Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
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dianaacastle.bsky.social
Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
@dianaacastle.bsky.social
1.2K followers 450 following 87 posts
Cuban Mermaid & Author/Illustrator, repped by Saritza at Andrea Brown Literary Agency!

✨🎉 Debut Early Reader comic Snap! Crunch! Munch? is out now! 🎉✨
https://www.amazon.com/dp/082345696X

#Kidlitart Portfolio: dianacastleart.com
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dianaacastle.bsky.social
Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator @dianaacastle.bsky.social · Sep 14
Big, big news! My debut early reader comic #SnapCrunchMunch can now be found at the #MiamiZoo gift shop!😍

I grew up visiting Miami Zoo so this is a dream come true! If you're in Miami and spot my book please share your pics! 📸

#kidlit #kidlitart #authorillustrator #earlyreader #booksky #bookdebut
An early reader comic book called Snap! Crunch! Munch? by Diana Castillo can be seen leaning against a sign from Miami Zoo. Author/Illustrator Diana Castillo holds up her book Snap! Crunch! Munch? while visiting the Miami Zoo. A giraffe at the Miami Zoo leans in curiously as a hand holds out the early reader comic Snap! Crunch! Munch? by Diana Castillo.
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
suzannehelmigh.bsky.social
If you're an artist wanting to break through in TTRPG illustrations and feel like you need an Art Directors feedback on your current portfolio. Feel free to reach out, comment or DM me here.
I feel like the industry is hard enough as is. I will reply slow but I'll do my best to support! 💜
October 28, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social
New books on the way from @dianaacastle.bsky.social @studioespinosa.bsky.social @sudiptabq.bsky.social + more buff.ly/4hWZfBl
October 23, 2025 at 9:15 PM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
I've been waiting so long to announce this!! One year after I first sketched this crazy little character, I can now share her book will be out in the world in 2027!

I'm super excited for readers to meet the chaotic and fiery dragon/detective FUEGO! 🔥🐉♥️

#chapterbooks #kidlit #booksky
A cartoony, black and white drawing shows a dragon with red hair breathing fire on a castle. A witch stands on the balcony of a tower, points her wand, and zaps the dragon with magic. Little fires throughout the image are accented with the color red. A scroll in the foreground reads 'WANTED: The dragon Fuego. Dangerous! Bad! Avoid!'. Featured on the scroll is a picture of a grumpy girl with pointy ears and the same red hair as the dragon in the background. Next to the scroll, is text for a book deal announcement: 'Karen Nagel at Simon Spotlight has acquired world rights to Detective Fuego and the Case of the Booms by author-illustrator Diana Castillo, an illustrated chapter book about a dragon cursed to remain in human form and solve dragon-related cases around the kingdom to break her curse, aimed at fans of The Bad Guys. Saritza Hernández at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for publication in summer 2027.'
October 24, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
hellocloudy.bsky.social
I unkilned the kiln today ✨️

shop update coming Saturday October 11th 🍂🧡
a ceramic plate painted with the image of a fox in a witch hat surrounded by pumpkins on a vine a ceramic plate painted with the image of a cat in a witch hat surrounded by pumpkins on a vine a ceramic trinket dish glazed with a green glaze and decorated with a figurine of a fox with mushrooms and yellow shrubs, with other dishes visible in the background a ceramic trinket dish glazed with a brown glaze and decorated with a figurine of a ghost and pumpkins, with other dishes visible in the background
October 7, 2025 at 11:13 AM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
Big, big news! My debut early reader comic #SnapCrunchMunch can now be found at the #MiamiZoo gift shop!😍

I grew up visiting Miami Zoo so this is a dream come true! If you're in Miami and spot my book please share your pics! 📸

#kidlit #kidlitart #authorillustrator #earlyreader #booksky #bookdebut
An early reader comic book called Snap! Crunch! Munch? by Diana Castillo can be seen leaning against a sign from Miami Zoo. Author/Illustrator Diana Castillo holds up her book Snap! Crunch! Munch? while visiting the Miami Zoo. A giraffe at the Miami Zoo leans in curiously as a hand holds out the early reader comic Snap! Crunch! Munch? by Diana Castillo.
September 14, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
kidlitgn.bsky.social
Win an Inspiroy 2 S pen tablet from Huion
Two winners will be selected and you can enter to win until 8 p.m. EDT on Sept. 15.
See here to enter: wp.me/pcVwAl-1Gf

