My Day of the Dead Altar this year. My grandparents died when I was - teenager and lived in Mexico. So much has happened since! In my altar, I like leaving snacks and candy of things that I’ve tasted since that I would have liked them to try (because I know they would have loved) 🤍

Feliz Día de Muertos 🖤 A spread from my book “Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land”

Dodgers back to back!!!!!!! 😭✨

What a World series !!!!!!!

Feliz Día de Muertos to everyone who celebrates today and tomorrow. I hope your altars are set and that you may feel the love of your dearly departed today and always 🖤

Happy Halloween 👻

It’s publishing Day for PEPE AND THE PIÑATA 🪅✨ You can get the book here: littlebeebooks.com/books/pepe-a... Disponible también en español 🤗

“I am Halloween - spooky, creepy, hocus-pocus. Y soy el día de los Muertos - ofrendas, catrinas y papel picado.” One of my favorite spreads I got to illustrate for “I Am, Yo Soy”. A very special dua-lingual book about growing up a part of two different cultures.

This is the time of year when I take naps to the “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” soundtrack.

California fall 🍁

I wrote about the end of summer and endpapers for newsletter.doc 💛 You can check it out here (it’s free): mirelleortega.substack.com/p/the-endpap...

Some cute pictures from the Draw Off at the LA Libros Festival last weekend!!

Happy Mexican Independence Day! And Happy Hispanic Heritage month! I didn’t have time to do a drawing this year, so I’m reposting some of my favorites I’ve drawn through the years.

I AM, YO SOY by Gabriela Orozco Belt, illus. by @msmirelle.bsky.social is a lyrical, dual-lingual picture book about the beauty of being part of two cultures! This is a wonderful read-aloud book—and a great one to share this upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month 🌟

Congrats 🎉✨

Today on National Parents Day, we highlight MAMIACHI & ME written by mom and son duo, @writerjolene.bsky.social/Dakota Gutiérrez illustrated by @msmirelle.bsky.social plus THE YOWLERS by Stacy Lynn Carroll illustrated by @mollyruttan.bsky.social. #kidlit #kidlitart

It’s like a little bit gloomy outside and all I want to do is light a candle, decorate for Halloween and read a book about Vampires.

Me 🤝 Brazilian food at the mall

Jarocha no. 1 Gouache, color pencil and posca marker on mixed media paper. A little Jarocha from a series I’m painting!

I learned to play chess a couple weeks ago… apparently just in time for this 3 hour video about chess I just found on YouTube!!

You can get 25% off if you pre-order PEPE AND THE PIÑATA today! ✨ shorturl.at/2fySW

I loved these two pieces at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Hi friends! I’ll be at the ALA convention this weekend. I’ll be doing two book signings, come say hi ☺️

Happy World Day of Music! 🎶 🎵 We love SOMETHING WILD by @mollyruttan.bsky.social and MAMIACHI AND ME by @writerjolene.bsky.social and Dakota Gutierrez with art by @msmirelle.bsky.social! These sweet books are music to our eyes and ears! ❤️📚🎻 🎸 #kidlit #picturebooks #music

So much gratitude to Andrea Y. Wang for hosting me on the Picture Book Builders site for an interview about MAMIACHI & ME: MY MAMI'S MARIACHI BAND by Dakota Gutierrez, @msmirelle.bsky.social, and me today! There is a #giveaway! picturebookbuilders.com/2025/06/mami... #kidlit #picturebooks #teacher

Get ready for the holidays with PEPE & THE PIÑATA! Available for pre-order now! @msmirelle.bsky.social

Just finished painting the cutest rocks no one will ever notice in a book spread 🥲

A little mermaid for MerMay!

Happy Mother’s Day! 🩷 Thanks mom and auntie for always being there ✨💕

Happy Cinco de MerMayo!

A gouache mermaid I painted a few mermays ago…

Summer is coming and I have to scroll on Instagram while repeating under my breath “I have enough bathing suits, I have enough bathing suits…”

In a way I’m happy I didn’t see Conclave before the Oscars because I would’ve been so mad it didn’t win!

Happy independent bookstore day! 🩷 remember to show your love and support for your local bookshops today! (And buy yourself a book!)

“I try to let whatever needs to pass through me pass through”… what a lineeee (from the new Lorde song, for context).

You can get 25% off on your pre-order of Pepe and The Parade!

MAMIACHI & ME by @writerjolene.bsky.social, Dakota Gutierrez, and @msmirelle.bsky.social is the PERFECT picture book to celebrate International Mariachi Week! #kidlit #kidlitart #picturebook #booksky

Happy Easter 🐣

Jarocha no. 1 Gouache, color pencils and posca markers on mixed media paper. I also had to buy a ruler to do the floor pattern.

Life’s a circus! I made this little illustration last weekend. It was so relaxing to color and pick patterns for the outfit.

For my friends in the LA area, I’ll be at the LA Times Festival of Books on Sunday April 27th! I’ll be signing books at some amazing indie bookstores! Come say hi and support local shops!  I’ll also be at the @scbwi.bsky.social booth!

I’m from the “can’t afford that house, will build it in the sims later tho” generation.

L’artiste A fun (tired?) little character from a while ago.

A little random procreate doodle 💕 I love finding little characters to color in my old files.

Hi, what are some of your favorite picture books of all time? I’m just curious!

Happy book birthday to I AM, YO SOY ✨ written by Gabriela Orozco Belt and illustrated by me. A dual language picture book celebrating the magic of belonging to two cultures.

New spring newsletter post is up! ✨ this one is updated and a some thoughts on building/drawing secondary characters. You can read/subscribe (for free) here: open.substack.com/pub/mirelleo...

A credible portrayal of the inner turmoil suffered by youngsters under constant pressure by adults to be the best #BreeBoydisaLegend! @byleahjohnson.bsky.social illus. @msmirelle.bsky.social #scholasticuk - it’s #RedReadingHub’s #fiction book of the day reviewed now on the blog wp.me/p11DI5-d4k

A sparkling page from “Mamiachi & Me” written by @writerjolene.bsky.social and Dakota Gutierrez, and illustrated by me.

A little illustration from a few springs ago 🌦️