Author Isabella Kung's World of Emotion, Whimsy, and Wonder
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Time to read 5 min
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Time to read 5 min
Hello! I am the author and illustrator of NO FUZZBALL! (Scholastic, 2020), NO SNOWBALL! (Scholastic, 2022) and most recently NUNU AND THE SEA (Knopf Books for Young Readers) released on October 14, 2025. I have illustrated over a dozen books and my work have received accolades from institutions such as the Society of Illustrators, Spectrum Fantasy Art, 3x3, Creative Quarterly, SCBWI and the International Cat Writers Association. I now call San Francisco my home with my husband and my adorable cats.
As for fun facts, it's probably pretty obvious I have a feline obsession (I self-proclaim to be cat lady of children's book). What people might not know is that I love dogs too, all animals really. If I can experience what is like to be any animal in the world, my top choices would be: a snow leopard (because it's a big cat with a LONG fluffy tail), an owl (for its stellar hearing, night vision and near-silent flight) and an octopus (8 limbs, no bones, 3 hearts and an underwater shapeshifting magician? What more can I ask for).
Growing up in Hong Kong, I would often make up my own stories and draw all over my textbooks – anything to make my dull concrete world more colorful! I am delighted and grateful I still do both! I create stories, imagination and wonder through my words and art – mostly in the form of picture books. Throughout history, stories have been a vessel to impart wisdom, beliefs and new or different perspectives. Stories are one of the earliest expression of creativity. This practice connects us all to deeper understanding of ourselves, each other, and our collective world. I have always been drawn by fables and inspired by stories.
"I feel called to partake in this human tradition, to be a voice for the voiceless, to create from my heart, and to be seen in my full expression."
NUNU AND THE SEA admittedly is quite a departure from my previous (humorous) work. The idea for this book first came to me during a difficult time in my life – as a vision of a girl lost as sea after a storm. That vision stayed with me for a very long time. As I explored this idea, I realized that the sea – with its ever-changing conditions, from violent storms to vast expanses and reflective stillness, was a powerful metaphor for our fluctuating emotional states. What's more, it’s a metaphor often used throughout history and across cultures.
I hope to share with young readers that emotions are a natural part of life and a normal part of growing up. They are important parts of what makes us human. No matter how hard emotional storms may feel, they will eventually pass, giving us opportunities to process what happened and safely navigate “home”, where brighter days await.
I knew from the start I wanted to portray the main character of my book as an Asian girl. Not only because I've incorporated so much of my own experiences and emotions growing up (did you know Nunu is my family nickname?), but also due to the fact I did not understand my emotions as a child and didn't have the emotional support that I desperately needed.
Social emotional learning was not something I grew up with. My parents did the best they could with what they knew and what is culturally acceptable. I am eternally grateful for their love and sacrifice. Unfortunately, I didn’t understand how to handle my emotions as a child, and had to relearn how to process emotions in healthy ways as an adult. My hope is that NUNU AND THE SEA can be a gentle starting point for conversations about navigating big emotions, with the help of parents, caregivers, librarians, educators, and therapists.
Sadly, my experience this is not uncommon amongst Asian childhoods. While I believe all children can benefit from this book, I especially hope it reaches Asian kids. So they can SEE themselves represented externally and FEEL truly seen internally.
The moment my editor and designer chose my favorite sketch as the cover comes to mind. Covers are notoriously tricky and people do judge a book by it's cover. Illustrators have to create a well designed, eye-catching illustration to draw readers in – showing just enough to represent what the book is about while not giving away the story. It's very common for the illustrator to go through rounds and rounds of exploration with their publisher before reaching a design everyone is happy with.
Perhaps because this book is so personal to me, I really only had one idea I wanted for the cover. Though as a professional, I know I can't just submit one sketch and I understand my opinions can be subjective too. I created a couple different designs of the same original concept and begrudgingly included a few sketches of a different concept to submit. Luckily, the one I envisioned from the start was the one my team picked! This has literally never happened to me before! I was elated by how aligned my team were with my vision for this book. Their enthusiasm and support meant the world to me.
Nothing else fulfill me as much as creating picture books! It's wonderful that I can create a whole world, spark joy, stir imaginations and evoke emotions with just my words and my art. The delicate balance between the words and the illustrations is also the kind of puzzle I can’t stop thinking about. It's exhilarating when I finally solve it. I love creating picture books and I love the audience I’m creating for. Children are amazing and it is an absolute honor to delight and entertain them, to teach and show them our world, and most importantly to empathize and tell them they are not alone.
That children's books are not easy to create, most of my books take years to form – from percolating ideation to final art. With such limitation in word count or pages to illustrate...every word, every detail needs to serve a purpose. Also, while children are incredibly receptive audiences, they are also smart and will not enjoy a story told with the sole purpose to "teach a lesson". Creating a good picture book requires the creator to understand and respect their audiences, to care about their experiences and to relate to their being.
It is a craft that takes dedication, practice and unwavering persistence. I'm not sharing this to deter people from pursuing this endeavor, but to be transparent about this labor of love. If you have an idea for a picture book, I highly recommend reading a ton of recent picture books (published within the last 10 years or less), taking a course or a workshop, join a conference or two! It's a warm and supportive community full of book lovers.
Outside the world of publishing, I teach illustration or watercolor classes, and facilitate critique groups and offer mentorships. I am represented by Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary.
Website: www.isabellakung.com
Instagram: @isabellakungill
Bluesky: @isabellakung.bsky.social
Youtube: www.youtube.com/IsabellaKung
