Kirsten McGonigal
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kirstenmcgonigal.bsky.social
Kirsten McGonigal
@kirstenmcgonigal.bsky.social
Children’s book illustrator, kid lit author, nature lover, reader, music maker, dreamer, SCBWI, #pbparty 2024 finalist, She/her

Rep’d by Becca Langton at Darley Anderson Illustration

kirstenmcgonigal.com
Merry December! It’s the last #kidlitartpostcard of the year, so I thought I’d send the year out in style with this posh little caroling quartet. I’m on the lookout for new projects in both PB and MG. Portfolio kirstenmcgonigal.com
rep’d by: @beccalangton.bsky.social of @da-childrens.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
To be continued…

#folktaleweek
#kidlit
November 21, 2025 at 9:30 PM
November 21, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Here’s my #folktaleweek day 3 illustration and story!

#kidlit
November 19, 2025 at 5:48 PM
November 18, 2025 at 9:01 PM
It’s #folktaleweek ! Anyone else participating?
November 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Happy November #kidlitartpostcard . Who else has been carving pumpkins? 🙋🏻‍♀️🎃 If you’re on the lookout for an illustrator to bring a little magic to a story, please reach out! I’m open to both PB and MG. Portfolio: kirstenmcgonigal.com
rep’d by: @beccalangton.bsky.social of @da-childrens.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
This is my Inktober project this year. I’m working on making my art looser and more expressive, so I’ve been sketching characters with different emotions on my iPad to figure out the pose, and then doing an ink version of them, drawing straight onto the paper with a Sharpie, no pencil lines allowed!
October 16, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Hey, who decided to let the animals out at the county fair? 🤪🐷🐐🐥 If you’re an art director or editor looking for an illustrator to bring a little magic to a story, please reach out! Portfolio: kirstenmcgonigal.com
rep’d by: @beccalangton.bsky.social of @da-childrens.bsky.social

#kidlitartpostcard
September 4, 2025 at 1:01 PM
👋🏼 Hello art directors and editors. Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! This is a spot illustration from my most recent dummy. If you’re an editor and would like a peek at it, ask my agent! 😉
🌟I’m rep’d by @beccalangton.bsky.social of @da-childrens.bsky.social
🎨Portfolio: kirstenmcgonigal.com.
#kidlit
August 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
👋🏼 Hello art directors and editors. Happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! Did you know I like to draw chickens? And quilts too? 😁 Check out my portfolio at kirstenmcgonigal.com to see what else I like drawing, and writing about too! I’m rep’d by @beccalangton.bsky.social of @da-childrens.bsky.social
#kidlit
July 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Hello art directors and editors. Happy almost summer! 🌞🌻🍉 And happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! I’m just popping on here to let you know I’m available for new projects right now. Check out my portfolio at kirstenmcgonigalart.com Rep’d by @beccalangton.bsky.social of @da-childrens.bsky.social
#kidlit
June 5, 2025 at 1:04 PM
It’s #KidLitArtPostcard day again! Hello art directors and editors. If you have any projects involving quirky characters and situations I’d love to work with you on them! Check out my portfolio at kirstenmcgonigalart.com Rep’d by @beccalangton.bsky.social of @da-childrens.bsky.social
#kidlit
May 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Well I don’t have any recent sprawling arctic landscape illustrations, but I do have some of farmland! And a recent cold snowy scene. I’m sure I could combine the two! Vast landscapes are one of my favorite things to illustrate. I would love to work on a project like this!
April 3, 2025 at 8:13 PM
It’s #KidLitArtPostcard day again! Hello art directors and editors. If you have any projects involving quirky characters and situations I’d love to work with you on them! Check out my portfolio at kirstenmcgonigalart.com Rep’d by @beccalangton.bsky.social of @da-childrens.bsky.social
#kidlit
April 3, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Hello and happy #KidLitArtPostcard day! I’m a #kidlit #illistrator and #author, and I’d love to work with you on just about any kid lit related project! BB, PB, editorials, MG, and YA, I enjoy it all.

Rep’d by @beccalangton.bsky.social of @da-childrens.bsky.social
March 6, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Hello #kidlitartpostcard day! And happy February. I love illustrating detailed scenes with quirky characters. I’m open for picture books and illustrated MG novels. Check out my portfolio at kirstenmcgonigalart.com . Rep’d by @beccalangton.bsky.social of Darley Anderson Illustration.

#kidlit
February 6, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Happy first #kidlitpostcardday of 2025! I’m looking forward to some exciting new projects this year. If you want to work with me, reach out to my agent, Becca Langton of @da-childrens.bsky.social . Contact is on my portfolio site kirstenmcgonigalart.com

#kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitillustrator
January 2, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Had to try my hand at a Lockwood & Co cover. It’s just the usual nights work for these three…running from danger into danger!

#kidlitart #childrensbookillustration #mgillustration #middlegradebooks #lockwoodandco #illustration
October 30, 2024 at 1:56 PM
It’s a party at #35 Portland Row! Complete with doughnuts, sausage rolls, and sodas!Another case solved, another visitor dealt with. 😎 ⚔️👻

The original image is charcoal and graphite, but I added some color digitally.

#kidlitart #bookillustration #mgillustration #mgbooks #middlegradebooks
October 30, 2024 at 2:57 AM
Happy #KidLitArtPostcard Day! I’m an illustrator and author-illustrator currently open to MG, picture book and board book projects. Reach out to me or my lovely agent, Becca if you’re interesting I working together! Contact info is on my website: kirstenmcgonigalart.com

#kidlitart #illustration
October 3, 2024 at 4:47 PM
I love illustrating dramatic scenes! Anyone remember this scene? I was chewing my fingernails the whole time I was so worried they were all goners!

Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase page 325

#kidlitart #kidlit #mgbooks #bookillustration
September 12, 2024 at 7:03 PM
“George and Lockwood both turned to me, their backs to the armoire and the mess of scattered clothes. As they began to speak, pale radiance flared across the wall. A figure rose from the floor behind them…”

Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase Page 152

#kidlitart #mgbooks #bookillustration
September 9, 2024 at 2:52 AM
Lucy and George having an argument…a common occurrence, especially in the first book! This scene is from page 122 of The Screaming Staircase (Lockwood and Co by Jonathan Stroud.)

#kidlitart #characterart #bookcharacter #illustration
September 6, 2024 at 9:37 PM
Hello editors and art directors! I’m open to new #kidlit projects this fall! I’m looking for picture book, board book, or MG illustration projects. Feel free to reach out to me or my lovely agent. Contact info in my bio, and on my website.

#kidlitpostcard #kidlitartpostcard #kidlitpostcardday
September 5, 2024 at 6:25 PM