Mountainous
Launch Date October 27, 2026 • Greystone Books • Written by Julia Kuo
When the world moves so fast, mountains seem to stand still. But mountains move and change just like you… Can you imagine?
From award-winning author-illustrator Julia Kuo comes a wondrous exploration into mountains. Just imagine … Trek up, up, up, to where glaciers slide, volcanoes erupt, and meadow flowers burst into color. Discover all of the marvelous ways mountains sway and hum, wiggle and shake, and even make their own weather.
Perfect for ages 4-8, Mountainous features:
A wide display of mountains from around the world
Fascinating scientific facts about how mountains are made, how they support ecosystems, and can reshape landscapes (and more!)
Dynamic sidebars and a unique search-and-find backmatter invites readers to dive back into the pages again and again
With simple lyrical text and informative sidebars, this stunning picture book is perfect for introducing readers of all ages to the mysteries of mighty mountains and the wonders of our natural world.
Book 2 in the I Am Nature series, following the award-winning Luminous.
Launch Events
BOOK LAUNCH at Village Books and Paper Dreams
Saturday, October 24th from 3-4pm in the Readings Gallery
In partnership with the North Cascades Institute Nature of Writing Speaker Series
1200 11th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225
Reservation is free and encouraged!
Order the Book
Interviews and Articles
Power & Wonder: Highly Anticipated Picture Books for Fall 2026 - School Library Journal
Learn About How I Work
Learn about my process for Mountainous!
Critical Praise
“Mountains may seem still, but Kuo argues otherwise—and finds in that contradiction a surprisingly moving metaphor for growing up.”
“The balance between wonder and information is superb.”
“The book, as well as its subject, has a timeless quality—at once geologically ancient and gently intimate. Spreads shift confidently in scale, from a child pressed against a train window gazing at Fuji-san to vast glacier fields and erupting volcanoes, yet the human figures (a brown-skinned adult and youngster, always warmly rendered) keep the emotional register close.”
- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Julia Kuo’s Mountainous (Greystone) asks readers to imagine mountains as bodies that hum, shake, weather, and bloom."
- SLJ's Highly Anticipated Picture Books for Fall list
"A sweet read that connects awe-inspiring natural landforms to the awe-inspiring experience of growing up; young hikers, mountaineers, and adventurers will delight, as will caregivers contemplating their little ones’ own tectonic changes."
- School Library Journal