Zaydee Mae Goes to the Moon

Zaydee Mae Goes to the Moon was an amazing opportunity to bring to life a heartfelt story about following your dreams, written by the inspiring Zoï Alderfer Ryan. Based on the early life of the main character, Zaydee Mae, in China, the book offered a perfect chance for me to draw on my long-standing love of both Chinese and Japanese landscape art.

Visually, I explored the use of vertical formats—evoking traditional hanging scrolls—to emphasize the story’s upward, moonward journey. At key points in the book, this is contrasted with horizontal spreads to ground the reader and create dynamic rhythm and depth in the storytelling. The result is a rich visual experience that supports the emotional arc of Zaydee Mae’s adventure.

This project was a joy to work on—combining dreamlike imagery, cultural texture, and a universal message of wonder and perseverance.