Illustrator Quỳnh Anh and the Creative Journey Behind Mom Is
- Dec 17, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 2
Behind the colorful, love-filled pages of Mom Is is illustrator Quỳnh Anh’s heartfelt creative journey. Rather than simply illustrating the text, she began with genuine curiosity, gradually transforming the manuscript into gentle, expressive artwork that radiates warmth and comfort.
For Quỳnh Anh, every spread became a space to tell a story through images - one where the modern Vietnamese mother is portrayed in a fresh, energetic way while still embodying the tenderness, warmth, and quiet strength that have always defined motherhood.
Illustrating Love in Mom Is
To bring each scene to life, Quỳnh Anh carefully observed everyday family life, turning simple moments into vivid visual storytelling. Through her reflections on the creative process, readers gain more than an appreciation for her artistic techniques and color choices - they also discover the heart of an illustrator celebrating maternal love in her own unique way.
Join us as we step into Quỳnh Anh’s creative world to learn about the inspirations, challenges, and joyful moments behind a picture book that has touched the hearts of thousands of children and parents.
A Pleasant Surprise from the First Draft
When Quỳnh Anh first received the manuscript for Mom Is, she was pleasantly surprised by the author's approach. Instead of describing mothers with grand or poetic words, the book compares them to ordinary household objects that children see every day.
While Dad Is celebrates the grandeur of nature and the excitement of adventure, Mom Is unfolds within the comforting space of home, where warmth is found in life's simplest moments.
Bringing Two Companion Books Together
To create a pair of books that feel visually and emotionally connected, Quỳnh Anh thoughtfully incorporated subtle links between Dad Is and Mom Is.
In Dad Is, the father is portrayed as towering and dependable like majestic mountains, closely associated with outdoor adventures and the vast natural world. In contrast, the mother is illustrated as gentle, approachable, and full of warmth.
Rather than leading exciting expeditions, she is present in every corner of the home, transforming an ordinary house into a peaceful sanctuary. This contrast does not separate the two parents - it completes them. Together, they paint a fuller picture of family love: the father opens the door to the wider world, while the mother fills home with warmth and comfort. Both become the unwavering pillars supporting a child's journey through life.
Among all the illustrations in the book, the spread comparing a mother to a rice cooker resonates most deeply with Quỳnh Anh. Although unexpected, the metaphor feels remarkably natural within Vietnamese culture. It instantly evokes images of steaming family meals, hands carefully preparing each grain of rice, and the quiet devotion of cooking nourishing food for loved ones every day.
To Quỳnh Anh, the rice cooker represents far more than an everyday appliance. It symbolizes constant care, unconditional love, and the comforting feeling of home. Through this simple image, she captures the essence of motherhood - a love that never seeks attention, quietly present in ordinary moments, yet powerful enough to nurture us throughout our lives.
A Message to Every Child
Through her heartfelt illustrations, Quỳnh Anh hopes every child can recognize their own mother within the pages of Mom Is.
The book serves as a gentle reminder of how important mothers are in everyday life. Without them, a home seems to lose some of its warmth, light, and comforting words of encouragement. Quỳnh Anh hopes that after reading the book, children will become more aware of the little things their mothers do each day and learn to appreciate, cherish, and love them even more.
For Quỳnh Anh, illustrating Mom Is was much more than an artistic project - it was a heartfelt expression of her love for family. Through simple yet meaningful illustrations, she hopes the quiet sacrifices, unwavering care, and unconditional love of mothers will remain treasured memories that stay with children throughout their lives.
Open Mom Is with your little one and discover its gentle illustrations, where a mother's love shines through every page.
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