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Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day!

I think this is the version where Ariel says “Nope, not going up there!”

Hi, I’m Val, an illustrator available for all types of #kidlitart projects. I’m represented by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social at @bookendsliterary.bsky.social

November 6, 2025 at 5:25 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day!

I’m Val, an illustrator open to all kinds of kidlit projects. I’m especially fond of funny nonfiction/informational fiction.

I’m represented by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social @bookendsliterary.bsky.social

Portfolio at valdraws.com

A young girl with bright red-orange hair sits on a log under a glowing full moon in a grassy field at night. She wears a teal shirt, pink plaid pants, and pink slippers. Smiling gently, she holds a glass jar in one hand and extends a finger to a firefly perched on it. More fireflies glow around her in the dark purple sky and tall grass, creating a magical nighttime atmosphere.

August 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Happy #portfolioday! Hello art directors and editors! I am an illustrator open to all kidlit-related projects. You can see more of my work at www.valdraws.com
I’m represented by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social at @bookendsliterary.bsky.social #kidlitart #kidlitsky #illustration

An illustration with two smiling cartoon reptiles and a quote from Hannah Gadsby: “Tortoises are the clomp clomps and turtles are the flip flips.” The tortoise, in warm orange and green tones, is on land, while the turtle, in cool green and teal, swims in water. The text is colorful and playful, matching the childlike drawing style.

A colored pencil drawing of a girl with dark purple hair wearing a pink dress and a yellow crown, sitting on a plaid-patterned couch with her arms crossed and a grumpy expression. Behind her is a window showing the feet of two green trolls on the lawn, and to the right are a rake, a folded lawn chair, a tricycle, and a closed umbrella. The room is brightly colored in yellows, greens, and pinks.

A lively, educational illustration about ostriches. It features a pink and blue ostrich with a suitcase at an airport, kids racing it on bikes and scooters, and other ostriches in humorous scenarios. Colorful text boxes explain facts like their speed, brain size, and inability to fly. The art is drawn in a fun, crayon-like style with friendly cartoon birds.

A whimsical illustration titled “A Conspiracy of Lemurs.” Three wide-eyed ring-tailed lemurs stand in front of a bulletin board covered in photos, paw prints, and other documents, all connected by red string like a detective’s evidence wall.

April 8, 2025 at 3:53 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day!

I’m Val, an illustrator available for all types of #kidlitart projects. I’m represented by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social at @bookendsliterary.bsky.social

#earthday #bees #beehotel #earthdayactivities #spring
#coloredpencil #procreate #kidlitsky

Colored pencil illustration of three children making bee hotels at a picnic table. One child is rolling paper tubes. The second child is putting the tubes in larger cardboard tubes and a milk carton and the third child is putting one of the finished to bee hotels in a tree. Three bees are hovering their flowers in the foreground.

April 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day!

I’m Val, an illustrator available for all types of #kidlitart projects. I’m represented by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social at @bookendsliterary.bsky.social

#procreate #robotillustration #kidlitsky

A digital illustration of a cute yellow and orange robot with a display and meters on its body bouncing a blue ball that is smiling back at them. The text says “force and motion.”

March 6, 2025 at 5:55 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

A little lion loping through a thicket of cotton candy to catch up to the elephant (he heard there was ice cream). #illustration #kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitsky #coloredpencil #prismacolor

A photo of a colored pencil drawing of a lion running next to cotton candy, peppermint and red licorice growing like a forest around him. There are several colored pencils lying next to the drawing.

February 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

This little piggy went for a walk.

#kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #procreate

A illustration of a smiling pig walking up a hill as a chicken looks on with curiosity.

February 11, 2025 at 3:31 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Soon everyone will want one.

#salmonhats #orcas #j27blackberry #illustration #kidlitart #nonfiction #kidlit #kidlitsky

A colorful, humorous illustration of an orca walking the catwalk with a salmon on its head while a manatee and dolphin look on admiringly.

February 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Just an elephant enjoying an ice cream cone. #kidlitart

February 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m Val, an illustrator open to all #kidlitart projects. I’m especially partial to funny nonfiction/informational fiction.

Represented by @jmcgowanbks.bsky.social

#kidlit #kidlitsky

February 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

It’s been a long road from fish gills to outer ears of all shapes and sizes, but here we are.

#kidlitart #bats #bunnies #coloredpencil

February 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

This little friend, whose name I cannot pronounce so I’ll call them “Gus,” is a distant relative of some of our prehistoric ancestors, which I guess makes them our distant relative, too.

#kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitsky #coloredpencil #illustration #art #drawing #procreate #prismacolor

February 4, 2025 at 5:43 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

I think this little guy could use some techniques to manage his anxiety. Working on that myself.

#kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitsky #coloredpencil #illustration #art #drawing #procreate #prismacolor #anxiety

February 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

A couple more friends found along the long and winding evolutionary road.

#kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitsky #coloredpencil #illustration #art #drawing #procreate #evolution #prismacolor

A colored pencil, drawing of “Wonderchicken,” the world’s oldest known modern bird and Morganucodon, one of the first mammals.

January 31, 2025 at 5:35 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Some critters found along the evolutionary path from fish to us human folks.

#kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitsky #coloredpencil #illustration #art #drawing #procreate #evolution #birdsaredinosaurs

January 30, 2025 at 5:35 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Someone doesn’t like to share.

#kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitsky #coloredpencil #illustration #art #drawing #procreate #unicorn

A grumpy unicorn with her arms folded in front of her, wearing a party hat. The hand-lettered text says “Party of one.”

January 29, 2025 at 5:40 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Some days are like that.

#kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitsky #coloredpencil #illustration #art #drawing #cats

January 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM

Valerie Bean

@valdraws.com

Here’s one based on prompts from #theEndlessArtChallenge. The cards were “fruit”, “ketchup and mustard” (colors), and “include a character” (you don’t have to ask me twice!).

#kidlitart #kidlit #kidlitsky #coloredpencil #illustration #art #drawing