KidLit creators on Substack
A growing list
25 Feb, 2026
Wow, just over a year since I last updated this list, but it’s still doing the rounds.
Scroll through the list and subscribe/follow your fellow creatives, and reach out if you want to be added to the list.
Seriously, reach out. Because even though we may speak to each other on here and I love your work, I am not good at remembering to add people just because I know them … a total ME problem.
20 Feb, 2025
A new year and a new update! I started this list to help find more KidLit creators on Substack back when we weren’t huge in number. Now there are plenty of us and more people joining every day!
This list of KidLit creators/supporters (anyone sharing info about the world of children’s books) is to make it easier to subscribe to and support our fellow creatives – please do comment or reach out if you’re a KidLit creator and would like to be added.
For those already on the list, please let me know if you’d like any details changed or updated or if you’d like to be removed from the list. I’ve done my best to add details from your bios/websites, but information might not be up to date, so do reach out.
Recent additions
Added 25 February, 2026
Hunni Hound Books and Blog – Megan Hunnicutt (PB, MG writer and online children’s bookshop owner)
Added 2 May, 2025
The KidLit Lab by Laura Wifler – Laura Wifler (PB author and coach)
Added 30 April, 2025
Pen Paper Partyhat – Srinidhi (PB illustrator)
Sarah’s Smorgasbord – Sarah Allen (PB, CB, MG author)
Added 23 April, 2025
Ash P – Ash P (KidLit editor)
Added 18 March, 2025
Lemongrass Letters – Liz Ledden (PB author)
Added 13 March, 2025
Christy Obalek – Christy Obalek (PB author/illustrator)
Colourful Chronicles – Gunja Bhatt (PB, MG illustrator)
Storytelling in a Society – George Jreije (MG author)
Wild Dreams. Big Heart. – Jodie Benveniste (YA author)
I Read a Lot – Karys McEwen (MG author, children’s book advocate)
KidLit Catalyst – Deb Lund (children’s books)
Melquea - Kidlit Illustrator – Melquea Smith (PB, CB, MG illustrator)
My Little Cuevita! – Juliana Castro (children’s book illustrator)
The Writing Pen – LuAnn M Rod (MG author)
Picture This – Sarah Kurpiel (PB author/illustrator)
Added Feb 24, 2025
Not Always Creative Club – Karen De la Vega (children’s book illustrator)
Learning with Lea – Lea (children’s book author/illustrator)
Planting Seeds – Lily Williams (PB, MG, GN author/illustrator)
Author Musings – Alexandra Hoffman (PB author)
Late-blooming: an Illustrator's Journey – Valerie Parizeault (children’s book author/illustrator)
Let's Grow! – Heidi M. Rogers (children’s & YA author/illustrator)
Eliza’s Kinkz's Casa Club – Eliza Kinkz (children’s book author/illustrator)
Underwood Ink – Deborah Underwood (children’s book author)
Partly There – Deb Lund (children’s book author)
The Creative Crayon – Kaylyn Taljaard (children’s book illustrator)
Added Feb 20, 2025
Artist in Progress by Milena Milak – Milena Milak (children’s book illustrator)
Yves Kervoelen – Yves Kervoelen (children’s book illustrator)
Kim Barnes Paperstories – Kim Barnes (author/illustrator)
On The Creative Road – Brenda Harris (PB illustrator)
Letters From Jenn – Jennifer Chambliss Bertman (PB, MG author)
a romantic nature – Robby Weber (YA author)
Added Apr 7, 2024:
A Perpetual Work in Progress by Susan Cabael – Susan Cabael (PB author, teacher, book reviewer)
Added Mar 24, 2024:
✏️ Lines + Letters From My Desk – Alina Chau (PB author/illustrator)
Added Jan 16, 2024:
Kidlit Survival Guide – Christine Evans (PB, CB author) and Vicky Fang (PB, ER, CB author/illustrator)
Small Frog in a Big Pond – Maggie Summers (PB illustrator)
Added Oct 20, 2023:
AT THE KID TABLE – Rachel Michelle Wilson (PB author/illustrator)
Laurie Elmquist's Substack – Laurie Elmquist (BB, PB, CB author)
Lit With Amy Makechnie – Amy Makechnie (MG author)
Mothers Who Make – Heidi Fiedler (PB, CB author)
Adam Ming – Adam Ming (PB illustrator)
Alexis’s Bookdragon Substack – Alexis Ennis (poetry, MG author, kidlit blogger)
Authorstrator – Meaghan McIsaac (MG, YA author/illustrator)