GN creators, load your pitches on Sept 28 at kidlitgn.com #kidlit #pitchevent #graphicnovels
September 11, 2025 at 6:24 PM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
How wild has 2025 been for you so far?
I started 2025 working a totally normal office/admin job and now I sit in an office in a themepark/zoo, illustrating while I listen to the lions roar next door.
August 28, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
skullmandible.bsky.social
The more things I've made, the less I've been interested in publicly criticizing the things that other people make, because once you make a few things you start to understand what a miracle it is that anything gets made at all
August 24, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
hannahtempler.com
comics take a long time to draw. no, but really. if artists were paid an hourly rate it would explode the brains of most people both out AND in/adjacent to the field
alexwild.bsky.social Alex Wild @alexwild.bsky.social · Jun 17
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?

A majority of the world’s insect species have no living expert who can identify them.
kendrawrites.com Kendra "Gloom is My Beat" Pierre-Louis @kendrawrites.com · Jun 17
What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?

The ocean produces a huge chunk of the world's oxygen a lot from a class of cyanobacteria called prochlorococcus
June 17, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
serenamalyon.bsky.social
What is something that is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders?

Illustration pay has not kept up with inflation. We get paid approximately the same dollar amount as an illustrator in the early 2000s. Some of the big companies are the worst for this.
June 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
ginaperry.bsky.social
Next Thursday, June 5th, is the 3rd birthday of #KidLitArtPostcard Day! Illustrators: get that work ready (new or gold!). Art Directors, Editors, and Agents: get ready to make some new connections! #kidlit #kidlitart
Illustration of a goat and child birthday party at a playground. It looks like springtime and goats are nibbling flowers, cups, and gifts. Kids are swinging, sliding, and arriving with balloons. Art by Gina Perry
May 27, 2025 at 12:55 PM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
Finished this just in time for #KidLitArtPostcard!! I'm looking for that next #picturebook, #chapterbook or #graphicnovel project!

🎨 Rep by @litagentsaritza.bsky.social @andreabrownlit.bsky.social

#kidlit #kidlitart #magicalgirl #cat
The main image looks like a magic book/tome, with ornate corner protectors. In the center of the book it says 'Diana Castillo, dianacastleart.com' underneath that there are paper tabs that say 'picture books' 'chapter books' and 'graphic novels'. In the center of the image is a cat standing on two legs and wearing a wizard robes. She looks nervous as she juggles two potion bottles with golden looking magic, and little golden stars appear around her.
May 1, 2025 at 3:41 PM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
I feel seen. 🥲😅
theotherhappyplace.bsky.social The Other Happy Place @theotherhappyplace.bsky.social · Apr 29
Being an artist is like "when i finish this art project i am going to reward myself for working so hard by making this new art project"

Over and over until you die.
April 30, 2025 at 6:19 PM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
Tonight I'm painting something moody (and dragony) while rewatching #HouseoftheDragon because... well, dragons, am i right? 🥰

#illustration #workinprogress #dragonart #kidlit #kidlitart
Closeup of a moody painting, showing a teen girl with her back to the viewer but looking over her shoulder. She's holding a dragon egg in one arm, and a blue flame appears in her other hand, lighting her and the area in a blue glow. Behind her is a tall window set against a brick building with greenery. Inside the window we see glimpses of the long, coiled body of a gold dragon (same color as the egg). The dragon seems to be looking out the window at the girl, and she has a worried expression. The mood is overall mysterious.
April 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
I'd love to see more #d&d vibes in #kidlit (old/castle settings, wizards, dungeons, dragons and monsters, etc).

Anyone got suggestions?

