Let's Do Everything and Nothing

by Julia Kuo

Let's Do Everything and Nothing is a lush and lyrical picture book from Julia Kuo celebrating special moments—big and small—shared with a child.

Will you climb a hill with me?
Dive into a lake with me?
Reach the starry sky with me,
and watch the clouds parade?

Love can feel as vast as a sky full of breathtaking clouds or as gentle as a sparkling, starlit night. It can scale the tallest mountains and reach the deepest depths of the sea.

Standing side by side with someone you love, the unimaginable can seem achievable.

But not every magical moment is extraordinary. Simply being together is the best journey of all.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Love, Storytime, Asian American, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

About the author

Julia Kuo is a Taiwanese-American illustrator who has worked with the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Google. She has taught illustration courses at Columbia College Chicago and at her alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis. Julia was the visual arm of Chicago's 2017 March for Science and has had the honor of being an artist-in-residence at Banff Centre for the Arts in 2014 and in 2017. She is the recipient of a 2019-2020 Gray Center Mellon Collaborative Fellowship.

Her most recent book is "I Dream of Popo" by Livia Blackburne, published by Macmillan.

www.juliakuo.com

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible aesthetic! Really beautiful and immersive. I think this is one of those picture books geared more to the parent than the child (especially the extrapolation involved with, for example, a hike up a hill on one spread becoming a peak-climbing hike on the next) but children can feel the warmth of the parent-child togetherness that sines through.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Let’s Do Everything and Nothing by Julia Kuo, a gorgeous meditation on the simple pleasures of spending time together.

A mother and young daughter embark on a series of adventures together, ranging from the mundane to the extraordinary. Whether climbing mountain peaks, swimming in the ocean’s depths, or simply enjoying a pot of tea at the table, the two are simply happy that their experiences are shared. Each one, big and small, allows for teamwork, conversation, and learning. After all, each moment, big or small, is made better by being together.

Lovely. This sweet and gentle celebration of one-on-one time between parent and child is both humble and profound, blurring the line between epic exploits and everyday moments to emphasize the real importance of either: whom one shares them with. The reader is never sure if the larger-than-life moments are meant to be imaginary or not, to great effect – their grandeur is symbolic of how the smaller moments between loved ones are of equal importance. Kuo’s illustrations and simple text carry this theme perfectly, using identical color palettes for each “big” and “small” moment, and exploring big concepts with an economy of words. There are also some great details authentic to the family’s East Asian heritage, such as shrimp chips on a table or a board book of the Chinese alphabet. The length is perfect for any storytime, and JJ loved this mother-daughter story. Overall, a masterpiece ode to parent and child, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved.

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book that is also unabashedly Asian. Shrimp chips? Bopomofo? Come on, more of this.

Sparse text about a parent and child spending time together. There's so much that can be done, but also, there's also so much joy that can happen by doing very little together. Embrace the simple joys in life as well as the fun adventures.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous book about a parent and child who spend time together inside and outside. Sparse text. Could be a good one to read at a babytime as parents will enjoy it, but it will be enjoyed most at home between parent and child. There is no gendered or relational language but the characters will likely be perceived as mother and daughter.

[Vianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this in maybe 2 minutes but it felt like a hug. the art was very pretty and also seeing ㄅㄆㄇㄈ in a book made me very happy

[Shenwei · Rating 5 out of 5]

honestly could spend all day just staring at the illustrations bc they're so pretty...I love the color palette and the use of line and space and perspective and movement... it feels like magic

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated book that celebrates love and the special bond between parent and child 💕 Lyrical, charming and meaningful. Also made me think of my mother…

[Jelka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really aesthetically pleasing illustrations. The story is rather simple amd centered around a parent-child reationship.
I wonder whether adults might actually enjoy this more than children, as the illustrations and writing are pretty simple.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Beautiful art, but not much of a story.

[Evalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is simply gorgeous, and it is worth a peek or a purchase for the art alone. The blue, orange, white, and gold palette of this story in particular is perfection. The story is slow and gentle, and shows a mom and daughter duo enjoying their time together, whether swimming, scaling a mountain, gazing at the sky in all weather, or resting at home. It was really nice to see the mom taking her daughter on adventures like this and setting an example of a mom who still pursues movement and joy. I would love to hold more of Julia Kuo's illustrations in my hands. 

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the simplicity of this book, with only a line or two on each page. The book used a limited range of colors in the illustrations which tied everything together and helped focus on details. It was a lovely book.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative and subtle magic, only realized when you’re brought back to earth.

[Cristina Quattrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautiful.

[Rachel]

Absolutely stunning and the themes capture perfectly what it means when you value quality time with the people close to you.

[Elena L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In LET’S DO EVERYTHING AND NOTHING, Kuo captures the preciousness of the love between mother and daughter - the celebration of even the simple moments of spending time together and how the life experiences are shaped by this undeniable bond. Through tender illustrations (I really love the warm color palette), each page is filled with emotions that linger even after the story is over.

This picture book made me yearn for my mother while I also saw myself portrayed from the perspective of a mother. It is heartwarming and flooded with love. Being of Taiwanese descent, the Taiwanese heritage made me feel closer to this book.

This is a lyrical and meditative story that is perfect not only for parents and child, but anyone.

[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Roaring Brook Press - in exchange for an honest review ]

[Marie Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love every page of this new book written and illustrated by Julia Kuo. From the first time I read it, I felt an instant connection to the loving mother and daughter relationship that mirrors so much of my own because my parents are immigrants from Taiwan. The artwork is beautiful and Julia includes authentic cultural details like a bag of shrimp chips, a red rice cooker, wok on the stove, and bopomofo characters that I remember from my childhood. I love reading this book to my daughter and look forward to reading it with her again and again as we celebrate our times together, exploring places near and far.

[Miloureadsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first wrote this review for my Instagram @miloureadsbooks
I fell totally in love with this story about a mom and daughter who have the best time together, no matter if they are having adventures together or just enjoying each other’s company at home. My mom and I really appreciate drinking tea or going on walks together. One holiday, we also saw many colourful fishes. They were not as spectacular as the manta rays depicted in the illustrations, still I treasure those memories like no other. What is your favourite nothing and everything with your mom or kids?
In this picture book, the child and her mother have various relaxing experiences like seeing fireflies on summer nights, taking a hot bath, or just dozing off with the dog. They also have some more thrilling events lined up, like hiking snowy mountains or going deep sea diving.
The illustrations are enchanting for sure. Even though the use of colour is simple, the pages draw you in, wishing you were there. However, the most prominent thing in the book is the unwavering love between the daughter and her mom, especially seeing the affectionate look the mother gives her child in pretty much all illustrations.
Julia Kuo is Taiwanese-American and so this story is another great read for #aapiheritagemonth. She is captivated by the outdoors and if you are planning to go dogsledding, live on Antarctica or go on some intense rock-climbing, she might be happy to shadow and draw you. I would love to read the picture book that follows from this partnership from my warm and comfy home, hahaha.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a beautiful and personal book to read with a loved one or to read to a class to talk about the wonderful things, or "nothings" they do with parents, grandparents, other special adults in their lives. In Julia Kuo's debut book which she's both written and illustrated, she shows a mother and child reaching great heights and depths, UP mountains and DEEP into the ocean, but doing nothing is also grand, as long as they're together. Her illustrations which she writes are done digitally are gorgeous, full-page scenes, including snowy mountains, clouds that feature interesting creatures, a living area with a lazy mom, child, and dog with snacks, all terrific! What fun it is to read and enjoy!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely in so many ways. That clouds "parade" is one of the first. That fireflies are never mentioned outloud (which lets us think it, say it, and have the feeling we are in on a secret). I don't even mind too much that at the end it zooms into a parent/caregiver's voice (although I keep wondering how it could have avoided this -- and still land in the intimate space).

The kids I read this to were a bit troubled by the scuba diving page. They wanted to know how the people were going to get out (There isn't an obvious egress.) Kasyn said, "How the people gonna get out of the book?" I thought the pace and tone would be too quiet, but the loved it, and touched the page where the shadows stretched.

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork was done with Adobe photoshop.

I will say, I didn't connect to this story. It's simply not for me. The artwork was just all wrong for me. Other people love it and that grand. It just isn't for me.

The story is about the bond between a mother and daughter and I wasn't able to connect with that either. For some reason, it did not click. The thing that excited me most is in their house was a Chinese Character. I didn't know it and I was trying to figure it out. My guess is potted plant and I could be so far off. Anyway.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful poem about the magical, mystical ways that love can make us feel! Enchanting illustrations keep the lyrical sentiments aloft, preventing the descriptions from lapsing into cliches and showing how “being together is the best journey yet.” “We’ll share the quiet twilight hour. We’ll find our path down. We’ll hold still as the ripples fade and watch the shadows stretch.” We will indeed.

[Cheryl Gladfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous.

For me, I got the vibe of the end poem from Kate DiCamillo's Flora & Ulysses "...because you are everything, all of it—sprinkles, quarks, giant donuts, eggs sunny-side up—you are the ever-expanding universe to me"--an expression of love that I associate so much with being a parent I get overwhelmed reading these words.

Reading this book and viewing the art is also overwhelming, in the best way.

Lovely.

[Benson Shum · Rating 5 out of 5]

LET’S DO EVERYTHING AND NOTHING by Julio Kuo is a wonderful book about being together is the best journey of all. Julia’s text says so much with so little. Her illustrations breathe life with every line and color. The limited color palette draws the readers in with its vast skies full of breathtaking clouds to the sparkling starlit nights.

[Susan Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, the illustrations are perfect, and they are done digitally in Adobe Photoshop, and you would never know it. The text is simple and full of love; the pictures are simple and full of imagination and joy and more love. Julia Kuo has struck a perfect balance of love and adventure and acceptance and joy and belonging and contentment.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, being together is the best journey of all, while doing everything and doing nothing. I love the balance of the book as there is time for adventure and time for rest. The red detail on each page especially caught my eye and drew me into the illustrations more. But I just loved the simple lines of the drawings and the focus on the mom and her daughter.

[Elizabeth Seibel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a kick in the pants to go do something with my kids. I read this book while in the library as my kids were playing legos at the summer reading program. It is a reminder to spend all kinds of time with your kids. Go take a walk. Watch a sunrise. Look at the clouds. There are few words in this book, but those words were chosen carefully and crafted into a beautiful story.

[Carmen Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this with my daughter the weekend of Mother's Day filled my heart with joy. The simplicity of love and just being together is what my season fo motherhood is all about.

The colors were breathtaking and incredibly immersive! Borrowed from the library but will have to get one for our bookshelf!

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The limitless possibilities, together -- what a gorgeous, affectionate, and affirming family story.

Also helpful perhaps to note it offers clear cultural specificity (rice cooker on the countertop, shrimp crisps for a snack) and is a single parent family.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this. I read this separately to the 8 year old and the 3 year old and both of them appreciated it for different reasons. Lush is the word for this, and immersive. A visual and sensory celebration of the parent child journey of being together. I will treasure this one.

[Jessica Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wowowowow these illustrations, please let me bathe in them. The colors are gorgeous and style is flawless. This mostly reads like a love letter from mother to child, not sure how this would resonate with young readers. Then again, I never read kids’ books with kids, so what do I know!