Chieu Anh Urban's Blog

 

The Year of the Snake is all about new beginnings,
good vibes and personal growth.

Wishing you a year of positive energy, much success,
and a healthier and happier you!

It’s that lovely time of the year - pumpkin spice and everything nice!
Cheers to a wonderful first week of fall!
PS: Can you spot the hidden images in the carved pumpkins?

I'm over-the-moon with this starred review for Illusions in Art: Food!Seeing kids and adults switch their perspectives and find the
hidden art in the negative spaces brings me great joy!
I'm beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to create this series!
Check out Illusions in Art: Animals for more fun illusions.


 

 

Illusions, Art, Animals, Food - Hooray!
I’m super thrilled to share with you Illusions in Art,
my two-book series from Candlewick Press.  
Illusions in Art: Animals and Illusions in Art: Food 
are stylistic in design and introduce the youngest readers to the
concept of negative and positive space.
Little ones are encouraged to change their perspective
and find two images in one.  I’ve been fascinated with this
concept since my art school days, and it was a joy
to create these books for the budding, curious readers.

A little more about the board books:

These illusions will play tricks on your eyes!
Find two animals on each page in a clever, stylish exploration
of negative and positive space for the very young.

Singing, tweeting, small and round.
Lion likes this whistler’s sound.

Look closely.  What do you see?  Could that be a bird
nestled in the curl of Lion’s tail?  And who is swimming by Whale?
Or basking in the sun near Swan?  Colorful spreads invite
children in with a rhyme that contains a clue, while the bold, graphic
design steers the eye to a negative space revealing a hidden familiar animal.

Black-and-white spreads at the end depict the same animals again, 
further clarifying the concept of positive and negative space.
Fun and enticing for even the youngest children and a delight for
art-oriented parents, this interactive seek-and-find book begs
for many repeat sharings.

Available at B&N and fine stores everywhere.

These illusions will play tricks on your eyes!
Find two foods on each page in a clever, stylish exploration
of negative and positive space for the very young.
A twisty pretzel loops around and back.
What fruit is hidden inside this snack?

Look closely.  What do you see?
Could that be two orange slices tucked inside the curves
of the pretzel?  And what fruit is nestling inside a pitcher’s handle?
Or in the twist of a cupcake’s frosting?  Colorful spreads invite
children in with a rhyme that contains a clue, while the bold, graphic
design steers the eye to a negative space revealing a hidden familiar food.

Black-and-white spreads at the end depict the same foods again,
further clarifying the concept of positive and negative space.
Fun and enticing for even the youngest children and a delight for
art-oriented parents, this interactive seek-and-find book
begs for many repeat sharings.
Available at B&N and fine stores everywhere.

It’s an animal and alphabet adventure!
Creating the illustrations and design for ABC ROAR was such a joy,
with so much inspiration from my animal-loving family.
Kids will learn animal names and write the letter of the alphabet in this
colorful and interactive novelty.  Each spread with cut-out layers
and glossy paths feature a different creature living in their
environment for a hands-on exploration of letters and animals.
Kids can touch and trace letters from A to Z, whether it’s
a bear fishing in the stream, dolphins splashing in the ocean, 
or a leopard roaring from the trees above!
ABC ROAR is now available and I’ve updated my website
to include a fun, book-themed stick puppet activity to pair with storytime.

 
 It's publication day for 123 ZOOM and I'm excited to sharewith you this colorful, interactive novelty board book!

Each spread with cut-out layers and glossy paths featuresa different mode of transportation for a hands-on exploration of numbers and vehicles.
Count, touch, and trace from one to eleven,whether it's one plane on the runway, two dump truckson the construction site, or ten bicycles on a bike path.Then fly, sail, race, and count backwards through
clouds, ocean, and land to find hidden surprises.

Save 

Save It's companion book, ABC ROAR releases in July.This hands-on novelty introduces the alphabet and animals in their habitats.
123 ZOOM is available now, at Barnes & Noble and fine stores.
If you'd like to read about my journey and process creating123 ZOOM, please swing by Tara Lazar's blog,Writing For Kids (While Raising Them).

I

Roar, it’s the Year of the Tiger! If someone you know was born in 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962,
1950, 1938... (you get the pattern), their zodiac sign is the tiger.
Tigers are known to be brave, confident, and strong.
Lunar New Year is on February 1st.



As someone who creates children’s books for the youngest readers,I’m all about drawing adorable tigers over fierce ones!Click here to print this coloring activityto add to your festive Lunar New Year celebration.
Wishing you and all tigers out there good health, fortune, and happiness!

Winter is officially here, and it’s that cozy time of the year!
I’ve been exploring negative and positive space art quite a bit this year.
See if you can find the five hidden images in the negative space - 
the areas around and in between the art.




Now grab some cookies, a snuggly blanket, and let’s celebratethe colors of winter.   Color Wonder: Winter is Here! invites you to aninteractive, colorful storytime experience.



  Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday season.Cheers to a blessed New Year!

In all my years, I’ve barely paid much attentionto these skittish critters.  This year has been different,with worries about the pandemic and safety ofour families and community; I appreciate my everyday life.Sitting by my office window, I’m amazed at how productive the squirrels are.  One in particular, whom I’ve named Licorice,has been storing nuts inside the corner of my backyard fence.He puts a smile on my face with every trip to and from his secret hiding stash.  I’ve even collected acorns and left a pile forhim by my house.  Why?  In a nutshell, I’m thankful for these little snippets of happiness, which have made a big impacton my optimism and hope for the future.
 



 

And with that, Halloween is still happening,with a safe and creative celebration in the works!In preparation, I made these little magnets/pins.  These Perler Beads are my latest craft obsession, and a fun activity to make with the kids.  By glueing magnets to the back, they serve two purposes.I decorate my refrigerator with them, and wear them like pins - by placinganother magnet to the back side of clothing.  No sharp pricks to worry about!I prefer to create my own designs, but there are templates as well.



 

Check out my Baby Yoda, although my daughter thinks he looks more like a baby Shrek.
Have a safe and spooktacular fall season!