by Chiêu Anh Urban
What better way to celebrate a book birthday than with a creative, passionate and supportive book-loving community. Thank you Tara for hosting this book launch, with 123 ZOOM zooming into the world. Hooray!
Want to hear a secret? I’m not “into” cars and planes, like my husband, per se. My girly girls’ childhoods were dazzled with princesses, unicorns, fairies and pretty colors like purple and pink. It’s surprising to me that this is my second concept book featuring modes of transportation. Interestingly, what I do enjoy is drawing them.
The truth is, I’m very art-driven and I focus on design and format first when brainstorming ideas. My goal was to develop a playful, interactive book for exploring numbers and counting. So why planes, motorcycles, and ships? They can fly, swim and zoom at amazing speeds, make loud, interesting sounds, and be bright and colorful. That was the inspiration I needed to dive into a format where little ones can adventure into their imagination and become powerful vehicles that journey through water, land, and sky. Number characters represent the scenes, from the deep sea to the big galaxy. How I present the art is key; highlighting different perspectives of the same vehicles in aerial and front views.
Where’s the novelty—the interactive features? This was the road maze that led to many dummies and production challenges. It’s been quite the journey, as novelty books go. I appreciate every speed bump, detour, and success along the way. My original idea consisted of cut-out vehicles on tracks that slide along the numbers, to encourage tracing and writing. This ultimately was cost prohibitive. I had to rethink the concept, and design a novelty that offered a similar experience, but was cost effective and inviting to touch. There was turbulence along the way, but also guidance and support from my amazing editor and agent. 123 ZOOM evolved with each spread featuring die-cut scooped out numerals and glossy, slick paths down the middle for tracing numbers, and discovering the many things-that-go. The dummy page pictured here was a work-in-progress, but the idea was to convey the novelty elements. There’s a seek-and-find element of surprise towards the end of the book, designed to encourage little ones to count backwards.
Its companion book, ABC ROAR, releases this July. This hands-on novelty introduces the alphabet and animals in their habitats. Thank you for letting me share my process and 123 ZOOM’s book birthday with you.
Enjoy a virtual no calorie treat and cheers to all ideas taking off!
Blog readers, to celebrate her book launch, Chiêu is giving away a copy of 123 ZOOM!
Comment once below to enter.
A random winner will be selected next month.
Good luck!
Chiêu Anh Urban is an author/illustrator, and format designer who specializes in developing interactive, playful books that provide fun learning and exploration for the youngest readers.
Chiêu’s novelty titles include 123 ZOOM and ABC ROAR (2022) with Little Simon/S&S, and board book series ILLUSIONS IN ART (2023) with Candlewick Press. She is the creator of Color Wonder Hooray for Spring!, Color Wonder Winter is Here!, Quiet as a Mouse: And Other Animal Idioms, Away We Go! and Raindrops. Chiêu holds a BFA in Communications Art and Design. Visit her website at ChieuUrban.com to learn more about her children’s books, follow her on Facebook, Twitter @ChieuAnhUrban and Instagram @chieu.anh.urban.
54 comments
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April 19, 2022 at 1:22 pm
Evelyn Dietz
Love the interactive nature of these books!
April 19, 2022 at 1:23 pm
Natasha Wing
I love the different perspectives of the mode of transportation. Fun!
April 25, 2022 at 5:20 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thanks Natasha. I hope the little ones will enjoy seeing the different perspectives in the art.
April 19, 2022 at 1:35 pm
Abigail Perry
I would love to read your books to my toddler!
April 19, 2022 at 1:51 pm
Angel
I would love to read your book =)
April 19, 2022 at 1:36 pm
katiemillsgiorgio
How fun! Thank you for sharing!
April 19, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Danielle Hammelef
Congratulations on your beautiful interactive books for young readers.
April 19, 2022 at 1:49 pm
Brittney
Oh I can’t wait to get the green light on reading this to my 1 year old! Looks great and we’ll done Chiêu.
April 25, 2022 at 5:22 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thank you Brittney. I hope your 1 year old enjoys the book!
April 19, 2022 at 2:48 pm
tinefg
Love the different perspectives…brings back memories of “driving” my hot pink matchbox dune buggy along the map created by the lines of mortar on our porch’s slate floor. congratulations on your new and up coming releases!
April 25, 2022 at 5:24 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thank you! What a fun memory!
April 25, 2022 at 5:25 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thank you. What a fun memory!
April 19, 2022 at 2:55 pm
Patti Ranson (@RansonPatti)
Niiiiice!
April 19, 2022 at 3:10 pm
Debbi G
Looks like a fun and engaging book! Thanks for sharing.
April 19, 2022 at 3:23 pm
Shannon Fossett
Can’t wait to get this one for my nephews! I love hearing the process and the challenges! Reminds us to not give up! Thank you for sharing!
April 25, 2022 at 5:28 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thank you Shannon. I hope your nephews have fun with the book.
