Notes on Illustration | The Illustration Department | Substack

On Children’s Books

What to know, and avoid, if you want to be a “kiddie book person”.

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The Thoughtful Illustrator

Nov 26, 2024 • The Illustration Department

I Hate Social Media, But…

Mar 19, 2025 • The Illustration Department

The Infantilization of Children’s Book Creators

Oct 16, 2025 • The Illustration Department

Yes, You’re Overthinking It

Jul 10, 2025 • The Illustration Department

Recent posts

4:48

Episode 349: Karina Granda, Art Director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Here’s the Extra Credit for Episode 349 of The Illustration Department Podcast—with Karina Granda, Art Director at Little, Brown Books for Young…

Feb 17 • The Illustration Department

“Pete Seeger of Children’s Books”

Feb 13 • The Illustration Department

4:23

Episode 348: Award-winning author and multimedia artist, Selina Alko

Here’s the Extra Credit for Episode 348 of The Illustration Department Podcast—with award-winning author and multimedia artist, Selina Alko.

Feb 10 • The Illustration Department

Illustrators and writers have big goals. Many are going about them the wrong way.

Feb 6 • The Illustration Department

4:43

Episode 347: Simone Friend and Beth Johnson, the partners behind Friend + Johnson

Here’s the Extra Credit for Episode 347 of The Illustration Department Podcast—with Simone Friend and Beth Johnson, the partners behind Friend …

Feb 3 • The Illustration Department

John Philip Falter

A documentarian of quotidian American life.

Jan 28 • The Illustration Department

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Illustrator Biographies

“Pete Seeger of Children’s Books”

Feb 13 • The Illustration Department

John Philip Falter

A documentarian of quotidian American life.

Jan 28 • The Illustration Department

Jean-Thomas “Tomi” Ungerer

The children’s book industry owes this man an apology.

Jan 14 • The Illustration Department

A satirist of the affluent.

Jan 1 • The Illustration Department

Haddon Hubbard “Sunny” Sundblom

The illustrator who did NOT conspire with Coca-Cola to invent the modern-day Santa Claus.

Dec 17, 2025 • The Illustration Department

Bonus Podcast Episodes

4:48

Episode 349: Karina Granda, Art Director at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Here’s the Extra Credit for Episode 349 of The Illustration Department Podcast—with Karina Granda, Art Director at Little, Brown Books for Young…

Feb 17 • The Illustration Department

Episode 348: Award-winning author and multimedia artist, Selina Alko

Here’s the Extra Credit for Episode 348 of The Illustration Department Podcast—with award-winning author and multimedia artist, Selina Alko.

Feb 10 • The Illustration Department

4:23

Episode 347: Simone Friend and Beth Johnson, the partners behind Friend + Johnson

Here’s the Extra Credit for Episode 347 of The Illustration Department Podcast—with Simone Friend and Beth Johnson, the partners behind Friend …

Feb 3 • The Illustration Department

4:43

Episode 346: Lettering artist, New York Times best-selling author, and co-founder of Studioworks, Jessica Hische

Here’s the Extra Credit for Episode 346 of The Illustration Department Podcast—with lettering artist, New York Times best-selling author, and co-founder…

Jan 27 • The Illustration Department

2:25

Episode 345: Sarah Getz, the daughter of illustrator and renowned New Yorker cover artist, Arthur Getz

Here’s the Extra Credit for Episode 345 of The Illustration Department Podcast—with Sarah Getz, the daughter of illustrator and renowned New Yorker…

Jan 20 • The Illustration Department

2:48

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