A Tiny World, Held by Many Hands

I have always been fascinated by small things that carry big feelings a teacup glowing in the dusk, a ribbon catching the light, a child standing bravely at the edge of something unknown.

With Little Sora, In a Big World, I set out to create more than a picture book. I wanted to build a living, breathing miniature universe where every object feels handmade, intentional, and full of heart. Each scene was carefully crafted, lit like a gentle film still, and photographed as if you were peering into a secret world that exists just beyond our own.

Bringing Sora’s world to life was not a solo effort it took a thoughtful, patient, and deeply creative team. From the delicate miniature sets to the careful photography and post-processing, every spread is the result of many hands working together to shape something tender and magical. This book is as much a celebration of collaboration as it is of imagination.

Sora’s journey began as a simple question: What does it feel like to be small in a very big world? But as we built her story — one teacup, one ribbon river, one glowing lantern at a time the book revealed something deeper: belonging, courage, and the quiet beauty of seeing the world with wonder.

This story invites children and the children inside all of us to slow down, look closely, and remember that even the smallest among us can carry a radiant light.

I hope when you turn these pages, you feel the warmth of Sora’s world, the care of the team who brought it to life, and the gentle reminder that your own small story is powerful, beautiful, and worth sharing.

Special thanks to Elena Rivers who helped create the story, Daniel Grant who traveled to Japan to shoot the still photography and Aiko Tanaka who built the amazing little world! Truly every person worked hard to create a masterpiece.