Moira Ratchford
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moiraratchford.bsky.social
Moira Ratchford
@moiraratchford.bsky.social
190 followers 110 following 94 posts
Author-illustrator known for vibrant, quirky characters. www.moiraratchford.com. Interested in kidlit art & licensing. Huge fan of birds, chai & fireflies. Tassy Walden Illustrator Award. Seeking representation. SCBWI. She/her
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moiraratchford.bsky.social
Happy #KidLitArtPostcard Day!

We could all use a little more light to lift the darkness these days.
Enthusiastic author-illustrator available for new projects. Just drop me a line! moira@moiraratchford.com

#kidlit #kidlitart #picturebookart #illustration
Children of all backgrounds and abilities gathering stars to put into jars.
February 5, 2026 at 8:01 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Yo soy conejo.
Bring Liam home. Bring all the children home.

#picturebookart #kidlitart #childrensillustration #liamramos
Little boy giving a heart to a bunny, with a heart tree in the background.
January 30, 2026 at 10:04 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
I painted this years ago, but it reflects my aching heart at this moment.

I imagine Renee Good's six-year-old son as the little bird still here on Earth.

I imagine the children whose parents have been abducted, who are praying they will come back one day.

God gave you a voice. Use it. #resist
A young bird looking up at a grown dove spreading its wings.
January 25, 2026 at 4:24 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Happy belated #KidLitArtPostcard day! I'll never forget that knot in my stomach when I was the new kid at school. 😬

I'm Moira, an illustrator known for my quirky, offbeat characters. Open to PBs, BBs, early readers, chapter books. #kidlitart #kidlit Seeking representation.
A young goose arrives as a new kid at school and is nervous to go into the class.
January 9, 2026 at 9:14 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
There's only one thing I want for the holidays. 📚
What about you?

That's why I made this mug!
www.moiraratchford.com/shop

#bookworm #booklover #booksky #books #kidlit
Mug with a nerdy bird ensconced in an arm chair at the holidays, reading a book, with the caption: "just leave me alone with my books."
December 3, 2025 at 9:10 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Baking a pie for grandma...then a quick dash through the rain to her squirrel den! 🐿️

#kidlitillustration #kidlitart #childrensillustration #childrensbooks #picturebooks
Squirrel family baking a strawberry pie. Squirrel family dashing through the rain to grandma's house.
November 28, 2025 at 12:28 AM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
If you need a little lift today, how about a pigeon juggling garbage-can finds? From a book I recently illustrated: "A Boy, A Pigeon, and a Place to Call Home," by Susan Chodakiewitz.

#kidlitillustration #kidlitart #childrensillustration #childrensbooks #picturebooks #pigeons
Purple pigeon collecting garbage to build a home.
November 13, 2025 at 7:54 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! Imagining the Owl and the Pussycat's "pea-green boat" as a giant peapod.

I'm Moira, an illustrator known for my quirky, offbeat characters. Open to PBs, BBs, early readers, chapter books. #kidlitart #kidlit Seeking representation.

www.moiraratchford.com/kidlit
The Owl and the Pussycat, in a peapod boat.
November 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, here's a feisty little llama to raise awareness and morale going forward!

#breastcancer #gopink #breastcancerawarenessmonth #artlicensing
Pink llama with breast cancer pink ribbon: Keep Calm and Fight On
October 31, 2025 at 4:16 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Happy Halloween, everybody! 🎃🧹🧙

#kidlitillustration #kidlitart #childrensillustration #childrensbooks #picturebooks
Cat Witch zooming into the night sky on her broom. Two cats on a wall comment: "Wow, she must have gotten the turbo model!"
October 31, 2025 at 3:52 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Here's another entry for the "Travel" prompt of #scbwidrawthis.  When going on a camping trip, always make sure your backpack doesn't weigh more than you do ~ 😅

#kidlitillustration #kidlitart #childrensillustration #childrensbooks
Gooseberry's backpack is clearly a little too heavy!
September 19, 2025 at 9:02 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
This is my entry for the latest #scbwidrawthis, with the prompt of "Travel." Provence is my favorite travel destination. What's yours?
#kidlitillustration #kidlitart #childrensillustration #childrensbooks
A nutty group of animals on a road trip through Provence.
September 19, 2025 at 8:45 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! Summer surely brings tourist rats to the famous garbage cans of NYC.

I'm Moira, an illustrator known for my quirky, offbeat characters. Open to PBs, BBs, early readers, chapter books. #kidlitart #kidlit Seeking representation.

