Books illustrated by Udayana

 

Hugs are Not for Everybody!

Publisher: Owlkids Books

Release date: 18 March 2025

A fine choice for collections in need of books that help teach children about consent -SLJ

No Huddles for Heloise

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Release date: 11 March 2025

“Offers a sympathetic portrayal of a character who’s eager to maintain personal boundaries yet still wants to embrace her friends in her own way.”

“Lugo’s gouache and colored-pencil illustrations are handsomely rendered and darling, particularly all the penguins with their cold-weather accessories and eyewear.”- Kirkus

This is a book about social anxiety and identity.

If You Were a Princess

Publisher: Aladdin (Simon & Schuster)

Release date: 18 October 2022

The jewel-toned illustrations show the children helping their community, energized by the mountain-climbing, rapping, law-practicing real-life princesses surrounding them. Featured princesses are from a wide range of countries and cultures throughout history, a diversity that is mirrored in the characters’ community. -Kirkus

The Window/Grandpa’s Window

Publisher: Bonnier Books

Release date: 20 January 2022

Lugo’s poignant images allow adults to choose how they want to describe Grandpa’s demise. -Kirkus

Bella and Bean

Publisher: Pajama Press

Release date: 6 May 2025

For hippos, becoming big is guaranteed, and Bella and Bean can’t wait! But recently, Bella has started to dream about being something even bigger than big...

When You Meet a Dragon

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Release date: 16 April 2024

The opening spread of When You Meet a Dragon is phenomenal.

I particularly like a humorous page two spreads later. It shows the people who hesitate about helping. -CRM

This engaging dragon story also emphasizes how approaching issues or obstacles that might feel overwhelming with persistence and with a supportive group of allies can lead to positive outcomes. -Booklist

City Beet

Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press

Release date: 14 March 2023

Lugo’s colorfully detailed illustrations add to the humorous enterprise. -Kirkus

There’s a wide cross-section of folk that could represent any big city globally. Udayana Lugo’s warm and lively illustrations perfectly capture the nuances of facial expressions. -Quill & Quire

Santiago’s Dinosaurios

Publisher: Albert Whitman

Release date: 27 October 2022

A rawr-ing good depiction of being the new kid. Lugo’s vibrant, smile-filled illustrations feature a diverse group of students. -Kirkus

The Great and the Terrible

Publisher: Studio Press

Release date: 18 September 2020

Casual, occasionally to a fault, but broad of scope and chock full of juicy role models and anti-models. -Kirkus

Jungle Cat

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Release date: 16 May 2023

The colorful digital illustrations are lively and filled with delightful, witty details. A welcome reminder that whether you’re a cat or a human, it’s nice to have friendly people around ready to help you out. -Kirkus

Jungle Cat is a beautifully illustrated book with bright colours and detailed pictures; readers could spend more time looking at the pictures getting to know the characters and settings than they could reading the story. -CM

Pink is for Everybody

Publisher: Owlkids Books

Release date: 15 April 2022

Alongside the text are Lugo’s vibrant full-page digital illustrations, which capture the exuberance of this group of friends having one heck of a good time. As she takes readers from one spread to the next, the joy in the children’s expressions becomes infectious, until the reader, too, is grinning from ear to ear. Her artwork effortlessly demonstrates the importance of creativity and respecting others. -Quill & Quire

Plants the seed of deconstructing the color pink’s gendered associations ... Illustrated winningly in textured spreads by Lugo. -PW

The non-rhyming rhythmic storyline is upbeat and integrates seamlessly with the illustrations. Both the words and illustrations capture and inspire the ‘funness’ of pink, with the parallel message that Fun aka Pink is for everyone! The watercolour illustrations are vibrant, playful yet soothing and inviting.-CM

The Lost Galumpus

Publisher: Clarion Books (Harper Collins)

Release date: 10 January 2023

Lugo’s charming and expressive black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout. -Kirkus

Short chapters and adorable black-and-white illustrations will appeal to newer readers, as will the silly subject matter. A laugh-out-loud adventure with kindness at its core. -Booklist

Cozy illustrations by Lugo (Santiago’s Dinosaurios) suitably complement spirited prose by Helgerson -PW

Fly, Fly, Penguin!

Publisher: Woongjin

Release date: 1 March 2021

Penguin and other birds are sad because they can’t fly. When the others find their special talent, Penguin starts experimenting with ways they can fly.