Why I enjoy illustrating for children’s books

Howdy and welcome everyone to the blog. Today I want to talk about why I love illustrating for children’s books. But, before I get into the topic I wanna share a couple of things first. My name is Ameenah and I am a wife, mother, homeschooling parent and I’m a children’s book illustrator. This blog is my space to share my thoughts, ideas, stories, family life and behind the scenes work.

You will find spelling errors and grammar mistakes…..trust me. It’s not intentional. As a mom of 8, doing several things…I’m gonna miss some things.  And in this day and age I hope you all appreciate the humanness of my work. 

Let’s chat…

I have been illustrating children’s books for over 6 years now. And my experience has been overall positive. I’m thankful for that. 
My being a children’s book illustrator was totally unexpected, unplanned and surprising. That’s a story for another time. But now that I’m a children’s book illustrator, I can tell you what I love about this job.

1. Imagination. I really enjoy using my imagination. It keeps me feeling alive honestly. I still work with my brain and come up with new adventures and illustrations. It’s extremely important to me to keep using my imagination, especially as I get older and the world around me feels too heavy.

2. Visual storytelling. I enjoy being a storyteller for younger people. They get to learn about the world and what’s happening around them with my art. This is a big deal! We get to be a part of a child’s introduction to the world. 

3. Nostalgic memories. I really love reliving the past. Show casing throwback memories of children running, jumping rope, chasing fireflies and sharing those memories with the next generation is a blessing.

I feel like the world of children’s books is play. Now granted…I’ve illustrated some heavy moments!!!!! But it’s all done with such a gentle approach, that in the world of kid lit, I find play, joy, peace and comfort. I really think we live in a time where all of those things are needed to keep thriving. 

Thank you for reading my thoughts. What do you think about the art in children’s books? Whether you illustrate it or you just simply enjoy it. Would love to know your thoughts.