caribbean island of Curaçao (because I love snorkeling), Vancouver Island (because I love hiking and surfing) and my beautiful hometown of Winnipeg, Canada (because I love hanging out with mosquitos in the summer and being so cold in the winter that I can’t feel my face).

What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?

A good belly laugh can instantly make my day better. Luckily, my husband and kids are all very hilarious and I will laugh at just about anything. I will also do almost anything to get a laugh and seeing people laugh makes me laugh. With all that laughing, it’s a wonder I ever get any writing done at all, isn’t it?

Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

I love eating, so breakfast, lunch and dinner are all my favorite! In addition, I am a big grazer, so I usually share my writing space with bowls of popcorn and nuts, cheese and crackers, apple slices and carrot sticks, banana chocolate chip muffins (my speciality) and random bits of candy. Mmmm, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it . . .

What’s your “dance like nobody’s watching” song?

My dance AND sing like nobody’s watching song is “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield. The music and lyrics get me going every time and are PERFECT for a writer like me. “Staring at the blank page before you/Open up the dirty window/Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find”. I hope you pictured me belting that out at the top of my lungs while I typed it, because I that’s what I did.

Who’s your favourite book heroine?

Persephone from my Fractured Kingdom trilogy is my favorite book heroine. It’s why I spent three books with her! She is the beating heart of this epic romantic adventure – a girl with a tragic past who has not been broken by her suffering. She is clever, fierce and funny, and though she is not fearless, she is fearfully brave. An animal lover who is passionate but conflicted, she is far more likely to rescue any would-be knight in shining armor than the other way around. Truly, the handsome thief she meets at the outset of the story has no idea what he’s in for . . .

Books by M.L. Fergus:

Prophecy
By M.L. Fergus
352 Pages | Ages 12+ | Paperback
ISBN 9781774886076 | Tundra Books
A lifetime of hardship and toil has left Persephone dreaming of a destiny that belongs to none but her. When a chance encounter with a handsome thief offers hope of escape, she recklessly sets her plan in motion. But the thief, Azriel, has plans of his own and no intention of letting her go anywhere. For he and his clan believe that Persephone could be the key to defeating the king’s regent, a sadistic monster who has hunted them for years. Torn between her longing for freedom and her growing feelings for Azriel, Persephone finds herself plunging ever deeper into a dark and dangerous world where death is never more than one careless word away. As tensions rise to a fever pitch, Persephone faces the hardest choice she has ever had to make. And no one – least of all her – could have imagined the shocking truth her decision will reveal.

Odyssey
By M.L. Fergus
408 Pages | Ages 12+ | Paperback
ISBN 9781774886090 | Tundra Books
Available: May 13, 2025
In the final moments of Prophecy, a truth was revealed to Persephone and Azriel – one that could change everything forever. For her. For him. For them. For the entire kingdom. But the murderous Regent Mordesius wants this truth buried and them along with it. Cornered and out of options, Azriel boldly bargains: release them, and they will seek out the mythical healing pool. Mordesius agrees but warns that if they do not find it, he’ll make those dearest to them suffer – starting with King Finnius. Persephone has never needed Azriel’s teasing warmth more, but she is discovering that there is a price to pay for having broken past promises. Together, the pair set off on a journey that will take them to the farthest corners of the kingdom. Danger will ever lie ahead and behind them; they will battle men and beasts alike. Will Persephone and Azriel survive these perils? And will this quest see their romance grow cold – or will it burn hotter than ever?

Destiny
By M.L. Fergus
376 Pages | Ages 12+ | Paperback
ISBN 9781774886113 | Tundra Books
Available: September 23, 2025
On the heels of a tragic discovery, Persephone was all but torn from Azriel’s waiting arms. She now finds herself desperately alone, in terrible danger and burdened by responsibilities she would do almost anything to escape. But some responsibilities are inescapable, and Persephone is not the girl she once was. Knowing that the clans are in mortal peril and that the realm is descending into chaos, she is fiercely determined to defeat Mordesius and set things to right for all people. But she cannot imagine doing so without the handsome thief she has fallen helplessly, hopelessly in love with. And so, armed with nothing but her wit, her dagger and her dauntless courage, Persephone races across the realm in search of Aziel and a path forward. As the stakes rise ever higher, loyalties shift, disasters strike and catastrophic grief gives way to inexpressible joy. And just when it seems like it’s finally over, the Fates play their cruelest trick of all . . . In this epic, exhilarating final adventure in the Fractured Kingdom trilogy, destiny is coming for the girl who started it all.

