Written by Lauren Soloy
Illustrated by Janie Hao
Kids Can Press
978-1-5253-1433-9
32 pp.
Ages 3–7
October 2026
There are countless days in the calendar that recognize pets and animals, whether to walk them, to honour those who have passed, or to love them. October is an especially important month as October 4 is recognized as World Pet Day and World Animal Day. That day would be well served by a reading of Lauren Soloy and Janie Hao's Hello, Beautiful Animal, a picture book that reminds us of how we should treat all the animals with kindness and appreciation.
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| Illustration by Janie Hao from Hello, Beautiful Animal, written by Lauren Soloy |
Lauren Soloy begins by reminding young readers that all animals are amazing and should be treated well. That could include getting them medical care, showing them affection and attention, grooming them, feeding them good food, giving them opportunities for fresh air and exercise, and keeping them happy. Being a responsible caregiver to an animal is filled with joys and requires much from us, not the least of which is kindness.
Illustrator Janie Hao shows us a variety of animals, from pets like a dog and a cat and a lizard, but also animals in the wild like fish, otters, birds, and apes. The stars of Hello, Beautiful Animal are the family Corgi and orange tabby upon which two children shower much attention and love.
I have reviewed books both by Lauren Soloy, who wrote and illustrated Every Leaf on Every Tree (Nimbus Publishing, 2025), and by Janie Hao (Mad at Dad, Kids Can Press, 2024), and I am surprised by how distinct this story from their earlier works. Lauren Soloy, who has illustrated for others (e.g., A Tulip in Winter: A Story About Folk Artist Maud Lewis by Kathy Stinson) as well as authored and illustrated her own stories diverges with Hello, Beautiful Animal by not illustrating it. Instead, she focuses on sharing positive messages about being an animal caregiver, instructing young readers what it takes to be compassionate and responsible towards animals, domestic and others.
Janie Hao's digital illustrations let us see animals both as foci in our lives as well as a part of the larger world. Whether watching a Corgi howl for food or depicting a world of animals of land, sky, and water, Janie Hao takes us into their worlds. It may also be our world, but through the use of perspective, Janie Hao's colourful art depicts them as they see, feel, and are.
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| Illustration by Janie Hao from Hello, Beautiful Animal, written by Lauren Soloy |
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| Illustration by Janie Hao from Hello, Beautiful Animal, written by Lauren Soloy |
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| Illustration by Janie Hao from Hello, Beautiful Animal, written by Lauren Soloy |
Hello, Beautiful Animal has all the charm of a storied picture book, but it is actually an engaging guide to help children understand our responsibilities to animals so that we can keep their lives fulfilling, just as they enrich ours.
