What in the World Is Ezra’s Art? {Book Review}

When my daughter was a toddler, I looked for children’s books that had representation of our ethnicity. While there were a few picture books featuring Asian and/or Asian American children, it was few and far between. That’s why I’m thrilled to share with you today a brand-new book, “What in the World is Ezra’s Art?” co-written by Eric Toda and Shay Fan.

What is the picture book about? Check out the summary below!

The book features Ezra, a seven-year-old boy who likes cheese-flavored ice cream, flying off the couch with his superhero cape, and peeling dried glue off his fingers. And he LOVES making art. Every day at Braddock Elementary, he doodles, draws, paints, and crafts with abandon. Even though he loves making it, no one understands it. Little Ezra questions whether he should continue to create art when his parents, teachers, and classmates don’t seem to get, or even like, his creations. The book explores the question, ‘Can Ezra feel good about his art when no one else does?’

“What in the World is Ezra’s Art?” was released last week, just in time for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and is the writing debut from two leaders in the tech industry. Toda is a tech executive who has held leadership roles at Fortune 100 companies including Gap Inc., Airbnb and Nike. Fan has consulted for technology and healthcare companies including YouTube, Microsoft, Roche, and AbbVie. The theme of the book really resonated with both authors, especially since they both have children. In fact, Toda dedicated the book to both of his children and Fan dedicated it to her toddler. They both wanted to tell a story that encourages children to be creative without fear of judgment.

The book is wonderfully illustrated by Tara Hân-Trần Johnson, who is a designer working in animation. She has worked in prop design, color design, and visual development at studios such as Disney Television Animation and Nickelodeon.

Included in the book is an activity that allows your child to add his or her own drawings to the blank pages at the end of the book.

The book is perfect for children 4-8 years old or for those who are a kid at heart, like my teenage daughter! Truth be told, I know that my two nephews (ages two and soon-to-be five) will adore this book.

Published by Third State Books, “What in the World is Ezra’s Art?” can be found wherever books are sold! Fun fact: Third State Books is the first independent publisher dedicated to bringing AAPI voices and stories to audiences. I love that they are helping to amplify AAPI voices! For more information, check out the Third State Books website.

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. I received a complimentary book which helped facilitate this review. All photos are mine unless otherwise noted. The images shown in this post are used with permission. As always, my opinions are 100% my own.