January 30, 2025May 7, 2025

Creator Spotlight: X. Fang

At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our creators as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will launch you into the universe of the brilliant minds behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to X. Fang!

About the Author:

X. FANG, who also goes by Susan, is a visual artist and maker of books for young readers, including Dim Sum Palace, winner of the 2023 Society of Illustrators’ Dilys Evans Founder’s Award among other honors, and We Are Definitely Human, an Indie Next Pick and the recipient of 5 starred reviews. She exhibits her art throughout the U.S. and internationally and has worked professionally as a graphic designer and art director for film and television studios. Born in Taichung, Taiwan, raised in Atlanta, Georgia, she now lives in rural Maine with her husband, son and their dog, Pamela.

Spotlight on X. Fang:

What inspired you to write a story about an alien invasion with a humorous twist? Can you share any particularly funny moments or lines from the book that you enjoyed writing?

Before I had a story, I had the title: We Are Definitely Human. A few years back, my hair stylist was telling me about a conspiracy theory that claims lizard people lived among us and how some have even infiltrated the highest levels of government. That was such a funny idea to me that I immediately repeated it to my husband and we had a great time imagining terrible disguises these lizard people could wear. Then I had a thought: what if instead of disguising themselves they did nothing and just insisted they were human. I love the idea of someone pretending to be something they are very obviously not.

What was the process like for creating the visual humor in the illustrations?

It was important for the three “humans” to really stand out in town. So I tried to give them silly shapes, loud colors, and gestures and actions that were awkward. There were so many opportunities for humor whenever the “humans” interacted with the town people just in the subtle facial expressions and body language. It was a lot of fun.

The book explores themes of kindness and acceptance. What message do you hope readers, both young and old, take away from this story?

Kindness can be expressed in many forms. In this case, kindness is expressed through a helping hand. I hope the big takeaway that readers get from this story is that kindness is not conditional, and even the tiniest act of kindness can ripple through the galaxy.

How has the reception been for We Are Definitely Human, and what feedback have you received from readers? Have there been any particularly touching or memorable responses from children or parents about the book?

The feedback has been wonderful. Kids love the various jobs held by these interesting “humans” and the adults love the message of kindness. I had one kid ask me if I was an alien, and I replied that I was “definitely human” but they remained skeptical.

Can you give us any hints about what’s next for you in terms of future picture books or other book projects?

I’m finishing up my third book. It’s called Broken and it’s a about a little girl, her grandma, a cup, a cat, and cake. After that I get to illustrate an amazing story written by the very clever Mac Barnett.

Books by X. Fang:

We Are Definitely Human
By X. Fang
48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774882023 | Tundra Books
When three mysterious visitors from “Europe” crash-land in Mr. Li’s field, he does what any good host would: he invites them back to his farmhouse and offers to help fix up their “car”. No, there’s nothing strange about these guests at all. Just like other humans, they “make business”, “play sportsball” and “wear hat”. As the townsfolk also come to the aid of the visitors and the gathering turns into a little party, interplanetary relations reach an all-time high. A sweetly funny extraterrestrial offering that explores surprising acts of kindness and acceptance, X. Fang’s second picture book is truly out of this world.

Dim Sum Palace
By X. Fang
48 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781774881989 | Tundra Books
Liddy is so excited about going to the Dim Sum Palace tomorrow with her family that she can’t sleep. So when a delicious smell wafts into her room, she hops out of bed, opens her door and steps into . . . an actual palace of dim sum! There are dumplings, baos, buns and more delicious treats than one girl can possibly eat. Liddy just has to take a bite, but she slips and falls . . . into a bowl of dumpling filling. The chefs are so busy rolling, folding and pinching dough that they don’t notice they’ve prepared a most unusual dumpling for the Empress – a Liddy dumpling! Worst of all, she looks good enough to eat . . .

Click here for more out of this world titles!