Dai Yun wrote and Helen Wu translated and adapted the story WOOSHI WITCH GROWS A GARDEN for a new picture book, illustrated by Gui Tuzi, also known as Liu Jing a highly acclaimed illustrator in China comes out on May 28th from Yeehoo Press. Helen has agreed to send a copy to one lucky winner in the US.
All you have to do to get in the running is leave a comment. Reblog, tweet, or talk about it on Facebook with a link and you will get additional chances to win. Just let me know other things you do to share the good news, so I can put the right amount of tickets in my basket for you. Sharing on Facebook, Twitter, or reblogging really helps spread the word about a new book. Thanks for helping Dai, Gui, and Helen.
If you have signed up to follow my blog and receive it every day, please let me know when you leave a comment, and I will give you an extra ticket. Thanks!
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
A whimsical journey that inspire young readers to uncover their extraordinary powers hidden within everyday items.
Join Wooshi Witch on her quest to cultivate a spectacular garden. Despite years of trials and failed experiments, Wooshi is determined to find the secret to success. Unexpectedly, guidance arrives from an unlikely source – humans. Through unwavering perseverance and a sprinkle of magic, she unlocks the extraordinary potential hidden within ordinary elements.
This enchanting picture book features captivating illustrations by award-winning artist Gui Tuzi, written by internationally acclaimed author Yun Dai, and adapted by Helen H. Wu. With its blend of whimsy, resilience, and exploration of everyday wonders, this book inspires young readers to uncover their unique magical abilities within ordinary things.
BOOK JOURNEY:
The journey of publishing this book has been quite unique compared to my other works. In the summer of 2023, Sherry Sun, the agent of Dai Yun, reached out to Yeehoo about the Chinese book, “一到冬天就下雪,” directly translated as “It Snows In Winter.” This story celebrates the beauty of ordinary moments and the discovery of daily wonders. Immediately captivated by the gorgeous artwork by Gui Tuzi, I fell in love with the story. However, one of the main themes, centered around the pressure Chinese parents often place on their children, didn’t feel quite right for the American audience. So, I approached Sherry and Dai Yun, discussing the possibility of revisions. Dai Yun was incredibly receptive, understanding the differences between markets. After several brainstorming sessions, we decided to emphasize themes of cherishing daily wonders and persistence to better suit the US market. We also adjusted the title to “Wooshi Witch Grows a Garden,” incorporating the main character and the gardening theme. Working with Dai Yun and Gui Tuzi was a pleasure, and I’m thrilled to finally bring this gorgeous book to American readers.
Typically, witches are depicted as mysterious figures dressed in dark robes, residing in the woods. However, in this story, we encounter a brand-new concept of a cloud witch, which sparked my curiosity. Throughout the story, the witch immerses herself in various experiments, ultimately realizing the beauty of the overlooked sunlight and world. This reminds us that we often overlook seemingly insignificant elements in our daily lives, such as the warmth of sunlight, the freshness of the air, joyful interactions with others, and the pleasures of connecting with nature. Nevertheless, it is precisely these ordinary things that bestow true magic upon life, reminding me to appreciate and cherish small wonders. As a translator, my hope is to present this story to young readers in a way that inspires them to experience the magic within ordinary life. This kind of magic can come from a book, a delicious meal, a leisurely stroll, the beauty of nature, or moments spent with family and friends. Miracles are all around us, just waiting to be discovered.
DAI’S BIO:
Dai Yun is an accomplished author of children’s picture books. Her captivating storytelling is influenced by her multicultural background. With an impressive repertoire, her acclaimed books, such as “The Wandering Chicken,” “Sudan’s Horn,” “Where Can We Go,” and “Have You Seen the Magpie,” have garnered prestigious awards in China. Yun’s works have been recognized as Recommended Books by the National Library of China’s Wenjin Book Award and have received international acclaim, with translations available in English, French, Danish, Arabic, and more.
In 2021, she was awarded the esteemed First Prize at the Feng Zikai Chinese Children’s Book Award. Originally from Nanjing, China, she pursued her studies and career in Sydney, Australia, and currently resides in Singapore with her family.
GUI’S BIO:
Gui Tuzi, also known as Liu Jing, is a highly acclaimed illustrator and esteemed member of the China Artists Association. Her outstanding contributions to the field of illustration have garnered numerous prestigious awards, such as the 2014 Crowned Children’s Book, the 2015 Most Beautiful Picture Book in China, the 2018 Bing Xin Children’s Book Award, and the 2019 CCBF Golden Pinwheel Award, the 7th National Illustration Biennial Silver Award, the 17th Golden Dragon Awards for Best Illustration, the HILL ILLUSTRATION 2019 Best Work Award, and the shortlist of the WIA2020 World Illustration Awards.
Gui Tuzi’s captivating illustrations have been showcased in esteemed exhibitions, including the 13th National Art Exhibition and the Bratislava International Biennial of Illustration (BIB) in 2021. Based in Nanjing, China, Gui Tuzi continues to captivate audiences worldwide with an exceptional talent for storytelling through art.
HELEN’S BIO:
Helen H. Wu is a children’s book author and illustrator, as well as a translator and publisher. She is the author of “Tofu Takes Time,” illustrated by Julie Jarema, and “Long Goes To Dragon School,” illustrated by Mae Besom. Helen is the Publisher of Yeehoo Press, an independent children’s book publisher based in San Diego, California. Fascinated by the differences and similarities between cultures, Helen loves to share stories that empower children to understand the world and our connections.
Born and raised in Hefei, China, Helen moved to the US in her 20s. Currently, she resides in San Diego, California with her family. Find more about Helen at www.helenhwu.com.
Helen, thank you for sharing your book and journey with us. I loved how you pulled this creative fantastical story together to give us a different kind of witch. Instead of a witch riding a broom in a black hat and black robes, Wooshie is a witch who wears white and has lived in the white clouds from the beginning of time.
One day, Wooshi looked down at Earth and saw a kaleidoscope of colored blossoms, so she traveled to Earth and brought back flower seeds and as the sunlight beamed, breezes blew, and birds chirped. Wooshi cuddled the seeds in clouds and chanted, a spell, “ZIPPITY ZAP, COLORS SNAP!” But the seeds didn’t bloom. Instead, the clouds burst into dust. And all her spells didn’t work.
Thousands of years slipped by and not a single flower bloomed, but the dust piled up covering everything until one day Wooshi picked her broom and swept the dust away and the dust fell to Earth. When she looked into her crystal ball, she could see all the children having fun in the snow. As the snowflakes caught the sunlight, a glimmering rainbow appeared. “Colors!” Wooshi exclaimed. “Oh, those tricky little humans they turned my dust to joy.” She flew back to her house in the clouds and opened all the windows and let the magic dust in and it filled her house with colorful blooms and a magical garden. That’s when she realized she had everything all along and had wasted all those thousands of years chasing tricky spells when she had everything she needed with the sun, the wind, and the rain. A wonderful message to convey to children.
I am very impressed with the spectacular illustrations Gui created. Loved how she made each page sparkle. Kids love witches, spells, and the illustrations. While parents will love the message contained in this book and see this story could inspire their children to experience the magic in ordinary life. This kind of magic can come from a book, a delicious meal, a stroll in the park, the beauty of nature, and time spent with family and friends. As Helen Wu says, “Miracles are all around us, just waiting to be discovered.”
Good luck with the book.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
Writing and Illustrating 
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