On the Tip of a Wave: How AI Weiwei’s Art Is Changing the Tide

2024 Bank Street Children’s Book Committee Best Books of the Year

2023 IA Iowa City Public Library Best Books of the Year

2023 CA Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award Silver Medal

2024 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Title

Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews

Starred Review from Publishers Weekly

Starred Review from School Library Journal

Starred Review from Booklist

From New York Times bestselling author of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, Joanna Ho, and critically acclaimed illustrator, Cátia Chien comes a moving, powerful picture book about the life and work of activist and artist, Ai Weiwei.

He [Ai Weiwei] felt the life jackets and an idea curled and crested through his fingertips. The way it always did.

Told in Joanna Ho’s signature lyrical writing, this is the story that shines a light on Ai Weiwei and his journey, specifically how the Life Jackets exhibit at Konzerthaus Berlin came to be. As conditions for refugees worsened, Ai Weiwei was inspired by the discarded life jackets on the shores of Lesbos to create a bold installation that would grab the attention of the world. Cátia Chien masterfully portrays the intricate life of Ai Weiwei with inspirations from woodblock printing and a special emphasis on the color orange, the same color of the life jackets that became a beacon of hope. Through Cátia’s dynamic and stunning illustrations, we see how Ai Weiwei became the activist and artist he is today while proving the power of art within humanity.

Cátia Chien is a Brazilian Taiwanese artist. She’s the illustrator of such titles as The Bear and the Moon, which was a Society of Illustrators Gold Medal for Original Art winner and a Golden Kite Award for picture book illustration winner, A Boy and a Jaguar, an ALA Notable Book and recipient of the Schneider Family Book Award. Her art has been shown in galleries worldwide including the Beijing National Gallery and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair exhibition. She is also the founder of A Thousand Worlds, a curated picture book directory celebrating BIPOC creators.

She lives in New York City with her family.

Joanna Ho is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, Eyes That Speak to the Stars, Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma, and The Silence That Binds Us. She has been an English teacher, a dean, a vice principal, and a professional development creator. Her passion for equity in books and education is matched only by her love of homemade chocolate chip cookies, outdoor adventures, and dance parties with her kids.