Looking at the cover of Mountainous by Julia Kuo made me think that the book was going to be a book that “feels good” and has a mindfulness quality to it. And it does, but it is not just that. This unique work features a clever, sweet, and interesting story that blends meditation, self-esteem, and imagery to create a truly special experience.
It shows (from the publisher’s description) that When the world moves so fast, mountains seem to stand still. But mountains move and change just like you… Can you imagine? It shows how we are similar to the mountain, to nature, and the reverse. We learn about how mountains ebb and flow, how they move, grow, and become what they are meant to be. It can be a bit too sweet in some places, but I was getting into that. I needed that tone, that kind of experience at the time of reading. The nonfiction text reads as fiction, and includes a meditative atmosphere. 
It works for multiple ages as we mix science, nature, earth sciences and even geography in this read via an online reader copy, which is due late October/early November 2026. If you liked their Let’s Do Everything and Nothing, this is right in the same vein as that title. They have several books that also continue with the same feelings. Mountainous is a companion to Luminous. Kuo is an illustrator for several books as well. These images do vary, but most of what I have seen is this whimsical, crafty looking work. They compliment the simple and musical text that has two layers: a simpler story with sidebars giving us more goodies about the situation.