Doesn't have to literally include dice rolling, just the vibes (think Delicious in Dungeon, Disenchantment, Nimona, Gravity Falls etc).
April 23, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
thewizardofwaffles.bsky.social
HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY to Snap! Crunch! Munch? & @dianaacastle.bsky.social 🦁🐘🦩🦒🐰

#earlyreader #easyreader #kidlitcomics #kidlit #debutauthor #comicsforkids
April 15, 2025 at 2:46 PM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
BIG NEWS: My debut early reader comic Snap! Crunch! Munch? is officially out in the wild today—published by Holiday House! 🎉🥳

#kidlitart #kidlit #earlyreader #comic #holidayhouse #bookdebut
A picture of a giraffe looking at the camera, with a word bubble that says OMG. Below it, a hand holds out the book Snap! Crunch! Munch? Another graphic bubble says 'big news!' .
April 15, 2025 at 10:46 AM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
POV: You start a new project and your brain is fighting with itself on what art style it wants to use. 😅

#kidlitart #comics #GN #graphicnovel #illustrator
Two identical Frankenstein boys fighting with themselves, one is drawn with lineart, and the other without. They are shouting "i look better!" and "nuh-uh! lineart is better!"
April 12, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
brianlarossa.com
I don’t art direct comics or graphic novels so I never work with coloring artists but I'm working on a new illustrated chapter book where we'd be repackaging existing grayscale finished art and need to colorize it. If you’re a colorist, please share samples and a link to your folio. No DMs pls. 💙❤️
April 7, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social
Today is #WeNeedDiverseBooksDay!

If you’re celebrating, tag us so we can follow along with the festivities!

Unsure of what to read? We’ve recommended titles for all ages, and you can win ALL of them in our special giveaway, only on Instagram 🎉

🎁 bit.ly/4cd5vVE
Multi-colored pastel graphic showing a shower of bright white fireworks at the top. Beneath the fireworks is title text that says, “Happy We Need Diverse Books Day!” Beneath the title is a light blue bubble containing the text, “Special Giveaway!” At the bottom of the graphic is an illustration of a book with its pages splayed open. Multi-colored pastel graphic with black title text at the top that says, “Want a chance to win ALL of our recommended #WeNeedDiverseBooksDay books?” Beneath the text are twenty-six thumbnails of the titles WNDB officially recommended to celebrate We Need Diverse Books Day. The titles include: “Miles of Style,” “The Wedding Shoe Snatch,” “Piano Wants to Play,” “Laolao’s Dumplings,” “Berry Song,” “Freewater,” “The Beautiful Game,” “Nic Blake and the Remarkables,” “Boy, Everywhere,” “Eagle Drums,” “Time and Time Again,” “Warrior Girl Unearthed,” “When the Mapou Sings,” “This Ravenous Fate,” “The Black Girl Survives in This One,” “All We Were Promised,” “The Rodeo Queen,” “The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina,” “Our Missing Hearts,” “Ayiti,” “The Reading Adventure,” “Fresh Ink,” “Flying Lessons & Other Stories,” “The Hero Next Door,” “A Universe of Wishes,” and “On the Block.”
April 3, 2025 at 2:41 PM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
Did you know today is #WeNeedDiverseBooksDay? Fun fact: Their 2022 mentorship program connected me with my wonderful mentor @brianlarossa.com, which led to meeting my stellar agent Sary— and now, my debut book releases this month!

Couldn't be more grateful to WNDB!😍
#kidlitart #weneeddiversebooks
Image shows the book cover for Snap! Crunch! Munch? an early reader comic by Diana Castillo, published by Holiday House. Next to the book cover it says 'Editorial Reviews' and features a review from the School Library Journal, and Booklist.
April 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
Sometimes when my brain needs to reset I just go look at the sea. 🌊❤️
March 31, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
hdeanbrewer.bsky.social
I'm looking for an #illustrator for a history textbook that can do line drawings of ancient structures. 3-4 drawings needed. If you think you'd be a good fit, drop your portfolio below.
Thanks!

#illustration #architecture
March 17, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Diana Castillo | Author/Illustrator
brianlarossa.com
Hearing there might be another wave of newcomers?

Welcome! 💙❤️

For any illustrators and/or designers Here’s my starter pack of hiring art/design/creative directors.✨

go.bsky.app/Hxoz9KX
March 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
dianaacastle.bsky.social
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that" the inspiration to write will only come the minute you need to do chores/ work/pay attention to someone else talking. 😭 #writing #inspiration
March 15, 2025 at 8:51 AM