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Jianye Zou

A small witch flies on broomstick home. Text reads, "Little Witch lived in the forest with her dad and mom." — Little Witch Will Have A Sibling, 2024

Little Witch sits on a bed, asking if her mother is sick. The mother replies that she is pregnant. — Little Witch Will Have A Sibling, 2024

Little Witch cries in the forest, waking up Magic Mushroom. — Little Witch Will Have A Sibling, 2024

Magic Mushroom shows Little Witch mole sisters sharing food and a mother bird cuddling with her baby birds. — Little Witch Will Have A Sibling, 2024

Little Witch and Magic Mushroom in a green field. — Little Witch Will Have A Sibling, 2024

Jianye Zou

Website: jzou08.myportfolio.com/work
Ins: @real_jane720

Artist Statement

When I was in high school, my parents had my little brother without telling me. This unexpected appearance of a newborn baby in the family shocked me, taking me through a lengthy process to completely accept it and address the anxiety disorder caused by it. After that time, I gradually realized that many children have this shared experience, inspiring me to create a children's book to help children prepare for the coming babies in their families.

In the book, Little Witch embarks on a journey through the forest. This is not only an initial journey with a sibling but also a process by which Little Witch prepares herself for her future life.

I hope that my illustrations can help children recover from their negative psychological problems in a more targeted way. My story depicts Little Witch's view of life with a sibling and the changes in the family that affect her. Through her journey, children who have already or will soon welcome a new sibling can build a confident and positive attitude towards the new addition to their families, seeing them not as adversaries but as potential friends.