Behind the Books with Charlotte Barkla – Charlotte Barkla (PB, MG author)
Behind the Page – Brittany Pomales (PB author)
The Book Muse – Ashleigh Meikle (book reviewer, kidlit lover)
Books On Tour’s Substack – Romi Sharp (Australian kidlit publicity and marketing service)
Christine Evans: Children's Author – Christine Evans (PB, CB author)
Creativi-Tea Time – Eliza Wheeler (PB author/illustrator)
Do the Work – Julie Falatko (PB, CB author)
Doodle Mail – Gina Perry (PB author/illustrator)
Elayne Crain, Writer of Childish Things – Elayne Crain (poetry, PB, MG author)
Friendly to Bears – Anne Belov (PB, MG, GN author/illustrator)
Fox Tales – Janet Fox (PB author and book coach)
Have you got a minute? – Cassy Polimeni (PB, CB, MG, YA author)
Holly’s Substack – Holly Surplice (PB author/illustrator)
Inkygirl by Debbie Ridpath Ohi – Debbie Ridpath Ohi (PB, CB, MG author/illustrator)
Jennifer’s Newsletter – Jennifer Jamieson (PB, MG illustrator)
Jilanne’s Substack – Jilanne Hoffman (BB, PB author)
Katiedraws (and writes) – Katie Chappell (writer/illustrator)
Katy’s Substack – Katy Tanis (PB author/illustrator)
The Lemon Tart Bandit – Damjana Loddelina (PB illustrator)
Little Badger – Nami Ralph (PB author/illustrator)
Melissa-Jane's Tea Break – Melissa-Jane Fogarty Nguyen (PB author/illustrator)
Mel's Notebook – Melanie Conklin (PB, MG author)
Pencil Pals – Helen Stephens (PB author/illustrator)
The Pen Powell Letters – Claire Powell (PB, MG illustrator)
PICTURE DAY – Adam Rex (PB author/illustrator)
Polly’s newsletter – Polly Noakes (PB author/illustrator)
Ruby’s Newsletter – Ruby Wright (PB illustrator)
Secret Sketchbook – Nanette Regan (BB, ER, PB author/illustrator)
Shelf Life – Helen Hancocks (PB author/illustrator)
The Slow Hello – Angela Burke Kunkel (PB author)
Snippets and Sketches – Rebecca J. Gomez (PB author)
Story Street – Jane Porter (PB author/illustrator)
Terrible at Titles – Katie Clapham (MG, YA author)
Thirty-two Pages – Katrina Germein (PB author)
Voracious – Emily Gale (PB, MG, YA author)
Wolf Tracks Substack – James Don Bluewolf (CB, MG, YA author)
The Woodcock Dispatch – Fiona Woodcock (PB author/illustrator)
Write of Passage with Samantha Gassman – Samantha Gassman (PB author)
You, Me, and a Cup of Tea – Lauren Magaziner (MG author)
Your Kid's Next Read – Allison Rushby (CB, MG, YA author), Allison Tait (MG author), Megan Daley (teacher-librarian)
BB = board book
ER = early reader
CB = chapter book
MG = middle grade
YA = young adult
GN = graphic novel
I acknowledge the Darkinyung people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I live and work, and I pay my respects to the Elders past and present.
Thank you for compiling this list! I know there are more. Lauren Magaziner at You, Me, and a Cup of Tea is one. I'll let you know if I think of more.
Thanks SO MUCH for putting together this list, Melissa-Jane! I also have a list of traditionally published children's book illustrators I've found on Substack who qualify for your list, which I've updated since you saw it last: https://debbieohi.substack.com/p/traditionally-published-childrens
I'm worried about you being overwhelmed: Are you limiting your list in any way? e.g. If someone who is thinking about self-publishing their own picture book wants to add your list, will you add it? Or an artist who is thinking about getting into children's books but hasn't really started researching yet? Also a bit worried about the "supporter" category since there are MANY kidlit supporters out there.
Don't get me wrong: I LOVE the idea of this list and am in awe of your generosity. But I'm worried about you ending up having to give up on the idea of maintaining the list because you're getting too many requests. Or are encountering hostility from people whose feelings are hurt because you haven't had time to add them or are saying no to them being added, etc. (I speak from experience from manually maintaining other lists in the past)
In any case, THANK YOU! Am going to share now, and will add it to my list of kidlit illustrators with a link. :-)