Yulu's Linen
Will be published approx. on 12. February 2026
Book
Hardback
48 pages
978-1-6659-3119-9 (ISBN)
Description
A talented young artist battles with the linen she's trying to paint on in this inspiring picture book about the power of perseverance from two Hans Christian Andersen Award-winning creators.
Yulu has all the makings of a great artist, her teachers and parents agree. But can she paint a self-portrait? Yulu isn't sure, even when she finds the perfect canvas made of special linen. She summons her courage and paints. But the next day, the paint has run and oozed and dripped-the painting is ruined!
Yulu picks her brush back up, but day after day, the linen of her canvas itself seems to be rebuffing her attempts. Yulu, undeterred, works on and on. More than a battle with the opinionated linen, this artistic battle is one Yulu wages with herself. Through determination and hard work, can she grow past her natural talent and prove herself worthy of the task before her?
Yulu has all the makings of a great artist, her teachers and parents agree. But can she paint a self-portrait? Yulu isn't sure, even when she finds the perfect canvas made of special linen. She summons her courage and paints. But the next day, the paint has run and oozed and dripped-the painting is ruined!
Yulu picks her brush back up, but day after day, the linen of her canvas itself seems to be rebuffing her attempts. Yulu, undeterred, works on and on. More than a battle with the opinionated linen, this artistic battle is one Yulu wages with herself. Through determination and hard work, can she grow past her natural talent and prove herself worthy of the task before her?
Reviews / Votes
In this finely wrought picture book portrait of the artistic process, a canvas of "yu-lu-ma-rain-dew linen" seems destined for young Yulu's brushes, so her father, a frustrated artist who's nurtured her talent, buys it for her first self-portrait. [...] Printed on linen-textured paper, this story of making, part folktale, part love letter to hanging in there, honors the work and wonder at the heart of creation. -- Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW * 11/3/2025 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Third Grade, Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Product notice
Picture book
Illustrations
f-c (spfx: spot gloss on 140 Lucky Bird uncoated stock); digital
Dimensions
Height: 302 mm
Width: 216 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
499 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6659-3119-9 (9781665931199)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Persons
Cao Wenxuan is the first ever Chinese recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award for his book Bronze and Sunflower. As the author of dozens of books for children, he is considered one of China's most revered writers. He is also a professor of Chinese literature and children's literature at Peking University. His work has been translated all over the world.
Suzy Lee is a recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the first Korean illustrator to win the honor. She's twice had books chosen for the New York Times Best Illustrated Award, has won a Gold Medal at the Society of Illustrators, and has won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature. Her titles include Wave, This Beautiful Day, and Shadow. A graduate of Seoul National University, she lives and works in Seoul.
Helen Wang is a London-based translator who won the Marsh Award for Literature in Translation for her translation of Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan. In 2017 she was awarded the Chen Bochui Special Contribution Award for her translations and increasing visibility of Chinese children's books. She is also a curator of East Asian Money at the British Museum.
Suzy Lee is a recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the first Korean illustrator to win the honor. She's twice had books chosen for the New York Times Best Illustrated Award, has won a Gold Medal at the Society of Illustrators, and has won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature. Her titles include Wave, This Beautiful Day, and Shadow. A graduate of Seoul National University, she lives and works in Seoul.
Helen Wang is a London-based translator who won the Marsh Award for Literature in Translation for her translation of Bronze and Sunflower by Cao Wenxuan. In 2017 she was awarded the Chen Bochui Special Contribution Award for her translations and increasing visibility of Chinese children's books. She is also a curator of East Asian Money at the British Museum.