Our Favorite Children's Book IllustratorsLike this list

15 items

• Viva Frida!

  Morales, Yuyi

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  She is an amazing artist. She is a mixed media artist and book illustrator. She has a folk art style that mixes realism and fantasy in her illustrations. She illustrated the book, Viva Frida! Using various media, pictures of her clay, puppet-like…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

  Pak, Kenard

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  Kenard Pak! His work is textural, soft, and dream-like. He has recently moved beyond illustration and into the author world, and his season-themed collection of stories are wonderful. - Taylor

• Freedom in Congo Square

  Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956-

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  I am drawn to the illustrations in the book, Freedom In Congo Square. R. Gregory Christie incorporates elements of African art and sculpture in his character illustrations that have expressive faces and elongated limbs. - Escarlen

• The Best Book in the World

  Alexander, Rilla

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  I love Rilla Alexander's art so stinkin' much. Her use of color and simple shapes is really something special. -Taylor

• Me, Frida

  Novesky, Amy

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  David Díaz has a folk art style that really appeals to me. He incorporates the use of chalk and acrylics in the illustrations of the book, Me, Frida, he uses vivid colors in a folk art style. In the book The Pot that Juan Built, he uses a muted…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I Want My Hat Back

  Klassen, Jon

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  If there's one word to describe Jon Klassen's work, it is: expressive. There's so much emotion to his work. His consistent palette of moody earth tones is all cozy feels. Absolutely beautiful and simple. - Taylor

• The Upside Down Boy

  El Niño De Cabeza

  Herrera, Juan Felipe

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  Elizabeth Gómez is influenced by surreal artists that use fantastical transformations. You can see the influence in the flying boy in, Juan Felipe Herrera’s book, The Upside Down Boy. She describes her illustrations as a “utopic coexistence” of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Just in Case You Want to Fly

  Fogliano, Julie

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  I also listed Christian Robinson in our Author Favorites list and for good reason. He. Is. The. Best. There is always so much joy and movement in his work. He uses a mixture of paint and collage that is just lovely. - Taylor

• Draw!

  Colón, Raúl

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  I love his wonderful color pencil drawings. He is an expert at mixing colors and I just love all of his illustrations. I had a chance to meet him at an elementary school presentation where he gave drawing tips! - Escarlen

• Babymoon

  Barrett, Hayley

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  Juana Martinez-Neal's work is gentle, and warm. Her rounded shapes and softness is wholly unique. - Taylor

• Maybe Something Beautiful

  Campoy, F. Isabel

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  Rafael López won the Pura Belpré award for his illustrations of Pat Mora’s, Book Fiesta! His most recently illustrated book is Maybe Something Beautiful. His work is influenced by his cultural heritage and is evident in his strong use of color. He…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• My Heart Fills With Happiness

  Gray Smith, Monique, 1968-

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  Oh, Julie Flett. Her palette is stunning and she is able to convey so much movement and emotion in very simple illustrations. - Taylor

• The Gullywasher

  El Chaparrón Torrencial

  Rossi, Joyce

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  Joyce Rossi worked as a 3rd grade teacher before focusing on her art. I love her watercolor images depicting the desert landscape during the monsoon season. The illustration on the front cover of her bilingual book, The Gully Washer, El Chaparrón…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Shaking Things Up

  14 Young Women Who Changed the World

  Hood, Susan, 1954-

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  Oge Mora forever! Like Christian Robinson (but different), her work is mixed media and so very special. Relatively new to the children's book scene, I can't wait to see what else she produces. - Taylor

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar

  Carle, Eric

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  His illustrations are a special favorite of mine! I just love all of his angular drawings and how they are filled with collage like cutouts of paper. So creative and so simple! - Escarlen