NUNU AND THE SEA
by Isabella Kung
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers • ISBN: 9780593812723
In this whimsical picture book, a misunderstood girl with overwhelming emotions creates an origami boat and journeys to sea where she can feel free. Fans of Where the Wild Things Are will adore this fantastical tale of big feelings and boundless imagination.
“Nunu reminds all of us that emotions can feel as big and as vast as the sea–if we hold tightly and sail on, the way forward becomes clear.”–Cori Doerrfeld, author-illustrator of The Rabbit Listened
“A powerful journey through the highs and lows of emotions, reminding us all of the strength found in rebuilding ourselves.”–Cindy Derby, Caldecott honoree
Nunu doesn’t understand, so when her emotions feel too big for her, she makes her boat out of paper origami and sails away. Out at sea, she navigates somewhere new and with the help of her origami friends, she is able to mend what is broken and find her way home.
With exquisite, immersive illustrations, this near-wordless picture book is an ode to big emotions, origami, and the hope inside all of us.
★ “Kung has deftly folded her own magic into evocative prose and mesmerizing artwork that enchants in its simplicity...Captivating.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
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★ “Sailing with big emotions is a difficult journey to take alone, but the story reminds readers that these feelings come naturally in waves and that little ones have the strength to ride through them with loved ones by their side...a metaphor for readers, showing them that like a house, a heart can repair and heal with time.” —The Bulletin, starred review Read the full review
Available on Oct 14, 2025
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NO SNOWBALL!
by Isabella Kung
Published by Orchard Books / Scholastic • ISBN: 133856546X
Her Majesty is back in this hilarious and quirky picture book follow-up to Isabella Kung’s No Fuzzball!
Queen NoFuzzball is the ruler of her home and she enjoys basking in the adoration of her subjects. But a new kitten, Snowball, has arrived to her queendom. Fuzzball fears that this new stranger will be a threat to her throne, but then realizes it could be an opportunity to train an heir. Could Snowball shape up to be the perfect princess that Queen NoFuzzball is looking for, or will Snowball just be nothing but a royal pain?
Young readers will fall in love with Kung’s irresistible and adorable illustrations that are paired with funny, lovable characters. This picture book is perfect for cat and pet lovers everywhere!
- Winner of International Cat Writers Association’s 2023 MUSE Medallion in Childrens/Young Adult Books
- Awarded International Cat Writers Association’s Communications Contest Certificate of Excellence for the illustrations in Childrens/Young Adult Books
Published November 1st 2022
Reviews
"Kung follows up her tale of queenly kitty confusion with the inevitable new-sibling story. Her watercolor and gouache illustrations of a family and their wide-eyed, endearing pets are a perfect match (and mismatch) for the tale's action—hilariously, NoFuzzball's interpretation of events is sometimes at odds with what is depicted in the artwork." - Kirkus Reviews
Read the Full Review here: Kirkus Review for NO SNOWBALL!
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NO FUZZBALL!
by Isabella Kung
Orchard books / Scholastic • ISBN: 133856542
Fuzzball is Queen of the house. Her subjects just LOVE how she scales the tallest shelves and drags their belongings across the floor. Hear how they shout her name everywhere she goes ... "NOFUZZBALL!" But when they leave her queendom for the weekend, she questions whether she should be a more benevolent ruler.
Fans of funny, lovable characters like Aaron Blabey's Pig the Pug, Mo Willems's Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and David Shannon's No, David! will fall in love with this furry, feline despot.
Step-by-step Drawing Guidelines for NO FUZZBALL
Published August 4th 2020
Reviews
"The fluffy black kitty gives preschool readers an early lesson in the unreliable narrator as she describes her relationship with her humans. In Kung's illustrations, she's an expressive, endearing little chunk of well-meaning evil. Her interracial human family is just as expressive, and the bright spot and full-bleed illustrations are entertaining from the first endpaper to the last." - Kirkus Reviews
Read the Full Review here: Kirkus Review for NO FUZZBALL!
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1 2 3 Cats: A Cat Counting Book
by Lesléa Newman, Illustrated by Isabella Kung
Published by Candlewick Press • ISBN: 1536209953
Count on cats as a fun way to learn numbers—in rhyming spreads with expressive appeal for animal lovers of all ages.
Cat Number One has nothing to do . . .
Until she makes friends with Cat Number Two.
Meet cats from one to a dozen in this adorable board book introduction to counting with a feline twist. Author Lesléa Newman draws on her love for (and familiarity with) cats in a concept book for the very young, while illustrator Isabella Kung captures the animals’ movements and gestures in a way that is sure to delight.
- Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year 2022 edition.
Published May 4th, 2021
ABC Cats: A Alpha-Cat Book
by Lesléa Newman, Illustrated by Isabella Kung
Published by Candlewick Press • ISBN: 1536209945
A beguiling array of felines from A to Z makes learning the alphabet the cat’s pajamas.
Adorable cat with eyes of gold.
Baby cat just two weeks old.
From curious to elegant, grouchy to inquisitive, rowdy to tangled to . . . well, unusual (who says cats don’t swim in the tub?), these twenty-six charming felines interact with oversize alphabet letters on rhyming spreads. Author Lesléa Newman and illustrator Isabella Kung offer a cat’s-eye concept book that makes the ABCs go down easy—and is sure to inspire many a repeat viewing.
- Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year 2022 edition.
Published May 4th, 2021
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Let's Get Pizza Instead!
Cover + interior profile illustrator: Isabella Kung
826 Valencia • ISBN: 1934750646
Let's Get Pizza Instead! is a beautiful, unique, and hilarious limited-edition coloring book from 826 Valencia, a San Francisco non-profit dedicated to building writing skills in under-resourced SF youth. This coloring book invites readers and artists of all ages into our treasured field trip program, in which an elementary school class collaboratively writes a story with professional illustrators. The drawings collected here bring to life such kid-creations as Gooey Scaly Pink Tiger and Stella Flynn the Snat, sure to entertain kids of all ages and the young at heart. The illustrators featured are all Bay Area artists, and all proceeds benefit 826 Valencia's free programs.
Featured field trips volunteer illustrators from 2014 - 2015 school year: Ashley Despain, Sarah Clark, Dave Dávila, and Aidan O'Flynn
Published December 8th, 2015
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