Review and interview by Haylee Hackenberg
There are so many picture books out there, often filled with familiar faces, unicorns, bears, and lately, a whole lot of axolotls. So it was a real delight to come across My Mum is a Bird by Angie Cui, which feels refreshingly original. At its heart, this is a story about belonging, identity, and family. Told through the eyes of a child, it’s a tender and uplifting tribute to a mum who’s strong, mysterious, and full of quiet magic, even if the world doesn’t always notice. Evie Barrow’s charming hand-drawn illustrations add warmth and character, perfectly capturing the spirit of this unique, unforgettable mum. It’s a gentle, joyful ode to the maternal resilience we all wish to pass on to our children. I spoke to Angie about the inspiration behind My Mum is a Bird. 
My Mum is a Bird is such a beautiful, uniquely told story. Can you tell us a little about what inspired it?
Thank you so much! The inspiration came from a close friend of mine who has always felt different from her own family (she’s non-binary)– like she had to hide parts of herself to be accepted. That feeling really stuck with me. It made me wonder what it would be like if a child had a mum who was completely unlike anyone else’s – perhaps not a human. At first glance, it’s a playful idea, but it really became a story about more than difference – it’s about self-identity, about learning to see the beauty in your own reflection, even when it doesn’t match what’s around you. I wanted to write a book that could help kids begin to embrace all the parts of who they are, especially the parts that might make them feel like they don’t fit in.
What was the journey to publication like?
As a debut author, it was a huge learning curve! At first, I wasn’t sure what format the story should take – I debated between writing it as a YA fantasy or a picture book (honestly, I didn’t know what I was doing). Originally, the mum was a phoenix in a human shape, but once I focused on the emotional core – a child navigating the tension between embarrassment and pride in their identity – I knew it needed to be a gentle picture book. Something simple, something easy to read and remember. There were plenty of rewrites and a lot of feedback from my mentor, Zanni Louise, and from editors. But what kept me going was the heart of the story: helping children understand that their identity, however different it may seem, is something to be proud of. Seeing that come to life through illustrations was incredibly special.
On the same note, I was well-prepared for my pitch at the Kidlit conference. Although the publisher’s submission guidelines said they didn’t want fantasy, I still took a gamble. I really believed this story needed to be seen and heard.
Something that really struck me about the story was how it managed to stay playful while tackling a deep, emotional issue. How did you find that balance?
It was a bit of a dance. I really wanted to honour the emotional weight of what the child is going through – those early moments where they feel shame, fear of judgment, confusion about their own identity – while also keeping the tone light and whimsical enough to invite young readers in. Having a bird as a mum gave me the room to explore those emotions in a more imaginative and symbolic way. That helped me keep it playful while still being honest about the inner journey – from confusion to self-acceptance to pride.
Also, My Mum is a Bird would like to invite everyone to dream big – the bird mum doesn’t just look different – she represents a sense of freedom, adventure, and joy. She gives her child wings to fly in their own unique way.
Have any of the reactions to the book surprised you?
I have to say – I didn’t like talking to people at first. Now, I absolutely love it! I enjoy chatting with booksellers about the book. I’ve been especially moved by readers who’ve shared how the book helped themselves, their kids, family members, and friends start conversations about their own identities. Some parents and booksellers told me it helped them feel seen – whether they come from a mixed family, have a nontraditional family structure, or just feel “different” in ways they hadn’t been able to articulate. A few adult readers even told me it helped them reconnect with parts of their own identity that they’d hidden as children. That surprised me, and honestly, it means the world. While this story is for kids, I think we all carry our inner child with us.
Additionally, I wanted to share something that might surprise some readers – has anyone thought about that the main character could be a boy? From my first draft, I wrote the story in the first person (“I, my, me”). There’s nothing wrong if any reader sees the child as a girl, but when we chose the image of the main character, we wanted it to be more neutral. We didn’t want to limit the creative freedom of my illustrator, Evie, so we gave her plenty of space to illustrate the character in a way that felt right to her. She even shared some of her colour choices and creative process on Instagram – feel free to check them out!
If you could choose any recently released book to time travel back to small child Angie and give her, what would it be and why?
I think I’d give her My Mum is a Bird first. Not because I wrote it, but because it’s the kind of story I wish I’d had growing up – one that told me it was okay to feel different, and that my identity didn’t need to match anyone else’s to be valid or beautiful. I think it would’ve helped little Angie feel seen, and maybe even a little bit brave. It might help her understand herself a bit more
My Mum is a Bird is out now and published by University of Queensland Press.
Our Map is out in June 2025, written by Angie, illustrated by Novia Heroanto and published by Wombat Books.