Portfolio: www.moiraratchford.com/kidlit
Mafia rat in trenchcoat and fedora guards his territory and tells a tourist rat, "Scram, punk".
August 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Just because your friend uses wheels to get around doesn't mean they can't enjoy pool time with you! When there's a will, there's a way! Cheers for Disability Pride Month!
#kidlit #kidlitart #picturebooks #diversebooks
Kids tossing a beach ball in a pool, with dog watching, wheelchair in foreground.
July 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! I'm Moira, an illustrator who creates quirky characters in watercolor, pencil and ink. Seeking representation and new projects! PBs, BBs, early readers, & chapter books. #kidlitart #kidlit
Portfolio: www.moiraratchford.com/kidlit
Sheep carrying towering tray of cupcakes, slips on a banana peel, and the cupcakes end up everywhere, much to his boss' chagrin.
June 5, 2025 at 6:05 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Want a little joy with your morning coffee? I now have Easter and Mother’s Day-themed mugs in my shop! Shop small, support an artist. 😊🎨
www.moiraratchford.com/shop

#eastergifts #mothersdaygifts #supportsmallbusiness #shopsmall #smallbusiness #catgifts
Mug showing watercolor Easter chick with rabbit ears and violets. Easter gift. Mug with cat in yoga pose and the text "Mamaste", Mother's Day gift. Mug with funny bird holding bouquet of flowers, and the text: "Love you a bunch!" Mother's day gift or birthday gift. Mug with "Love you a bunch!" text. Mother's Day gift or birthday gift.
March 25, 2025 at 7:39 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! I'm Moira, an illustrator who creates quirky characters in watercolor, pencil and ink. Seeking representation and new projects! #kidlitart #kidlitartpostcard #picturebooks #kidlit

Website: moiraratchford.com
Puppy causing chaos with a cat at a birthday party.
February 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Valentine-themed mugs are now up in my shop! Grumpy cat is my personal favorite. Give your loved ones a unique, artist-made gift that they won't find anywhere else (and most definitely not on Amazon). 😊 www.moiraratchford.com/shop
#catlover #catlady #catmom #valentinegifts
Grumpy cat decorated with hearts, wishing you a "happy freakin' valentine's". Two birds cuddling on a branch: "Together is my favorite place to be" A female sheep with a heart and the caption, "Love ewe".
January 16, 2025 at 9:34 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Happy #kidlitpostcard Day!
I'm Moira, an illustrator who creates quirky characters in watercolor, ink and pencil. Seeking representation and new projects! #kidlitart #kidlitartpostcard #kidlitpostcardday #picturebooks #kidlit
Website: moiraratchford.com
Quirky old lady with parrot on head and anteater friend knitting in front of her pink RV.
December 5, 2024 at 5:36 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
(Let me try this post again, because for some reason the link didn't work). More cat mugs are available, printed from my original watercolors! A completely unique gift that you won't find anywhere else. www.moiraratchford.com/shop
#catlover #catlady #cats #catmom #catsofbluesky
December 2, 2024 at 8:32 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
Time for pie!!! Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
#kidlitart #childrensillustration #childrensbooks #picturebooks #kidlitillustration
November 27, 2024 at 6:24 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
I'm finally putting my art on mugs! Chill out with Zen Cat, printed from one of my original watercolors. Support an artist at www.moiraratchford.com/shop
#cats #catlady #catmom #catsofbluesky #catlover
Blue "Zen Cat" sitting in lotus yoga pose, meditating.
November 26, 2024 at 10:06 PM
Reposted by Moira Ratchford
ellenmulholland.bsky.social
New Dad Band, The Spineless.

Singing your favorites, such as:

"Ctrl+Alt+Delete Your Soul"
"All Your Ideas Are Belong to Us"
"Paint by Numbers, Starve the Artist"
"Erase Yourself, Embrace the Bot"
chuckwendig.bsky.social Chuck Wendig @chuckwendig.bsky.social · Nov 25
“How’d the world die? A pack of no-talent tech grifters created a digital artbarf machine to spew endless artbarf and each time the machine threw up it drank more water, destroyed more resources. Nobody wanted it but they did it anyway! Eat your roach paste.”

www.thebookseller.com/news/new-pub...
New publisher Spines aims to 'disrupt' industry by using AI to publish 8,000 books in 2025 alone
A new publisher has claimed it aims to “disrupt” the books industry by publishing 8,000 books in 2025 alone using artificial intelligence.
www.thebookseller.com
November 25, 2024 at 6:40 PM
moiraratchford.bsky.social
This is my entry for SCBWI's Draw This prompt of "Nerd." Nerds are superheroes!
#childrensbooks #childrensbooksillustration #picturebookart #picturebooks #kidlitillustration #kidlitart #science #childrensillustration
Girl chemist mixing together a scientific formula for saving the planet while her cat sleeps.
November 19, 2024 at 8:03 PM