Tell Your Story: Illustration

Picture books, board books, graphic novels, nonfiction, early readers, chapter books: all of these genres need illustrations for children to relate with and respond to.

Whether you’re new to children’s book illustration or an experienced artist who is curious about how to get started in children’s publishing, we can help you learn more with resources and workshops.

#HFGather on Income Streams for Children's Book Illustrators
PDF Download of Income Streams for Children's Book Illustrators

Want to learn more about building your career as an illustrator?

The Highlights Foundation held a free #HFGather session on income streams for illustrators with Pat Cummings, Shadra Strickland, Xindi Yan, and Rudy Gutierrez.

Join our community and download our Free #HFGather Wrap-Up, a one-page PDF that includes advice from the panelists, a list of 28 ways they've earned or pursued income through illustration, and a link to access the full recording of the webinar!

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Workshops for Illustrators

Free #HFGather: 2025 Scholarship Celebration and Information Session

Free #HFGather: 2025 Scholarship Celebration and Information Session

Starts: January 15, 2025

Summer Camp in Illustration: Intensive Artistic Inspiration

Summer Camp in Illustration: Intensive Artistic Inspiration

Starts: July 6, 2025

Inspiring Children Through Story

“My picture book … deals with parents separating. One little boy, who parents recently divorced, went to bed with [it] many nights. This deeply moved me to know this picture book helped this little boy.

“I tutor 2nd grade reluctant readers. My understanding of picture book structure and prose allows me to help them learn more than words. Rather than just read the story, we talk about it.”

“You mean I get to keep this book forever?”

…Spoken by a child in tears who was gifted with one of my books at a school visit and had never owned a book before.

“When I hear kids giggle while I’m reading [my book] I feel like I’ve done the job I intended to do.

Illustration Resources

3 Questions with Pat Cummings About the Crash Course: Illustrator’s Edition

3 Questions with Pat Cummings About the Crash Course: Illustrator’s Edition

3 Questions With Kaz Windness and Katie Mazeika About Disability Representation in Picture Book Illustration

3 Questions With Kaz Windness and Katie Mazeika About Disability Representation in Picture Book Illustration

3 Questions With Courtney Pippin-Mathur About Illustrator Inspiration

3 Questions With Courtney Pippin-Mathur About Illustrator Inspiration

3 Questions With Ashley Wolff and Merrill Rainey About the Power of Artistic Exploration

3 Questions With Ashley Wolff and Merrill Rainey About the Power of Artistic Exploration

Get Involved at the Highlights Foundation

Stories from Our Highlights Foundation Alumni

Celebration Station: Fall 2024

Celebration Station: Fall 2024

Celebrating a Book Birthday With Two Native Creatives: Andrea L. Rogers + Rebecca Lee Kunz

Celebrating a Book Birthday With Two Native Creatives: Andrea L. Rogers + Rebecca Lee Kunz

Realm United: Celebrating a Book Birthday with Katie Keridan

Realm United: Celebrating a Book Birthday with Katie Keridan

Double Book Birthday Celebration: Ruth Horowitz and Robin Heald

Double Book Birthday Celebration: Ruth Horowitz and Robin Heald

Our Mission in Action

Share Your Story, Inspire a Child
Scholarships
Equity & Inclusion in Kidlit
Partners & Sponsors

The Highlights Foundation positively impacts children by amplifying the voices of storytellers who inform, educate, and inspire children to become their best selves.  Learn more about our impact.