Marshmallow And Jordan by Alina Chau
A warm, joyful graphic novel about friendship, imagination, and the unbreakable bond between a girl and her gentle elephant companion.
- A celebration of disability, inclusion, and belonging
- Lush, expressive artwork full of color and heart
- Perfect for middle-grade readers and families
Explore Marshmallow and Jordan
Marshmallow & Jordan — Paperback
A flexible, affordable paperback format that makes Alina Chau’s story accessible to every reader and classroom shelf.
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Marshmallow & Jordan — Kindle Edition
Read anywhere on the Kindle app with vibrant digital color that brings Alina Chau’s illustrations fully to life.
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Marshmallow & Jordan — Hardcover
The beloved graphic novel in its standard hardcover edition, ideal for libraries, classrooms, and personal collections.
Check PriceInside the Book
Marshmallow and Jordan follows Jordan, a spirited girl who uses a wheelchair, and her best friend Marshmallow — an enormous, gentle elephant with an enormous heart. Together they navigate school challenges, creative adventures, and the everyday moments that define true friendship. Alina Chau’s lush watercolor-style illustrations wrap every page in warmth, and the story never shies away from portraying Jordan’s world with honesty, humor, and deep affection.
The book’s visual language is accessible and expressive, making it an ideal choice for reluctant readers, children exploring their own identities, and anyone who believes the best friendships transcend every boundary. Teachers and librarians praise the book for its natural, non-preachy approach to inclusion — Jordan’s wheelchair is part of her world, not the whole of her story.
Rich Illustrations
Every spread bursts with botanical detail, soft palettes, and character expressions that convey emotion without a single word.
Unforgettable Characters
Jordan and Marshmallow feel fully real — funny, flawed, loyal, and absolutely worth rooting for from page one.
Inclusive Storytelling
Disability representation woven naturally into an adventure story, giving all readers a hero who looks and lives like them.
How to Read This Book
Use this five-step guide to review Marshmallow And Jordan by Alina Chau and make an informed choice from the available product information.
Whether you are picking up the book for yourself or sharing it with a young reader, these five steps will make the experience richer and more memorable.
- 01
Choose Your Format
Decide whether a physical hardcover, a softcover paperback, or a digital edition suits your reading situation. The hardcover is ideal for home bookshelves and gift-giving; the paperback travels well; the digital edition lets you zoom into Alina Chau’s finest illustration detail on any screen.
- 02
Set the Scene
Find a comfortable, well-lit spot before you begin. Because the book relies so heavily on visual storytelling, good lighting and enough space to hold the pages open flat will ensure you catch every expressive detail in the artwork — from Marshmallow’s gentle eyes to the lush botanical backgrounds.
- 03
Read Together
Marshmallow and Jordan shines brightest when shared. Read aloud with a child, take turns voicing Jordan and Marshmallow, and pause on full-page spreads to absorb the color and composition. The story’s pacing invites conversation rather than rushing, so linger wherever the art moves you.
- 04
Talk It Over
After reading, open a conversation about friendship, imagination, and what it means to support someone who experiences the world differently. Jordan’s story offers a natural entry point for discussing disability and inclusion in a way that feels genuine rather than instructional — let the characters lead the discussion.
- 05
Explore More
Once the story is finished, look into Alina Chau’s broader body of work and seek out other graphic novels that celebrate inclusion and diverse protagonists. Building a collection of books that reflect many experiences is one of the best gifts a library shelf can offer any young reader.
Marshmallow and Jordan Reviews: What Readers Are Saying
A Story That Stays With You
The artwork is breathtaking from cover to cover. Alina Chau has created a world that feels warm, safe, and brimming with imagination. Jordan’s friendship with Marshmallow is the kind of relationship every child deserves to see reflected in the books they read.
— Verified Reader
Perfect for the Classroom
I read this with my third-grade class and the discussion it sparked was remarkable. Children who use wheelchairs felt seen, and their classmates gained a new perspective without any heavy-handed messaging. The story does the work beautifully and the illustrations are endlessly engaging.
— Elementary Educator
A Gift Every Kid Deserves
We bought it as a birthday gift and it was immediately declared the best book of the year in our household. The humor is genuinely funny, the heart is genuine, and Marshmallow is the most lovable character I have encountered in a children’s book in years. Highly recommended.
— Parent Reader
Watch: Marshmallow and Jordan in Action
See the world of Marshmallow and Jordan come to life in this featured video from Alina Chau.
About the Author: Alina Chau
Alina Chau is an author and illustrator whose work spans animation, comics, and children’s books. With a career that has included work on major animated productions, she brings a deeply cinematic sensibility to every page she creates. Her characters move, breathe, and feel — and her color choices are guided by an instinctive understanding of how illustration can carry emotional weight across a single spread.
Marshmallow and Jordan is a deeply personal project, drawing on Chau’s own experiences and her commitment to representing disability authentically and joyfully in children’s media. The book stands as both a creative achievement and a meaningful contribution to inclusive storytelling for young readers everywhere.
Explore Alina Chau’s full bibliography and discover more of her creative work through the link below.
Visit Official StoreFrequently Asked Questions
What age group is Marshmallow and Jordan intended for?
The book is primarily written and illustrated for middle-grade readers, generally ages 8 to 12, though its themes and beautiful artwork make it enjoyable for younger children reading with a caregiver and for adult readers who appreciate thoughtful graphic storytelling.
Is the book available in multiple formats?
Yes. Marshmallow and Jordan is available as a hardcover, a paperback, and a digital Kindle edition. Each format presents Alina Chau’s full-color illustrations — choose whichever suits your reading preference or gifting needs best.
Does the book include disability representation?
Absolutely. Jordan, the main character, uses a wheelchair, and the story portrays her life with warmth, humor, and authenticity. The representation feels natural rather than instructional, making the book a valuable and enjoyable read for all children.
Is Marshmallow and Jordan suitable for classroom use?
Yes, and educators have noted its value for sparking age-appropriate conversations about friendship, inclusion, and disability. The book’s visual format engages reluctant readers while offering enough depth for classroom discussion at the middle-grade level.
Who is the author and illustrator?
Alina Chau is both the author and illustrator of Marshmallow and Jordan. She is a professional animator and artist whose experience in visual storytelling is evident in every page of this graphic novel.