The cover of a children's book titled 'The Inactivity Book' by Kyo Maclear and Tracy Subisak. The illustration shows a young girl with black hair lying on her back on green grass, leaning against a tree, with two yellow birds perched on her feet, and another bird in the tree.

Written By Kyo Maclear & Illustrated by Tracy Subisak

The Inactivity Book

From the author of the Caldecott Honor-winning NOODLES ON A BICYCLE comes a poetic celebration of doing… not much at all.

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About this book

Have you ever felt like becoming a perch for passing birds? Or curling into the corneriest corner you can find? Maybe you’ve imagined yourself as a sleepy monument or even a sea sponge at the bottom of the ocean. If you have, then you’re ready to discover the magic of doing nothing at all.

Told in Kyo Maclear’s signature lyrical voice, and with Tracy Subisak’s whimsical illustrations, here is a funny ode to the lost art of loafing. In a world that often celebrates productivity, this picture book reminds us of the quiet, necessary joy of simply being. It’s perfect for idlers of all ages–because who doesn’t need a little inactivity now and then?

The details

RELEASE DATE: September 22, 2026

AGES: 4-8

PAGES: 48

FORMAT: Hardcover

PUBLISHER: Random House Studio

ISBN-13: 9780593181980

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Close-up of a handwritten cursive phrase 'Hello World' written in white on a black background.
Close-up of a handwritten cursive phrase 'Hello World' written in white on a black background.

Praise

  • "Maclear (Noodles on a Bicycle) and Subisak (Sorry, Snail) make a fresh case for inactivity, treating it not as a prescribed virtue but as a mischievous creative practice… Watercolor, ink, crayon, and pencil artwork makes this stillness feel alive, as the child, portrayed with brown skin and a serene mien, becomes an “ancient mountain” conjured up out of a blanket, a dino waiting for an egg to hatch, and a climbing structure for garden creatures."

    — Publishers Weekly, starred review

  • "Even if a child may not intuitively know how mindfulness or emotional regulation feels in their body, they do know how to mimic a rug or a mountain. Against a societal demand for ceaseless busyness, this soothing book reframes rest as the practice of simply existing."

    — Horn Book

Illustration of a horizontal row of hand-drawn wavy lines.
Illustration of a horizontal row of hand-drawn wavy lines.
Tracy Subisak with short dark hair smiling and holding a children's book titled 'Jenny Mei Is Sad' while standing outdoors in a park with trees, a bridge, and mountains in the background.

About Tracy

Tracy Subisak is the mixed-Taiwanese American author and illustrator of Sorry, Snail and award-winning Jenny Mei Is Sad. She has also illustrated many picture books including The Inactivity Book, written by Kyo Maclear and Amah Faraway, written by Margaret Chiu Greanias. Her books have been featured in publications such as the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and PBS Books. Tracy currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her family and copious amounts of plants.

MORE ABOUT TRACY