From Publishers Weekly
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'Wu, an animator who has worked on many Pixar hits, makes
his literary debut with a story ever-so-gently ripped from the
headlines: the artwork-producing elephant...Wu is a literal
writer, but his visual storytelling, rendered in sweet,
throwback-style watercolors, shows creativity and poise. Ellie,
who looks like she’s a branch of Dumbo’s family tree, leads a
cast of equally endearing animal characters, and every vignette
is expertly framed for a chuckle, an “Awww,” or both: when Ellie
paints a portrait of Lucy the giraffe, her subject’s head extends
beyond the top edge of the page."- Publishers Weekly
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From School Library Journal
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"Wu's dynamic watercolor illustrations enliven the story,
their retro/classic feel possessing a distinctive animation
quality that is unsurprising, given Wu's background as a Pixar
animator. The effective use of color emphasizes Ellie's
transformation, subdued greens and grays becoming a veritable
chromatic explosion, "before" and "after" looks of the zoo
cleverly highlighted in the endpapers. - School Library Journal
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From Kirkus Reviews
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'Wu, an animator who has worked on many Pixar hits, makes
his literary debut with a story ever-so-gently ripped from the
headlines: the artwork-producing elephant...Wu is a literal
writer, but his visual storytelling, rendered in sweet,
throwback-style watercolors, shows creativity and poise. Ellie,
who looks like she’s a branch of Dumbo’s family tree, leads a
cast of equally endearing animal characters, and every vignette
is expertly framed for a chuckle, an “Awww,” or both: when Ellie
paints a portrait of Lucy the giraffe, her subject’s head extends
beyond the top edge of the page."- Publishers Weekly "With a
"brighten the corner where you are" attitude, Ellie picks up a
paintbrush and gives it a try. Like Dorothy arriving in Oz, the
world changes when the paint hits the walls. In his first picture
book, Pixar animator Wu creates watercolor illustrations that are
reminiscent of classics like Harry the Dirty Dog and Curious
George. Round Gerard, tall Lucy, and impossibly thin Walt are
distinct personalities beyond their physical attributes. There is
a timelessness that draws attention to these gentle figures." -
Kirkus
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Review
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"The latest children’s book from Disney Press is called
Ellie, written by Pixar animator Mike Wu. It’s an adorable
picture book about finding the things that make you special. If
you have little ones that need some inspiration, this is the
perfect bedtime story for them...Mike Wu’s story is very charming
and heartwarming, but his artwork is the real star. The character
designs are so winning that it’s hard not to love every
character. It’s done in a cartoonish style that feels nostalgic,
harkening back to the watercolor animated features of the
earliest days at Walt Disney Studios. It’s timeless, the type of
children’s book that could become a classic and remain a best
seller for decades to come. I highly recommend Ellie, which is
sure to become a new favorite for you and your kids."-
Laughingplace.com
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About the Author
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Mike Wu is an animator at Pixar, where he has worked on The
Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up, and Toy Story 3, among other
movies. He has a BFA in Character Animation from the California
Institute of the Arts, and he is the creator of children's
clothing and gift line Tiny Teru. Mike lives in the Bay Area with
his family. This is his first book. Visit him online at
theartofmikewu.com.
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