April 19, 2022 at 3:25 pm
Jane Heitman Healy
Wow! The inside story on this book is amazing! I’m excited that you and your publisher could figure out a way to make the book more tactile & interactive. This is going to be a favorite of many little ones. Congratulations!
April 25, 2022 at 5:31 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thank you Jane. The glossy paths are fun to touch and trace. I hope your little ones enjoy the interactive storytime.
April 19, 2022 at 3:44 pm
cjbigger410
Love the concept for this book and the interactive writing feature, along with the hide and seek fun. You’ve thought of everything! Blessings to you on your writing journey.
April 25, 2022 at 5:34 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thank you. I hoping the hide-and-seek game will encourage kids to count backwards.
April 19, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Lisa Kingsford
Very informative to hear about your path from designing vehicles to travel tracks evolving into textures instead. I hadn’t thought about such things being cost-prohibitive.
April 19, 2022 at 4:11 pm
pathaap
Congratulations on both books, Chieu! What a wonderful way to help children to touch, explore and play!
April 19, 2022 at 4:35 pm
chardixon47
Congratulations, Chieu! I’m looking forward to reading your books!
April 19, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Susan Johnston Taylor
Congrats, Chiêu! I’d love to win a copy of this adorable board book.
April 19, 2022 at 6:00 pm
jensubra
Congratulations, Chieu! Such bright, eye-catching art I know little ones would love to touch!
April 19, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Stephen S. Martin
Very clever. Time to dust off my concept book idea – Again!
April 25, 2022 at 5:35 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Wonderful. Good luck!
April 19, 2022 at 6:37 pm
kathydoherty1
Colorful + creative = two beautiful books!
April 19, 2022 at 6:46 pm
Reed Hilton-Eddy
Board books are hard to make compelling and interesting. It looks like you have found a fun way to introduce concept and keep little reader interested
April 25, 2022 at 5:35 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thank you Reed.
April 19, 2022 at 8:51 pm
Brook Tayla
Well done -taking the board book to the next level. Just love the book and
the way you conceptualised it
April 25, 2022 at 5:37 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thank you Brook!
April 19, 2022 at 8:52 pm
telltalestome
Well done – you have taken the Board Book to the next level.
I love the book and the way you conceptualised it.
April 19, 2022 at 9:03 pm
claireannette1
I love this adventure in imagination. Congratulations!
April 20, 2022 at 8:56 am
Lauri Meyers
Looks like a lovely solution and tracing those number shapes will provide early writing skills!
April 20, 2022 at 9:00 am
annmdk
Amazing concept, and beautiful art!
April 20, 2022 at 9:36 am
Sylvia Mary Grech
Congrats on your book!
April 20, 2022 at 10:42 am
Marla Yablon
What a fun, wonderful book! Congratulations!
April 20, 2022 at 11:00 am
Darcee Freier
Congratulations! It looks like such a fun book.
April 20, 2022 at 11:10 am
Angie
This looks like so much fun! Love the lines in the numbers, great for finger tracing! Congrats!
April 20, 2022 at 11:33 am
JoLynne Ricker Whalen
These look adorable! Adding to my list to order for my library!!!
April 25, 2022 at 5:38 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Wonderful! Thank you JoLynne!
April 20, 2022 at 4:03 pm
Tamara Rittershaus
Absolutely adore the artwork!
April 20, 2022 at 9:12 pm
seschipper
Looking forward to reading your books! They will be a great addition to our library! 🙂
April 20, 2022 at 9:55 pm
marty bellis
I love your art and the idea of tracing the numbers. Congrats on this and the upcoming ABC book. Both are so bright and eye-catching.
April 21, 2022 at 6:47 am
Jenny Morales
Wow! I love the beautiful simplicity of these books. Gorgeous!
April 21, 2022 at 11:19 am
Lisa Frenkel Riddiough
Oh! I love this!! Congrats!! I am inspired to try an idea I have!!
April 21, 2022 at 12:52 pm
Jane Francis
What a creative way to engage the kids while teaching at the same time. Inspiring!
April 21, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Raven Randall
I wasn’t familiar with her books before today. I am definitely going to be picking these books up for my youngest grandson, Owen.
April 25, 2022 at 5:40 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thanks Raven. Enjoy reading with your grandson.
April 22, 2022 at 12:24 am
authorlaurablog
Congratulations on these fun books! I mentioned them to some new grandparents at a meeting yesterday. I tried to share this comment yesterday, but it didn’t go through.
April 25, 2022 at 5:41 pm
Chieu Anh Urban
Thank you for sharing Laura!
April 22, 2022 at 4:06 pm
kdgwrites
Happy book birthday to you! I love the art and concept. Congratulations.
April 24, 2022 at 2:22 pm
writeremmcbride
Congratulations! There are certainly images and ideas to discuss on each page, plus the tracing of the shapes really helps with learning. Wonderful ideas and beautifully brought to life!