Unwrapping...
Author and Illustrator: Helen H. Wu
Ages 2-5
Unwrapping some illustrations for you...
About the book...
Monkey Mama swoops Marcus Monkey up into his highchair and offers him a healthy, scrumptious lunch. But sometimes what adults think is sumptuous is not so for little ones. Marcus quickly gets down out of chair and zooms out the door...he definitely has other plans in mind.
His first stop is to his friend Pauley Pony. He asks her if she wants to play but Pauley is just about to begin her lunch. She offers Marcus some of her yummy straw to munch on but he declines. It looks dry and extremely unappealing to the little monkey. Marcus then runs off to meet Sammy Squirrel, maybe he will play ... no he too is having his lunch, consisting of acorns. Surely Peter Panda is available...but no...he too is focused on his lunch of bamboo. Both offer to share with him but their food is unappetizing and unfamiliar to Marcus. Oh my! Best he flee from them too.
He charges off to Mother Hen's coop where she is just about to feed her brood some wiggly, squiggly, fresh out of the garden, worms. Marcus is mortified and makes a bee-line out there quickly right into a swarm of bees. Memories of sweet honey flood his mind. The bees offer him not honey, but some nectar to enjoy. All of a sudden Marcus starts to sneeze and have a reaction because his allergies. They kick in from sniffing all of the bee pollen.
While wheezing and coughing he runs back to his home and to his yummy lunch. Will he be satisfied and thankful for his own food that his mother so lovingly prepared for him now? Will Mother Monkey scold him for being naughty and for running away from her? Did he learn a valuable lesson about being grateful for his own food and being obedient to his mother that day? I am sure you will agree with his decision, one that will put a big smile on his mother's face and his too, and of course a hug seals the deal.
The illustrations are engaging and expressive, greatly enriching the text. This would be a wonderful read aloud for very young children and a dialogue opener for the best foods to put into your body to make you strong and healthy.
About the author...
Hello! NiHao! Hola! And Bonjour! Welcome to Helen’s Blog and thanks for stopping by.
Born and raised in Hefei, China, I took private lessons and studied drawing for more than ten years beginning at age six. I attended Renmin University of China, majoring in Economics, after that I came to the United States to study Applied Economics. During my school days I traveled to many places in Asia, Europe and North America. These journeys exposed me to various cultures and arts, while providing inspiration for my artistic creativity. My’s love of art is deep rooted. I taught myself graphic design and after graduation opened my own art studio. I started to illustrate children’s books in 2011. Currently I am a freelance artist living in Atlanta, Georgia, with my husband and a labrador pup.
Q&A
Q: What medium or mediums do you work with?
A: My paintings now are pen & ink and digital. I draw with pen and ink on paper, then scan the drawing to computer to continue. I use a Wacom Intuos tablet to paint colors digitally in Photoshop. I still enjoy traditional painting, such as acrylic, watercolor and gouache, and I also find the digital process so appealing because it gives me more chances than traditional and I can draw more freely and comfortably.
A: My paintings now are pen & ink and digital. I draw with pen and ink on paper, then scan the drawing to computer to continue. I use a Wacom Intuos tablet to paint colors digitally in Photoshop. I still enjoy traditional painting, such as acrylic, watercolor and gouache, and I also find the digital process so appealing because it gives me more chances than traditional and I can draw more freely and comfortably.
Q: How long have you been an artist? How did you get started?
A: I have always had an interest in art however it took me a long time to find the exact path that I wanted to follow. I took private lessons and studied drawing for more than ten years beginning at age six, but during those years I never thought to have art as a profession.
In 2011 I was introduced to graphic design, I loved it so much that I decided as soon as I finished my degree in Economics, that I would pursue creating artwork for graphic design.
Since then I started looking for freelance artistic work. I had a few offers of illustrating for books and magazines, gradually I picked up my drawing and painting skills and passion, I decided to go back to art.
A: I have always had an interest in art however it took me a long time to find the exact path that I wanted to follow. I took private lessons and studied drawing for more than ten years beginning at age six, but during those years I never thought to have art as a profession.
In 2011 I was introduced to graphic design, I loved it so much that I decided as soon as I finished my degree in Economics, that I would pursue creating artwork for graphic design.
Since then I started looking for freelance artistic work. I had a few offers of illustrating for books and magazines, gradually I picked up my drawing and painting skills and passion, I decided to go back to art.
Q: Do you have any formal training or are you self taught?
A: I have had both. I took private lessons and studied drawing for more than ten years beginning at age six, however my digital painting skills, including Photoshop/Illustrator are self taught.
A: I have had both. I took private lessons and studied drawing for more than ten years beginning at age six, however my digital painting skills, including Photoshop/Illustrator are self taught.
Q: Do you have any favorite art supplies that you would like to
recommend?
A: For my pen and ink drawing, I use Sakura Pigma Micron Ink Pen. It’s archival ink and very smooth. For digital painting, I use a Wacom Intuos 4 Medium, it is absolutely worth the investment.
Q: How do you get ideas to create a piece? What inspires you?
A: My artworks are inspired by the elements of everyday life, my Labrador pup Bear, the amazing people I meet, nature itself, novels I read, movies I watch and music I listen to. I doodle in my sketch book and that’s usually how an idea forms and a painting starts.
Q: Finally do you have any last words of advice for beginner artists?
A: Never give up on your dream. Every amazing artist you look at started as a beginner. Art is like a language, it comes with practice. Just keep at it and you will get better and you can make a living doing what you love!
Q: Anything else you would like to share about yourself?
A: Anyone is welcome to contact me with questions or offers through my website www.helenhwu.com
~source www.helenhwu.com
Read on and read always!
It's a wrap.
Contact me at storywraps@gmail.com
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