Ellie - Hardcover

Mike Wu is an animator at Pixar, where he has worked on The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up, and Toy Story 3, among other movies. He has a BFA in Character Animation from the California Institute of the Arts, and he is the creator of children's clothing and gift line Tiny Teru. Mike lives in the Bay Area with his family. This is his first book. Visit him online at theartofmikewu.com.

'Wu, an animator who has worked on many Pixar hits, makes his literary debut with a story ever-so-gently ripped from the headlines: the artwork-producing elephant...Wu is a literal writer, but his visual storytelling, rendered in sweet, throwback-style watercolors, shows creativity and poise. Ellie, who looks like she’s a branch of Dumbo’s family tree, leads a cast of equally endearing animal characters, and every vignette is expertly framed for a chuckle, an “Awww,” or both: when Ellie paints a portrait of Lucy the giraffe, her subject’s head extends beyond the top edge of the page."- Publishers Weekly "With a "brighten the corner where you are" attitude, Ellie picks up a paintbrush and gives it a try. Like Dorothy arriving in Oz, the world changes when the paint hits the walls. In his first picture book, Pixar animator Wu creates watercolor illustrations that are reminiscent of classics like Harry the Dirty Dog and Curious George. Round Gerard, tall Lucy, and impossibly thin Walt are distinct personalities beyond their physical attributes. There is a timelessness that draws attention to these gentle figures." - Kirkus