KidLit creators on Substack
A growing list
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!
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.
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 2 May, 2025
– Laura Wifler (PB author and coach)Added 30 April, 2025
– Srinidhi (PB illustrator) – Sarah Allen (PB, CB, MG author)Added 23 April, 2025
– Ash P (KidLit editor)Added 18 March, 2025
– Liz Ledden (PB author)Added 13 March, 2025
– Christy Obalek (PB author/illustrator) – Gunja Bhatt (PB, MG illustrator) – George Jreije (MG author) – Jodie Benveniste (YA author) – Karys McEwen (MG author, children’s book advocate) – Deb Lund (children’s books) – Melquea Smith (PB, CB, MG illustrator) – Juliana Castro (children’s book illustrator) – LuAnn M Rod (MG author) – Sarah Kurpiel (PB author/illustrator)Added Feb 24, 2025
– Karen De la Vega (children’s book illustrator) – Lea (children’s book author/illustrator) – Lily Williams (PB, MG, GN author/illustrator) – Alexandra Hoffman (PB author) – Valerie Parizeault (children’s book author/illustrator) – Heidi M. Rogers (children’s & YA author/illustrator) – Eliza Kinkz (children’s book author/illustrator) – Deborah Underwood (children’s book author) – Deb Lund (children’s book author) – Kaylyn Taljaard (children’s book illustrator)Added Feb 20, 2025
– Milena Milak (children’s book illustrator) – Yves Kervoelen (children’s book illustrator) – Kim Barnes (author/illustrator) – Brenda Harris (PB illustrator) – Jennifer Chambliss Bertman (PB, MG author) – Robby Weber (YA author)Added Apr 7, 2024:
– Susan Cabael (PB author, teacher, book reviewer)Added Mar 24, 2024:
– Alina Chau (PB author/illustrator)Added Jan 16, 2024:
– Christine Evans (PB, CB author) and Vicky Fang (PB, ER, CB author/illustrator) – Maggie Summers (PB illustrator)Added Oct 20, 2023:
– Rachel Michelle Wilson (PB author/illustrator) – Laurie Elmquist (BB, PB, CB author) – Amy Makechnie (MG author) – Heidi Fiedler (PB, CB author)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. :-)