[citation needed] Western children's books like Anne of Green Gables (for which she drew the cover artwork in a republished version in 2011[5]) she read as a child had a notable influence on her work, especially how she chooses to portray unusual family constellations.
[7] In 2000, Umino's most notable work, Honey and Clover, began serialization in Takarajimasha's manga magazine Cutie Comic.
Umino received the 27th Kodansha Manga Award for Honey and Clover in 2003, which was adapted into an anime series produced by J.C. Staff.
In 2009, she provided the character designs for original anime series, Eden of the East, by director Kenji Kamiyama.
Umino has also illustrated "Tobira o Akete" and the Glass Heart series, including "Boukensha-tachi", "Netsu no Shiro" and "Love Way."