Look Up

by Azul López

From the beloved illustrator of Giant on the Shore, a dreamy retelling of a Mexican legend about the other world that exists right in front of us, if only we slow down and look.

Many, many years ago, a man was immensely curious about the sky, his curiosity as big as the sky itself. He would spend all day looking up, his eyes reflecting clouds or stars. But as time went on, his gaze was brought to earth, and he joined his neighbors in looking down, putting one foot in front of the other—until the passing days became a mysterious labyrinth that opened before him, leading him somewhere secret.

With the power of a myth and the finesse of a watercolor, Look Up opens up the worlds within worlds that only careful attention can reveal. Award-winning author and artist Azul López welcomes us into subtle and immersive acrylic paintings in a tale of wonder lost and found, and of the courage required to turn one’s gaze in another direction.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nature, Animals

42 pages, Hardcover

Published November 18, 2025

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look Up (2025 by Azul Lopez is a simple mythical picture book with acrylic paintings about how we ignore nature—the sky, in this instance—as we go through out daily lives. When we do look up we can sometimes, if we are lucky, see a “tornado of birds” such as in the Huasteca region of San Luis Potosí Mexico, where tens of thousands of swallows appear every day from a Cave of Swallows ( Solano de Golondrinas).

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful acrylic painted vistas show a man lagging behind a long line of workers, as he looks up at the sky. Eventually, he joins the others in building a gigantic scaffolding-like structure. Dejected on a moonlit night, the lone man walks aimlessly until he encounters an enormous pit. When he screams into the pit, a dense cloud of birds flies out, filling the sky with their colors and cries. Finally, the workers all look up and notice the beautiful spectacle.

This artfully rendered story is a reimagining of a Mexican legend. The dreaminess of the lone man indicates a search for something, which young audiences may try to guess at. Older readers may get the sense of a personal existential search, and the sophisticated language will appeal to them. There are dramatic perspectives telling the story, mainly from above as the reader perceives the workers as hats floating above ground. This is a difficult story for a young child to parse, but hand it to teens and older and there will be long moments of introspection on its meaning.

It looks like a picture book for a young child, but will be best appreciated by older audiences who can develop theories on its meaning or who want to analyze the artwork.

[Tiffany Seward · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ Children’s Fiction | Atmospheric | Based on True Events

Thank you to Publisher Spotlight for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Look Up is a spacious and atmospheric story that follows a man who spends his days looking up at the sky. Over time, he joins everyone else and stops gazing upward,until the days begin to blur and something spectacular breaks the routine.

The artwork is open, airy, and beautifully composed, creating a sense of stillness that matches the reflective nature of the story. Inspired by true events, the book offers an artistic visual interpretation of a recurring natural phenomenon, inviting readers to pause and appreciate the wonder above them.

A thoughtful, artistic read perfect for children and adults who enjoy contemplative stories with striking visuals.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever there was a book telling us to get our faces out of our phones, without any mention of phones, this is it. A beautiful tribute to the glory of nature, Look Up celebrates simply existing on the Earth. An unnamed man simply looks up. He finds beauty in the sky until the trudging drudgery around him finally overwhelms him. After some time - the story declines to indicate just how long - he finds a hole in the ground, whence fly thousands of birds who draw his eye high again. And everyone else's eyes! Nature will not be ignored, adn her mystery and magic overcomes the barriers we construct. Look Up is inspired by the true natural phenomenon of thousands of swallows emerging annually from the otano de Golondrinas in the Huasteca region of Mexico.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look Up is a dreamy, contemplative retelling of a Mexican legend that invites readers to notice the worlds of wonder that exist right in front of us. I didn’t realize before reading that this story is connected to a real natural phenomenon: thousands of birds emerging from a deep cave. What an extraordinary sight that must be in person.

The narrative itself is simple, yet it carries a profound truth. When we are distracted or constantly looking down, we miss the beauty unfolding around us. Azul López’s artwork is stunning, with acrylic paintings that pull you into the quiet magic of the story. This book is a gentle reminder for readers of all ages to slow down, look up, and rediscover the wonder we often overlook.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up for the art.

This picture book has gorgeous, moody illustrations, but even though I enjoyed the art, I found the story confusing. Something may have gotten lost in translation, since this is based on a Mexican legend, but I didn't get it. Even when I thought I was tracking with a metaphorical message, something unexpected would happen that didn't fit.

This is one of those metaphorical, esoteric books that invites discussion and interpretation among adults, but which most children will find boring. Also, the print is sometimes difficult to read, since the font is small and doesn't always show up well against each background.

I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[David Carriere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look Up reads like a whispered myth passed gently from one generation to the next. Azul López transforms a Mexican legend into a contemplative picture book that honors curiosity, patience, and the quiet courage it takes to see the world differently. The text is spare yet lyrical, allowing space for the artwork to breathe and guide the reader. López’s acrylic paintings feel immersive and meditative, inviting readers to slow down and notice the hidden paths that appear when we lift our gaze. This is a picture book that rewards stillness, offering children and adults alike a reminder that wonder is not lost, only waiting to be seen again.

[Dest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe something got lost in translation, but I didn't really connect with the text. I was left thinking, "Huh?" But I did like the illustrations a lot! The perspective shifts were great. It reminded me of visiting Muir Woods where I looked up so much my neck hurt.

Other reviews say this book is a call to stop staring down at our devices. This interpretation doesn't really make sense to me because in the story looking down leads to finding an abyss that turns out to be full of colorful birds. Then the birds make everyone look up!

A note at the end identifies the abyss as the Cave of Swallows in Mexico, which looks incredible (I watched a few videos about it).

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intricate and fascinating illustrations and minimal text that is straightforward serve to remind readers that what is up above them in the sky is often more interesting and worthy than what is on the ground. If they/we never raise their/our eyes, how much will me miss? Perhaps readers can learn something from the curious man at the center of this picture book and from the Mexican legend on which this story is based. Sadly, it's all to easy to become preoccupied with mundane, daily tasks and miss life's wonders. Maybe, after reading this book, many sets of eyes will look up and marvel.

[Kate Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Look Up absolutely beautiful—the story and illustrations alike. It feels especially important as a tool for teaching children to slow down, notice the beauty around them, and embrace curiosity and wonder.

I would use this book in my classroom for lessons on slowing down, observing nature, and exploring birds and different cultures—topics I often weave into my teaching. Look Up is a quiet, reflective story that invites children (and adults!) to pause and truly observe the world, which feels especially meaningful in today’s fast-paced world.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is esoteric in feeling. This isn’t a straight story. It engages a child’s mind and imagination. It’s about a man who looks up and wonders until eventually he becomes like all those around him, looking at the ground and just doing. This book is to remind all to look up and see things differently. This would be an interesting class discussion for second grade and up, about the meanings of different things, how it fits in with their own life, or how things could be changed to get the life of the main character desires.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really pretty illustrations, definitely dreamlike. A little too cerebral.

[A.C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good story but the font was small and kind of hard to read aloud for the group bc I kept on messing up the sentences...personal I know.

[Y.Poston]

a beautiful cultural tale of Mexico to reawaken the spirit within us all

[Earth&Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost meditative text, and very impressionistic art. A unique experience.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look Up (Hardcover)
by Azul López
A short story of appreciation of the world around you. although in the beginning one man looks up to see the beauty around him social pressure makes him change. This profound change makes him despondent.
It's only by finding the extraordinary that he learns he was right.
The water color artwork is simple but has profound esthetics that shows mathematical and natural ideals.

[Krystal Kraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loved our time spent reading this together! And both of us agreed that the illustrations were beautifully done!