Illustrator

Jill Weber

Jill Weber doubles as a children's book illustrator and designer. Her favorite projects are the ones where she wears both hats. She has illustrated numerous books for children and adults. She has three new books coming out next year—Pippa’s Passover Plate by Vivian Kirkfield (Holiday House, NY), What Is The Story of Hello Kitty? by Kirsten Anderson (Penguin Workshop, NY) and Goodnight Bubbala by Sheryl Haft (Dial Books for Young Readers, NY). When she is not in her studio drawing or at NHIA teaching, she can found working in her garden.

Website

https://www.frajilfarms.com

Most Recent Book

I am crazy about books!

I was encouraged to draw from the minute I could hold a crayon. My first illustrated book was about a family made of candy, inspired by the game Candyland. Our house was full of art and books. I think I knew then that making books was what I wanted to do.

Gallery

Insights

Do you have any upcoming books you can tell us about?

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Pippa's Passover will be out this coming February. I am the illustrator and Vivian Kirkfield is the author. It's a wonderful story about bravery, asking for help and how life is better with friends ending with a Passover feast.

What advice do you have for parents and others who are trying to raise readers?

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Then answer is to limit screen time! My children don't have a television and my granddaughters are voracious readers!

What do you do when you're in need of some inspiration?

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I go to my favorite bookstore and look at books. I visit my library and I comb my own shelves for my favorite book friends.

If you weren't a children's book author/illustrator, what would you do?

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I would be a gardener. I love dirt as much as I love paint!

What is the biggest challenge you face when writing/illustrating a children's book?

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The blank page! I don't think there is anything more daunting!

When is your favorite time to work?

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I love early morning and evening. I think the evening has always been my most favorite, beginning when I was a child because with all my brothers it was the most quiet time. Now I think I love it because the world is quiet.

How did you go about developing your personal style?

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My style varies with each book. The Story of Hanukkah is a good example of a non-fiction story that is rooted in history so there are facts I am beholden to. My work has more of a folk quality, rather than a book that is more character driven like Pippa's Passover. After more than 4 decades of illustrating, at the end of the day, it is still me!