Anzu the Great Listener

Description

Anzu the kaiju loves to tend to his bonsai. Whenever he feels overwhelmed or unsettled, it helps him pause and reminds him to just . . . breathe. One day, when Anzu hears crying in the distance, he's eager to help! The flower-power that makes his bonsai bloom has a way of making others smile. But when Anzu's flowers seem to lose their power, hurting more than they help, he's not sure where to turn-until he remembers some valuable lessons he learned from his bonsai tree. In Anzu the Great Listener, creator and Walt Disney Studios animator Benson Shum illustrates the importance of patience, empathy, and above all, taking the time to listen.

Benson Shum is a children's book author and illustrator who has illustrated a number of picture books including his debut Anzu the Great Kaiju, Adam Lehrhaupt's Sloth Went, and Jennifer Sattler's Go to Sheep. Benson is also an animator at the Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he has been a part of such films as Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Moana, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Frozen 2, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Encanto. Originally from Vancouver, BC, Benson lives in sunny Southern California.

"[A] serene tone and simply delivered lesson. . . A gentle suggestion that help should always be accompanied by respect. --Kirkus Reviews "A beautiful, simple story about listening, feelings, healing, and empathy." --Booklist PRAISE FOR ANZU THE GREAT KAIJU: "Benson Shum has created a heartwarming story of acceptance and strength all wrapped up in a cute little package named Anzu." --Dan Santat, Caldecott medalist and author of the bestselling book After the Fall *"It's a pleasure to see the monster myth once again turned on its head. Spoiler alert: Goofy, loving monster makes good on his proclivities for joy, and wins his parents' approval along the way. It's a triumph, all right." --School Library Journal, starred review "More sweet than scary, this heartfelt story naturally incorporates specific elements of Japanese culture into impressive picture-book storytelling." --The Horn Book Magazine "[E]ngaging and heartwarming. . . . A tongue-in-cheek bildungsroman spun around celebrating differences and the underrated superpowers of gentleness and sweetness. --Kirkus Reviews "Shum's experience as an animator. . . is evident in the way he storyboards the narrative, pulls readers along with cinematic energy, and celebrates Japanese aesthetics--with everything from bonsai trees to golden picture frames to tiny creatures that look like adorable walking dumplings. [A] wholly original tale, which proves humorous, heartfelt, and as sweet as the flowers Anzu conjures." --Booklist