Some Great Middle Grade Cover Illustrators

Something I noticed when I was researching book covers for my Beautiful Book Covers series was that I saw a lot of the same artists in my favorite book covers. So these are some of my favorite middle grade book cover illustrators (and some of my favorite artists, period)! I mostly chose artists who I've seen in multiple or many middle grade book covers, and whose work appears on some of my favorite books; because I think these artists deserve more credit than just a tiny mention on the inside cover! Honestly, I almost always judge books by their covers, so the cover is a really important part of what makes a book intriguing at first glance. Please use this list to find new books, as always, but also to browse the work of these artists and check out some of their other artwork!

Maike Plenzke 

Books: The Front Desk series, New from Here, and the upcoming Finally Seen by Kelly Yang. Maybe a Mermaid by Josephine Cameron. The Astonishing Maybe by Shaunta Grimes. Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko. And lots more! 

Website: https://maikeplenzke.tumblr.com/ 

Maike's cartoony-yet-realistic style is charming and fresh, and her use of lighting adds dynamic to these covers!

Abigail Dela Cruz 

Books: Aru Shah series by Roshani Chokshi. Amina's Voice, Amina's Song, and More to the Story by Hena Khan. American as Paneer Pie and That Thing About Bollywood by Supriya Kelkar. We Belong by Cookie Hiponia Everman. And more! 

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/hyamei  

I love Abigail's use of patterns and designs, whether they are a central part of the drawing or just adorn someone's clothing. Her smooth and warm style is very comforting. 

 

Yuta Onoda 

Books: The Girl Who Drank the Moon and The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill. Spindlefish and Stars by Christiane M. Andrews. Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono. Gussy by Jimmy Cajoleas. And more!

Website: https://yutaonoda.com/work

 Yuta's style is more serious than a lot of middle grade cover illustrators. His artwork is always elegant and dramatic, indicating adventure and magic within the books. 

 

Celia Krampien

Books: The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart. We Dream of Space and Those Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly. Coo by Kaela Noel. Hello from Renn Lake by Michele Weber Hurwitz. And more! 

Website: http://www.celiakrampien.com/

Celia's style is very light and playful. I would definitely read a graphic novel with her art style!

 

Erin McGuire

Books: Breadcrumbs, The Lost Girl, and The Real Boy by Anne Ursu. Nightbird by Alice Hoffman. 14 Hollow Road by Jenn Bishop. The Last Panther by Todd Mitchell. 

Website: https://emcguire.net/

Somehow both dramatic and cute, Erin's book covers indicate a book both comforting and exciting. 

 

 

Matt Rockefeller

Books: Quintessence and The Miraculous by Jess Redman. The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse by Brian Farrey. The Fog Diver series by Joel Ross. The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming by J. Anderson Coats. Co-author of the 5 Worlds series.

Website: https://www.mattrockefeller.com/index.html

Besides his book covers, scrolling through Matt's work on his website is thrilling. His detailed scenery and creative characters are enthralling and escapist. 

 

Vashti Harrison

Books: Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland. Love Like Sky and Forever This Summer by Leslie C. Youngblood. Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry. Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o. Author/illustrator of the Little Leaders series. 

Website: https://www.vashtiharrison.com/

Vashti's style, which can vary a lot depending on the book she's illustrating, is warm, soft, and carefully done. She has illustrated a few picture books, which are a treat! 

 

Dion MBD

Books: Prairie Lotus and A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga. The Ghost of Midnight Lake by Lucy Strange.

Website: https://www.dionmbd.com/

Dion's style is slightly reminiscent of Yuta Onoda's, though it seems softer and calmer in some ways, while keeping the dramatic, wind-blown feel.

 

 

Anoosha Syed

Books: Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga. A Place at the Table by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan. Silverworld by Diana Abu-Jaber. Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed. 

Website: http://www.anooshasyed.com/

Anoosha Syed's style, complemented by the warm colors she chooses, is beautiful and heartwarming. 

 

 

Rebecca Green 

Books: The Glass Town Game by Catherynne M. Valente. Love to Everyone by Hilary McKay. Author/illustrator of How to Make Friends with a Ghost. 

Website: https://www.myblankpaper.com/ 

Rebecca's unique style is very nostalgic and comforting. 

 

 

Brett Helquist

Books: A Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket. Mytle Hardcastle series by Elizabeth C. Bunce. And more!

Website: https://www.bretthelquist.com/portfolio1a.html

Brett's iconic art style is both very classic and very unique, with his use of pastel-ish shading and coloring being his trademark.

 

 

Dung Ho

Books: The Swallows' Flight by Hilary Mckay. Eyes that Kiss in the Corners and Eyes that Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho. The Comeback by E.L. Shen. The Mindy Kim series by Lyla Lee. 

Website: https://www.dungho.me/

Dung's style is so smooth and soft. It just makes you want to hug her characters. 

 

Jon Klassen

Books: The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill. The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series by Maryrose Wood. Pax and Pax, Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker. Author/illustrator of I Want My Hat Back.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/burstofbeaden?lang=en

Jon Klassen's earthy, rustic style is very iconic. His illustrations bring you to dark forests full of curious creatures. 

 

 

Alisa Coburn 

Books: Caterpillar Summer by Gillian McDunn. Breathing Underwater and What Stars Are Made Of by Sarah Allen.

Website: https://www.alisacoburn.com/

Alisa seems to have a gift for choosing beautiful scenes for book covers, because all of these covers make me want to read the books, if I haven't already. 

 

 

James Firnhaber 

Books: The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu. Every Bird a Prince by Jenn Reese. The Woods by R.L. Toalson. And more!

Website: http://www.jamesfirnhaber.com/

James's style, like Matt Rockefeller's, is full of detailed scenery and deep, intriguing forests...

   

Who was your favorite illustrator on this list? It's terribly hard to choose, but I think some of my favorites are Yuta Onoda, Jon Klassen, Maike Plenzke, and Vashti Harrison. Make sure to check out some of these artists' websites and/or follow them on social media 🙂