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DIANA TOLEDANO
ILLUSTRATOR HIGHLIGHT
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From Rocking Bed of Dreams (by Cari Meister, Little Simon)
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Originally from Spain, Diana Toledano’s style of art (and it’s been said, even style of dress!) is enchanting, dazzling and wonderfully whimsical. Pattern, texture, color and design are key to Diana’s detailed, mixed-media illustrations, giving them a charming, childlike simplicity that is endearing in appeal and enduring in approach.
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From Dressing Up the Stars (by Jeanne Walker Harvey, Beach Lane)
Booklist, Starred Review; a 2023 CCBC Best of the Year;
a 2023 CBC Children’s Favorite
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Diana (pronounced the Spanish way: dee-ah-na) enjoys playing with different techniques—from colored pencils, gouache and collage, to crayons, pastels and monoprints—to create illustrations that capture the magic of the ordinary. Profoundly inspired by art around the world and all through the ages (cave paintings, Byzantine mosaics, Pre-Columbian art, Medieval illuminated manuscripts, art nouveau buildings, contemporary and folk art), she seeks to bring the magic of imagination to life. And that she does in spades, transporting the reader into a world of charming detail and playful kid-sensibility.
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From One Snowy Day (by Diana Murray, Sourcebooks)
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Diana’s motto? Draw, play, dance. A Pisces who loves books, patterns, and dancing her heart out, she is fascinated by deep stories that offer every child a place of refuge and wonder. She is excited about illustrating stories that celebrate the magic of everyday life, stories of acceptance and mindfulness, and stories that validate the wide range of children’s emotions and experiences. Think of her for any book that makes you feel deeply—be it a book about the power of creativity or nature.
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Not only is Diana passionate about children’s books, she is also a skilled educator and communicator. She loves talking about what makes a great book and sharing insights about the creative process. As such, she is a co-founder of Picture Book Surgery, has spoken at multiple conferences, and has taught at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the City College of San Francisco, and the California Academy of Sciences, among others.
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Diana grew up in Madrid, where she studied Art History and Illustration. Now, she lives in California with her bilingual family and two rescue cats. She collects old photographs of smiling people. And she thinks little things are cute. Tea spoons? Adorable. Tiny turtle-shaped chopstick holders? Adorable too. (Mosquitoes are the one exception to this rule.)
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From the Polly Diamond series (by Alice Kuipers, Chronicle)
Booklist, Starred Reviews (Books #1 and #3);
a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection (Book #3)
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