Made For More
By (Author) Chloe Ito Ward
Illustrated by Gael Abary
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
HarperCollins
2nd July 2025
United States
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Places and peoples
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Self-awareness and self-esteem
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Families and family members
Hardback
32
This joyful exploration of immigration and nontraditional beauty pays tribute to the unique identity formed by a girls Japanese roots and Hawaiian upbringing. Eyes That Kiss in the Corners meets Your Name Is a Song.
From the shores of Japan to the coast of Hawaii, old customs are honored, new traditions blossom, and an exuberant narrator defies narrow beauty standards to embracethe skin shes in and her life on the island of Kauai. Triumphant text and radiant artwork encourage readers to challenge expectations and celebrate how identity and experience find their perfect expression in each of us.
"Made for More is like a warm hug. The generous openhearted text, in tandem with illustrations that are buoyant and intimate, create a reading experience that is reassuring and joyful. This book makes me happy." -- --Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and author of Bee-bim Bop!
"In compelling, lyrical prose, Ward draws from her own family history and journey to self-acceptance to combat traditional East Asian beauty standards that idealize light skin. Abary's digital illustrations in soft coastal hues pair beautifully with the story, subtly blending in Japanese visual elements with Hawaiian landscapes through patterns and textures. A radiant and joyful celebration of skin, family, and immigration." -- Kirkus Reviews
"This charming picture book us[es] elegant similes to inspire young readers to love their skin and its imperfections. Young people who may be self-conscious of their personal appearance will appreciate Ward's message that our skin and personal appearance is the culmination of who we are." -- Booklist
Chloe Ito Ward is a Japanese American author and former kindergarten teacher and curriculum director. She splits her time between Kaua'i, Hawai'i, and the Pacific Northwest. Gael Abary is the Filipino American illustrator of If You Want to Ride a Horse, by Amy Novesky. She lives in O'ahu, Hawai'i.