Parents can spend story time telling their kids about how special and unique they are while reading A place for Mulan together. This new Disney Press picture book was inspired by the new live adaptation of Mulan, which opens with a scene of young Mulan getting into trouble because he’s too adventurous. On every page of this book, young Mulan does something inherent to her nature that goes against the expectations of society.
Mulan knows she’s not like other girls and that bothers her. She has a hard time fitting in or paying attention to tasks like weaving and calligraphy, daydreaming and prefers to spend more time with her horse, Blackwind. Other parents in the village express their concerns and his mother always makes excuses for him. Amazed by tears, her father takes her outside and uses types of plants to teach her how unique and special she is and shouldn’t be ashamed of it.
A place for Mulan may be based on the live-action movie, but it incorporates a moment from the animation function which is missing from the remake. When you see the movie, you won’t see the iconic scene where Mulan and her father sit under a pink magnolia tree. That blossoming tree comes into play in this book, which nicely connects the animated classic with the new adaptation.
Written by Marie Chow, A place for Mulan is about celebrating the things that make you special. Each child is unique in their own way. Some people learn at a different pace, some have a shorter attention span, some have special interests, or some have more trouble dealing with their emotions. Parents can use this story on young people Mulan not only to make them feel better about the things that make them different, but also to show them that Mulan has grown up to be a hero because of her uniqueness.
The art comes from Chinese artist Jasper Shaw, who uses watercolor styles to set the scene. His work resembles a mixture of traditional Chinese methods married to more modern charms. In particular, I see pieces of Mary Blaire the world is small style embedded in the pages.
A place for Mulan by Marie Chow with illustrations by Jasper Shaw is a perfect addition to your bedtime or storytime book rotation. It bridges the gap between the Animation Film and the next one live adaptation, but more importantly, it’s a book that shows how special your child is. Share it with them and appreciate how special they are every day.
Alex joined the Laughing Place team in 2014 and has been a lifelong Disney fan. His main beats for LP are Disney-branded movies, TV shows, books, music, and toys. He recently became a member of the Television Critics Association (TCA).