Higo Wu, a Taiwanese author known for his heartfelt and evocative stories, believes that “the smallest unit that makes up the universe is stories, not atoms.” This philosophy drives him to continually expand the boundaries of storytelling.

Themes of death and loss frequently appear in Wu’s works. Reflecting on his childhood thoughts, he shares, “When I was lying in bed, I would wonder, what would it feel like to die? Does not breathing mean death? I even tried holding my breath to imagine the feeling of dying, picturing myself in a coffin. Oops! What a weird kid I was.”

Mama is a Cloud is one of his first stories with a unique ending. He explains, “Mother Frog often races with her little frogs, always giving her all. Initially, I wanted to highlight her love for her children and her unique personality. But as I progressed, Mother Frog also crossed the finish line of life. I love this ending. Once a person is born, many things are uncertain, but the one certainty is that ‘one day, they will die.’ People don’t disappear; they just reach the finish line first and wait for us at the garden party beyond.”

Higo Wu’s picture books are known for their beautiful lines that convey life’s glimmers and emotional warmth, such as:

– “It doesn’t matter, no matter how hard the stone is, it will hurt.” — Blooming Jizo  

– “My mother is a cloud. Sometimes it thunders, and sometimes it rains silently.” — Mama is a Cloud

– “You will be there in every blooming season from now on.” — The Song of Little Stone  

– “The moon is too thin, and at night when the stars disappear, I will still shine, brighter than ever.” — The Shimmering Tree

– “The universe is really too old, too old. But… in the eyes of children, even the very old universe is still very new.” — Still Young Still New

His works, such as Grandma’s Fruit Garden and Going to the Vegetable Market with Grandpa, showcase the daily love and elegance behind charming stories, often incorporating Taiwanese pronunciation.

During his college years, Higo Wu visited children in remote schools and kindergartens, and received letters from them. In his replies, he would include stories or jokes with illustrations. He cherishes the intent of “communicating hearts through stories.” In his essay collection “Waiting for the Rain to Stop and Walking in the Rain,” he writes, “In many ways, I am someone often saved by stories. The power of stories is so pure. They don’t need to talk about big ideas or cheer you up at all costs. They just need to make you ‘wake up a little bit.'”

Mama is a Cloud

Original title: 媽媽是一朵雲

Written by Higo Wu/ Illustrated by Bei-Lynn

2019, PAPA Publishing

ISBN: 9789869743754

---

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

‘媽媽是一朵雲’. 博客來, https://www.books.com.tw/products/0010827888. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.

‘綴圓仔講臺語②：佮阿公踅菜市仔’. 博客來, https://www.books.com.tw/products/0010936932. Accessed 1 Aug. 2024.

---

Meet Wen Wu: a versatile creator, advocate of children’s literature, connoisseur of picture book aesthetics, and fervent champion of literature. She appreciates the innocence and honesty of children, though occasionally she finds herself uneasy towards the bluntness of others. Her reverence for nature extends to all living beings, those seen and unseen. A life enriched by novels, poems, movies, paintings, stories, and writing fuels her passion. Amidst the complexities of adulthood, she strives to preserve the innocence and boundless imagination of childhood. You can find Wen on her Facebook page or via wenchunwu1227@gmail.com 

Curator & Translator 

Eleanor Duggan is a passionate children’s book reader, a storytelling enchantress, an aspiring globetrotter, a part-time book crafter, and an impassioned foodie who is a cooking disaster. She is more known as an international school teacher-librarian and the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) Regional Director for East Asia. She is a Taiwanese with a Belgian soul and is currently enjoying her life as a citizen of the world with her daughter and their 2 one-of-a kind cats. You may find her via The Third Culture Librarian 

GLLI Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in posts on this site are the individual author’s and are not indicative of the views of Global Literature in Libraries Initiative.