Preparing the Revised Edition of Hello, My Robin – My First Published Picture Book

Preparing the Revised Edition of Hello, My Robin – My First Published Picture Book

I’m currently working on the revised edition of my very first picture book, Hello, My Robin.
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This story was originally created as part of a graduate course at Adelphi University and is deeply meaningful to me. It follows the emotional journey of a boy named Robert who, after being bullied, retreats into solitude and video games—until one day, a pair of robins visits his window to build a nest. Watching their life unfold gives Robert a renewed sense of wonder and the courage to step back into the world. But when the robin family suddenly leaves, he is left again with loneliness, facing a new emotional turning point.

This book is a gentle exploration of healing, recovery, and the quiet encouragement that nature brings us. With 15 watercolor illustrations, Hello, My Robin helps children recognize the beauty of nature, the power of empathy, and the importance of emotional resilience. It has received warm praise, including a thoughtful review from Professor Stephanie Boggs of Adelphi University, who noted that the story touches on themes of parental support, bullying, emotional awareness, and personal growth.

What I Learned from Publishing My First BookAs my first publication, I worked with a professional publisher who handled the layout and formatting.
For a first-time author, I believe this was a good decision. It helped ease my fears about the publishing process and gave me a chance to experience what professional editing looks like. I often recommend this approach to new authors who are feeling uncertain about taking their first step.
However, to be honest, I was somewhat disappointed with some aspects of the production—especially the design.

I painted all of the illustrations myself in watercolor, but the book was printed in a fixed 8×8-inch square format. As a result, many of the paintings lost their detail and clarity due to resolution compression, and the layout did not adapt well to the varied orientations (vertical and horizontal) of the illustrations. I had expected more guidance and design sensitivity, but the final result felt a bit too conventional and outdated in style.

A New Phase: Taking Ownership of the RevisionNow, with the experience of publishing behind me—and a better understanding of how books are created and sold—I’ve decided to revise and republish the book independently. This time, I plan to manage the layout, resizing, and design choices on my own to better reflect the integrity of the original artwork.
Publishing is not only about making a book available to readers—it’s about delivering the story and imagery with intentional care.
While the first edition gave me the courage to start, this new edition is giving me the confidence to grow and refine my voice as both an author and artist.
I hope the revised Hello, My Robin will reach readers with even more clarity, heart, and beauty.

From Storytelling to Exhibition: Building Picture Books Together

Through the experience of writing and publishing my first picture book, I came to deeply understand the power and importance of storytelling.
While I have long been comfortable with drawing and visual expression, I realized that crafting a story—structuring it, delivering a message, and guiding readers emotionally—holds an even more transformative strength.
Building on that realization, I began a project that combines book publishing with gallery exhibitions in collaboration with local art spaces.
Rather than simply introducing the book as a finished product, I displayed the illustrations as full artworks on canvas, creating a bridge between storytelling and visual art.
This fusion brought a unique sense of immersion and wonder to visitors, especially children and their families.
The feedback we received—such as “It feels like the book has come to life”—reinforced the value of connecting literature and visual experience in an intimate and imaginative way.

The Second Book: Our Treehouse

This year, I am preparing my second picture book project titled Our Treehouse.
It’s a story inspired by shared imagination with children, centered around the warmth of community and the healing power of nature.
Unlike my first book, this new project places even more emphasis on collaborative creation, with children contributing ideas, characters, and story elements directly.

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Creating Sustainability and Professionalism Through Mom’s Playground

​Through these creative experiences, I began to realize something essential:

While creating alone is meaningful, creating together is powerful.
That’s why I founded a collaborative publishing group called Mom’s Playground, made up of mothers who are artists, designers, and writers.
Together, we support one another through the entire picture book journey—from idea development and illustration to editing, publishing, exhibiting, and marketing.
Our goal is not only to help children tell their stories through art and books,
but also to empower mothers to apply their creative skills and professional insight to create meaningful, high-quality publications.
Mom’s Playground is a space where creativity meets structure, where community, storytelling, and professionalism come together.

The Value of Creating TogetherA great picture book is never the result of one person's vision alone.

It reflects the child’s imagination, the mother’s sensitivity, the designer’s eye, and the reader’s heart.
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Mom’s Playground is our collaborative space—our creative playground—where all of this comes together.
Through this group, I hope to continue producing heartfelt books, inspiring exhibitions, and community-based creative programs that bring art and storytelling into everyday life.