Author: Alphabet Soup

Angie Cui was born in Harbin, China and now lives in Melbourne with her husband and two children, whom she calls the ‘ABC Family’ – four people, three cultures – Australian, Bangladeshi and Chinese (her kids are Australian-born, and her husband is originally from Bangladesh). She loves the rich culture of her family’s languages and enjoys using them to tell stories. Today we’re chatting to Angie about her debut picture book: My Mum is a Bird, illustrated by Evie Barrow.

The publisher provided Alphabet Soup with a reading copy of My Mum is a Bird.

From the publisher:

Today is Parents’ and Carers’ Day at school. I don’t want to bring anyone, but my mum is coming anyway. She is a bird.

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The mum in this picture book is clearly a bit different – she is a bird, while the main character (and everyone else!) is human. When you decided to show their differences this way, what made you choose a bird?

When I first started writing this story about four years ago, I wasn’t sure where it would go. In my original draft, Mum was a phoenix in a human body, but feedback from editors and writing friends pointed out that it felt too mature and a little too scary for younger readers. I didn’t want to create something that was too serious, sad, or frightening, so I decided to use the bird as a metaphor. I wanted to show difference in a fun, fantastical way – something playful and positive. Birds seemed perfect for that. They’re loud, colourful, free-spirited, and a bit out of place in a human world. They also have wings and can fly, symbolising freedom and adventure. A bird mum could soar, sing, swoop, and flap – this energy felt right for the message I wanted to convey about embracing who you are, even when it makes you stand out.

The illustrations highlight the themes in the book – like diversity, acceptance, the importance of a welcoming community, and perspective. Did you work closely with the illustrator, Evie Barrow, or did you each work separately on the text and illustrations?

A little behind-the-scenes story: I pitched the story idea at the Kidlit VIC Conference in 2022. After my publisher offered me a book deal, they asked if I had a preferred illustrator. Evie was my top choice! Surprisingly, my publisher had already reached out to her to check her availability. So, we ended up choosing Evie almost by coincidence!

In traditional publishing, authors and illustrators don’t typically work directly, which is quite common with picture books. I personally don’t like to give many illustration notes unless the publisher asks me if there’s anything I’d like included or changed. I certainly didn’t want to stifle Evie’s creativity, as I believed she would bring her own unique vision to the story. From the moment I saw her early sketches, I knew the book was in great hands. Her work brings so much warmth, humour, and gentle quirkiness to the pages – exactly the tone I had planned. She captured the heart of the story beautifully, balancing the child’s mix of awkwardness, love, and growing confidence, along with the bird mum’s joyfully unapologetic presence. Her illustrations do a lot of the storytelling, especially the emotional moments (my favourite).

In a way, I made the skeleton, and Evie gave it a soul. Together, we created a book!

How do you take one of your picture books from the first idea to the final draft, ready for an illustrator?

Each story is different, so my process can vary, but I often start with a strange image or a question that makes me stop and think: “What if … ?” For My Mum is a Bird, the idea was inspired by a close friend’s experience – she’s always felt different from her family. This made me wonder: What if a child had a mum who was different from all the other mums?

From there, I write lots of drafts, exploring different structures, voices, and points of view. As I mentioned earlier, I wasn’t sure where the story would go initially, so I experimented with various versions until I found one that felt right. I didn’t want to write something too didactic, but rather a story that was easy to read and emotionally engaging.

A picture book tells a story in just a small number of pages. Do you have a tip for young writers?

Absolutely! Tip one: start small but stay curious. A picture book doesn’t need a complicated plot – it just needs an idea. Write down your thoughts, your emotions, and what’s important to you. You can even write about how you feel today, something you’ve experienced, or even just something or someone you noticed. As you get more comfortable with writing, let your imagination run wild!

Tip two: Patience is the key! Don’t worry if things seem messy or don’t make sense at first. Think of it as planting a small seed and nurturing it until it grows into something bigger over time.

Also, keep in mind, though, that writing picture books can be challenging. You’re basically trying to tell a complete story in 500 words and make it feel like a movie! The last draft I handed to my publisher was about 800 words, and I had to trim it down to 500. It might sound easy, but it was tough as a first-time author. However, during the editing process, I realised that a lot of the story could be conveyed through illustrations, and that’s the magic of picture books.

So, tip three – when you write a picture book, think about how the illustrator will bring your words to life. Picture books are a team effort, and the art plays just as big a role as the words.

Can you tell us a bit what you’re working on next?

I have two more picture books coming out this year and next. They cover completely different themes than My Mum is a Bird. I’m also working on other projects across different genres – one junior fiction book, one middle-grade novel, and two adult novels (I’m trying to keep myself busy! Haha).

My Mum is a Bird is out now! Ask for it at your favourite bookshop or local library.

AWESOME EXTRAS

Take a peek inside My Mum is a Bird

Download the Teachers’ Notes

Visit the author’s website for more about her and her books

Visit the illustrator’s website for more about her and her work