Chicagoland friends, families, educators, book lovers! I'm at The Book Stall in Winnetka tonight, chatting with my longtime friend and collaborator, Philip Stead, about his highly acclaimed new illustrated middle grade novel! If you live out here, we'll see you there! ✌️ #booksky #kidlit #kidlitart
I'll be traveling to a handful of places to share my next book, 102, when it comes out in April! If you are in/near any of these spots, please come and say hello and hear me talk about it! bit.ly/read102
You can now pre-order signed, personalized, and drawn-in copies of my 2 forthcoming books, 102 (out 4/14) and STARMAN (out 9/1), from The Book Stall in Winnetka, IL. See link below to place orders and thank you! thebookstall.com/list/matthew... #kidlit #kidlitart #childrensbookillustration #booksky
Thank you! For this drawing, I just used one of those old school multi-colored ballpoint pens from back in the day!
winter doldrums (study/work in progress)
#drawing #workinprogress #childrensbookillustration #kidlitart #ballpointpen #booksky
102, a new picture book from Matthew Cordell (me), out April 14, 2026 from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Pre-orders are open now, wherever you love to buy books. 🌌
#kidlit #kidlitart #booksky #childrensbooks #penandink #drawing #illustration #illustrator #102matthewcordell
Aw, man! Thanks so much! So cool to hear that! ❤️😀⚡️
Oh, sweet! Did they send a digital copy already, John? 😀
In September, I have a David Bowie picture book bio coming out, and today the cover is released with a feature from People Magazine! Thank you People and Holiday House books! people.com/starman-the-... #booksky #kidlit #kidlitart #davidbowie #bowie
Good question, Ken! I actually got stuck temporarily wondering what he should be drawing here. Eventually I landed on an image I've liked for years from the Studio Ghibli film, Kiki's Delivery Service.
Wishing you peace on this day and for as long as you can keep it. ✌️❤️🎄
(Me as a mouse as Bob Cratchit (apologies to Mickey) working (drawing) on Christmas day for fun.)
#Christmas #drawing #penandink #ballpointpen #sketchbook #kidlit #kidlitart #childrensbook #childrensbooks
Coffee--not for everyone. Books--for everyone. 👍❤️📚
#kidlit #kidlitart #childrensbookillustration #picturebook #childrensbook
Sending all my love this week to my Jewish friends and family and beyond. Wishing you peace, strength, and a happy Hanukkah. 🕎
#happyhanukkah #penandink #watercolor #drawing #painting #hanukkah #kidlit #kidlitart
I'm not above slapping a bit of self-promo on my own travel coffee mug. (Hey, I had to cover a big, unsightly logo with *something*) 🐺❄️
#kidlit #kidlitart #childrensbookillustration #penandink #watercolor #drawing #painting #art #artist #illustration #illustrator #wolfinthesnow #stickerart #sticker
Wolf in the Snow enamel pins (in my etsy shop, for enamel pin fanatics like me) 🐺❄️
#kidlitart #childrensbookillustration #kidlit #kidlitart #picturebook #childrensbook #caldecott #wolfinthesnow #booksky
Northern IL friends and families! Join us this Thursday (Dec 4) at the Dunn Museum for a Wolf in the Snow presentation, storytime, and draw-along! Books will not be sold, but if you would like, bring any books with and I'm happy to sign after. Register here: www.lcfpd.org/calendar/sto...
Attention holiday shoppers! I just added 4 new designs to my redbubble store that can be purchased as shirts, mugs, stickers, prints, and more! Have a look here and thank you for doing so! ✌️ www.redbubble.com/people/matth... #kidlit #kidlitart ##childrensbookillustration
Thank you so much to Kirkus for selecting To See an Owl as a best picture book of 2025! It's an honor and a pleasure to see it remembered and acknowledged here at the end of the year. It's been such a terrific year for this book. Thank you to everyone who made it so. 😊❤️🦉
#kidlit #kidlitart #booksky
I'm positively pleased to report To See an Owl is a 2025 School Library Journal best book of the year! Thank you so much to @slj.com for the kindness and honor! ❤️🦉❄️
#kidlit #kidlitart #penandink #watercolor #booksky #childrensbookillustration
Northern Illinois friends and families! I hope you can join us for this special Wolf in the Snow event at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville on Thurs Dec 4 5-6pm. Link to register: www.lcfpd.org/calendar/sto...
My next picture book, 102, isn't out til April 14, but the 1st trade review is in and it's a star from @slj.com! Thanks so much, SLJ for the very generous and kind words. www.slj.com/review/102-1... #booksky #kidlit #kidlitart
Thank you! 😊🙌🦉
Aw, man, I love this! Thank you for this sweet piece, Margo, and for revisiting, resharing, rereading this old Cordell chestnut with your family and with us. Honkin' freakin' plunger!! ❤️😄
If there's voting going on in your state today, please vote! Local elections, state, federal elections, it all matters. Don't let the billionaire apologists, traitors of the poor and middle class, book banners, racists, and gay and trans phobes on the ballots squeak into power in your elections.✌️
That's amazing, Jennifer! It's such an electric feeling! ⚡️
I started an ongoing series in my sketchbook, drawing (pen/ink, standard ball point pen, gel ball point pen, colored pencil) and collage-ing (using different shades of blue paper plus watercolor papers) scenes from 1982's Blade Runner. Here are the first three. 🟦
#drawing #penandink #collage #art
I love you, #Chicago ✊️
I'm just a breath away from finishing this David Bowie picture book biography that's been in the works for literal years. I'm excited about it, and it will be out in fall of 2026 from Neal Porter Books. It's called STARMAN.⚡️
#penandink #watercolor #collage #davidbowie #childrensbookillustration
Night Birding (6 of 6)
#drawing #penandink #ballpointpen #art #artist #illustration #illustrator #sketchbook
