Brick or tawny? Had too much fun with this little kangaroo and couldn't decide. . #kidlitillustration #kangaroo #kidlit #childrensbooks #picturebookillustration @ktliterary.bsky.social

A small illustration for a seed packet I finished last week. #seedpacketart #kidlitillustration

My week's #kidlitilloweek drawing. Prompts "hopscotch" and "hippo".

Illustrators, Red Fox Literary is opening up for queries soon. See their website for more info. #kidlitillustration

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I'm Mirka, a neurodivergent Finnish-American illustrator open for work. I enjoy animals and nature related books the most but am happy to draw people too. I've worked on PBs and GNs. I'm agented by @laurelsymonds.bsky.social .

April #kidlitilloweek prompts. Lots of fun ones to choose from. How are you doing with creativity lately? I am trying to get an illustration done each week, even if its a small one. My mantra is something is always better than nothing. Hope that you can join me in this challenge. #kidlitillustration

I've been forgetting to post my weekly illustrations🙈 but the good news is Ive only missed one week this year so far and posting this cute Doc McDog character sketch. (He's just made up) #kidlitilloweek #kidlit #kidlitillustration

March #KidLitilloWeek prompts! Getting ready for a big 4-day event, and another one next week. I missed getting an illustration done last week, but I did spend all week in creative pursuits, writing and carving and printing linocuts and wood engravings. #kidlitillustration #illustrationchallenge

Miniprint vending machine pull for an online order. 🎉 You can purchase one online in my shop if you want one too. Can't guarantee which print you'll get though. 👀 #miniprintvendingmachine #vendingmachine

Picture books are my guilty pleasure! #MSWL MORE: Fun & funny Instant kid appeal 🤝 Classroom/Library potential Lots of layers LESS (or better, none): Teachy or preachy Sentimental or nostalgic Rhyme Books of my 💛: I WANT MY HAT BACK, SOUL FOOD SUNDAY, PLANTING STORIES... PURA BELPRÉ

Did you see #MSWL day on Bluesky now! 👀 🎉

One more #MSWL day! I am on the hunt for fantasy! YA/NA/adult. Grounded worldbuilding, complex characters, propulsive plot. Sweep me away! Some recent favorite reads have been: THE KNIGHT AND THE MOTH by Rachel Gillig THE MAID AND THE CROCODILE by Jordan Ifueko THE RAVEN SCHOLAR by Antonia Hodgson

Just shoveled our driveway for the 2. time before going to bed. It does look quite lovely as everything has a thick blanket of snow on it, and its falling in big chunky flakes. We'll see how much it is in the morning when we wake up. #snow #kidlitillustration #picturebookillustrator #kidlitilloweek

I'm honored that Little Seasons: Autumn Leaves was selected for the Dogwood Nonfiction Readers List! The award is for K-12 NF books, chosen by MO librarians & @maslonline.bsky.social to encourage children to read high-quality, engaging NF. @macmillankidsuk.bsky.social #kidsnonfiction #kidlit

Almost forgot to post this week's #kidlitilloweek piece. I wanted to do watercolors and pencils this week and picked prompts badger, backpack and excited. #kidlit #kidlitillustration #badger #watercolorillustration

Muddy puddles and lots of fun (?). Getting this #kidlitilloweek illustration just under the wire for the week. I posted new prompts for February last week. #puddlejumping #picturebookillustration #kidlit #muddypuddles

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day. I'm Mirka and I like to illustrate funny stories with heart. Animals and nature scenes are my favorite but I'm OK with people too. 🤸‍♀️ I'm working on some books of my own, but also open to illustration only projects. My agent is @laurelsymonds.bsky.social #kidlit

This week's #kidlitilloweek piece. A bit last minute, but got something done. 😅 Sledding w a squirrel. #kidlitillustration #kidlit #squirrel #sledding

Finished the #kidlitilloweek from @mirkahokkanen.bsky.social for January. Now on to February

Here are #Kidlitilloweek prompts for February. You can save it on your phone for inspiration or print out and paste into your sketchbook. As usual, more info on the challenge can be found at mirkah.com/kidlitilloweek

I do not follow politics super closely (for mental health). But from what I do know - if you’re in US & still believe your system is not *completely* broken, you should do something while you still (maybe) can.

This is my #kidlitilloweek piece for this week. My agency has monthly prompts, so this illo was for prompt "bewitching bakery". You can see a photo of my sketchbook very briefly in the beginning. I take a photo of the page and then worked in Procreate for the rest of the illo. #kidlitillustration

Photos from the Society of Illustrators event at the #SCBWINY26 conference. So inspired to see original artworks from current illustrators as well as Edward Gorey, Norman Rockwell and more. 🤩 #kidlit #kidlitillustration #edwardgorey @soi128.bsky.social @debbieohi.com @paulozelinsky.com

I did finish a tiny illustration in my hotel room last week. The #scbwi conference was a lot of fun, but kept me busy all week. The prompts for this one were chipmonk and on the road. #kidlitilloweek #kidlit #kidlitillustration #chipmonk

On the road to NY for the #scbwi conference. Listening to a book on the train and sketching. Using prompts chipmonk and road trip for inspiration from #KidLitilloWeek. Are you coming to the conference? #kidlit

Teachers! Librarians! Build excitement for ALA Youth Media Awards with the Sibert Smackdown! tinyurl.com/mr2x4m2y @rajanilarocca.bsky.social @juanamartinezn.bsky.social @jessicalanan.bsky.social @4nikkolas.bsky.social @sarahalbee.bsky.social #TLsky #Skybrarian #edusky #kidlit

Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! This is my businesscard for the upcoming #SCBWI winter conference. Hope to see some of you there. I'm an illustrator who likes animals and nature, and have worked on PBs and GNs. I'm represented by @laurelsymonds @ktliterary. #picturebookillustration #bookworm #kidlit

From screen to paper. Starting my year with a cute book worm illustration for business cards for the #SCBWI conference. It can be folded into a little desk buddy. 🍎🪱 This is my 1st #kidlitilloweek piece, but also working on a 2nd using the Jan prompts. #bookworm #kidlitillustration

For the #kidlitilloweek challenge by @mirkahokkanen.bsky.social I want to add a few animal pieces for my portfolio so I’ll try to make one completed piece each month using the prompts.I’ll update weekly 😊 for the first week, my hedgehog. He’s a mailman for a zoo (how will I make this work?)

Watercolor sketchbook paintings I've been doing as some warmups for next years #kidlitilloweek. Looking forward to putting phone away and getting more creative time in. It's so much better for my mental health. ❤️ #watercolorpainting #chipmonk #swanillustration #birdillustration

We are wishing everyone warm and peaceful holidays! @mattforrestvw.bsky.social, author/anthologist of “A Universe of Rainbows,” is looking forward to baking 100s of cookies, wrapping gifts, and reading “The Polar Express!” #holidayreads #kidlit #bookrecommendations #edusky #librarians

We are wishing everyone warm and peaceful holidays! @kdmaz.bsky.social author and illustrator of MAYBE JUST ASK ME is looking forward to sipping hot chocolate while reading NIGHT CHEF by Mika Song in front of the fire. #holidayreads #kidlit #bookrecommendations #edusky #librarians

Printed these off yesterday and got them in the mail this morning. So glad to get holiday cards done and off to a new task! #holidaycards

#KidLitilloWeek prompts for January! Hope you can join me. #kidlit #kidlitart

As I'm reflecting on 2025, I wanted to focus more on creativity in 2026 and wanted to invite other #kidlit creators to join me. The gist is: illustrate something at least 1xweek and post it with #KidLitilloWeek. For inspiration I've created a full year of prompts: www.mirkah.com/kidlitilloweek

We are wishing everyone warm and peaceful holidays! @mirkahokkanen.bsky.social is looking forward to a cup of hot cocoa and getting cozy with the newest Skunk and Badger book by Amy Timberlake. #holidayreads #kidlit #bookrecommendations #edusky #librarians

⭐️ Interested in being a 2026 #pbrisingstars Mentee for our fifth and FINAL year? ⭐️ Check your eligibility below and let us know if you're applying! Any questions? Leave a comment, and we’ll answer them! Check out website out here: www.pbrisingstars.com/mentees #kidli #kidlitart #kidlitpostcard

We're thankful for families and friends, libraries and rainbows, nature walks, books, and freedom. We're also thankful for YOU - our followers - and the entire #kidlit community. What are you thankful for? #PBJam #Thanksgiving #Gratitude

@kazwindness.bsky.social @mattforrestvw.bsky.social and @mirkahokkanen.bsky.social will be speaking and signing books at #NCTE25 #edusky

I'll be over at #NCTE2025 on Friday signing books and presenting about early reader graphic novels. If you are there, stop by and say hi! #picturebookauthor #picturebookillustrator #earlyreadergraphicnovels #kidlit

I'm offering a virtual market to all friends who are not able to shop at my in-person ones! Join me on Sat, Nov 29, 1-3pm. To receive the zoom link sign up in link in comments. If you cant make it live, I'll send a link to my event specific store where you can make purchases after. #holidaymarket

I work as a printmaker in addition to illustrating books. This week I've been working on a set of 5 mini prints to set up a vending machine at my upcoming Nov 2nd DC Print Fair. Excited! 😃 #printmaking #linocut #reliefprint @eastcityart.bsky.social

2026 Calendars are up! I've got them available in 2 sizes, and a limited number 3rd set that I print at home that is also a pony bunting kit. Cut the horses out at the end of the year to make a bunting. 🫏🐎 Find them here: www.etsy.com/.../2026-per... & www.etsy.com/.../11x16-wa.... #2026Calendar

This big boi was showing off his breakfast catch as I was leaving the house this morning. #spiders #jumpingspider

Our chapter is hosting Brian over for a really interesting talk on typography + picturebooks. Tickets $15 for SCBWI members. Happening Nov 3rd at 7pm. #mddewvscbwi #kidlit #picturebooks

New interview up with Heather Macht at Seasons of Kidlit. Check out the whole series of interviews and learn more about new fall books coming out. www.seasonsofkidlit.com/post/trick-o... #kidlit #childrensbooks #picturebook @mackidsbooks.bsky.social

Book giveaway! Last chance to enter. 📣🎉📚 #kidlit

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! Changing gears and figured I'd do an underwater scene for once. 😊🐟 I'm an illustrator working on my own books, but also open to new projects. Find me at mirkah.com/pbillustration. I'm represented by @laurelsymonds.bsky.social at KT Literary. #kidlit #kidlitillustration

I'm so excited to have @mirkahokkanen.bsky.social on the Writing While Impaired blog this week as she shares how she manages her own creative chaos with a calendar system. Hope it is helpful to you as you create through the chaos of life! substack.com/home/post/p-... #kidlit #illustration