Interview: Chloe Ito Ward

SARAH STEINBACHER: Your upcoming picture book, ALL THE WAYS WE LEARN (available on 7/7/26), celebrates children’s diverse paths to learning. The story features different accommodations that support neurodivergent learners through a ‘there’s no one right way to learn’ theme. How did having a neurodivergent author and illustrator team enhance the project?

CHLOE ITO WARD: When you bring your own lived experience into a project it adds this layer of emotion and heart that is hard to replicate. Both Yara and I saw ourselves as characters in this book, so it was deeply personal. A bunch of examples in the book I took from my own life. I think when you work on a project that you feel so invested in and connected to, it shows.  We know what it feels like to struggle to sit still or make eye contact, so writing or illustrating it comes more naturally.

Yara and I have a lot in common. We have similar communication styles and experiences, so it’s been really fun to work together, collaborating on creating resources, thinking of fun behind the scenes looks, social media posts etc. I hope we get to do more projects together because it’s truly been wonderful working with Yara, and the whole Rise team in general.

SARAH STEINBACHER: ALL THE WAYS WE LEARN is a “sweetly empowering” (Kirkus) picture book celebrating the many ways kids learn. What helps you learn?

CHLOE ITO WARD: I have always struggled to focus and one thing that has helped me is taking notes. At one point in college I remember I was really struggling, so I sat in the front row directly in front of every professor so I didn't have any distractions, and I would write down word for word whatever they said, forcing myself to pay attention.

I need movement. I can’t sit in a traditional chair with my feet on the floor. I sit crisscross applesauce or one leg up and one leg down, and I need to do something with my hands. If I don’t have something in my hands, I either get wiggly or will find a pen and click it repeatedly, which I know is very distracting for the people around me. I have a spinning ring I like to wear, and that helps a lot.

I’m also a big fan of laying on my stomach on the floor. It’s a great writing, listening, or reading position. You’ll see it in the book too.

SARAH STEINBACHER: What is something you hope that kids walk away with after reading ALL THE WAYS WE LEARN?

CHLOE ITO WARD: I hope kids feel seen and better understand themselves and their classmates. They might recognize their own struggles and with the help of an adult find sensory tools, accommodations, or modifications that help them learn better in the classroom.

SARAH STEINBACHER: Your newest picture book, CHOPSTICKS ARE, is a “celebratory, culturally rich accounting” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) that “elevates the beauty, versatility, and cultural significance of chopsticks…[and] broadens understanding of global traditions” (School Library Journal). What fact about chopsticks do you think will surprise readers most?

CHLOE ITO WARD: I don’t think I can pick just one! Hmm… I think readers will be surprised to learn that there are distinct, different styles of chopsticks. In China chopsticks are longer and often round at the end, compared to Japanese chopsticks, which are shorter, sharper, and often square. Korean chopsticks are typically made with metal while Vietnamese chopsticks are often made of bamboo or coconut wood. There are chopsticks for every occasion, cooking, serving food, ceremonies, even special wedding chopsticks.  Chopsticks come in so many styles, shapes, textures, and materials.

SARAH STEINBACHER: Kirkus said, “In Ward’s able hands, the humble chopstick becomes a window into culture, tradition, and quotidian joys” (starred review). They called CHOPSTICKS ARE “a warm, informative, and exuberant ode to an everyday utensil and the cultures that cherish it.” Why did you decide to use a common eating utensil as a way to explore cultural themes?

CHLOE ITO WARD: I was writing in the kitchen one morning, gazing out the window, trying to get inspiration from nature. I wasn't coming up with any ideas, so I turned and watched as my mom and grandma were talking, using chopsticks to whisk eggs and fry Goteborg sausage for breakfast. It was such an ordinary moment, one I’ve watched dozens of times, but I was struck that day by the thought that chopsticks are so much more than an eating utensil, they’re a symbol of time spent together and caring for one another. I love that chopsticks can seem simple at first glance, but when you take the time to look, you understand the history, weight, and importance of something that started out as two twigs.

SARAH STEINBACHER: You have a few picture books slated to be released in 2027. In MY MIND IS AN OCEAN, “a child with ADHD celebrates the unique complexity of their brain through empowering ocean metaphors.” What are you most excited about with this book?

CHLOE ITO WARD: I'm excited for readers to see more than one side to ADHD. I love that this book explores both the strengths and the weaknesses that come with ADHD.  But honestly, I'm mostly excited for everyone to see Wastana Haikal’s illustrations, they’re gorgeous!

SARAH STEINBACHER: Kirkus said this about your recent picture book, MADE FOR MORE: “in compelling, lyrical prose, Ward draws from her own family history and journey to self-acceptance to combat traditional East Asian beauty standards that idealize light skin.” MADE FOR MORE gently pushes back against colorism and narrow beauty standards. Why was it important for young children to see positive examples of kids embracing their unique skin tones?

CHLOE ITO WARD: There is this persistent, destructive idea that skin without blemishes or scars or freckles and limited melanin is the ideal beauty standard. And I see it everywhere, in advertisements, on TV and in movies, on filters, and now with ai models. I know from personal experience how harmful these messages our children are seeing. So, I wrote the book I wish I had as a kid, one of self-acceptance and confidence. I think if we can build our kids up before the world tries to tear them down, it makes such a difference. Our skin shares a story of who we are and where we’ve been, and it’s one we should be proud of, not something to hide or change.

SARAH STEINBACHER: Set on Kaua’i, YUKI’S SPECIAL DELIVERY is about a delivery girl who “receives her first bicycle through upcycling while helping her neighbors at her grandfather’s service station.” How did memories of your own grandfather’s service station help inspire this story?

CHLOE ITO WARD: By the time I was born the service station had already closed. It has since been reopened as a snack shop, so I’ve been inside the building, and it does still have a retro feel to it. I grew up hearing stories about the station, and the people with larger than life personalities who visited, but when I decided to write about it, I conducted a more official interview with my mom. She gave me lots of details of what it was like working there, what they sold, what the customers were like, she even sketched out the interior for me so I could see what it looked like before. The story is inspired by both her memories of the past, and my more recent ones of found family.

SARAH STEINBACHER: What’s your favorite thing to do in Hawai’i? And what ingredients are in your favorite ramen recipe?

CHLOE ITO WARD: I love the beach. You will find me either exploring tide pools, building a sandcastle, or bobbing in the ocean. My second favorite thing to do is eat, there are so many delicious things to eat! You can often find me at Sueoka Market, Smiley’s Local Grinds, or Sone’s.

I typically throw whatever I can find in the fridge into my ramen bowl. But my favorite is Goteburg sausage, sliced and fried, and a soft-boiled egg.

Follow Chloe through her website and Instagram.

*****Order Chloe’s latest picture book, CHOPSTICKS ARE.*****

*****Preorder Chloe’s upcoming picture book, ALL THE WAYS WE LEARN (available 7/7/26).*****