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More About Anne Appert (They/Them)
Languages: English
Anne (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary storyteller who uses whimsy and humor to inspire and connect with readers on their own journeys towards becoming their most authentic selves. Anne holds a B.F.A. in Illustration from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Their artwork has won several awards from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, including a portfolio honor in the 2021 Winter Conference Portfolio Showcase and winning the 2023 New England SCBWI Conference Portfolio Showcase.
Anne is the author/illustrator of two picture books: BLOB (HarperCollins), a humorous book about being yourself, and WHAT IF YOU WISH? (HarperCollins), a lyrical book about holding on to wonder even in the face of doubt. Their first graphic novel LOCH NESS MONSTER’S UNBELIEVABLE SCIENCE is informational fiction for young readers full of humor, original characters, bird facts, and a timely message about misinformation (coming this Spring from Kids Can Press!). Anne illustrated the early chapter book series ZOOMI & ZOE (Quirk Books) written by Corey Ann Haydu. The first two books came out in 2025 and the third book comes out this Spring. Anne also illustrated the forthcoming picture book HAPPYBARAS (LBFYR) written Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (coming this Summer!). Anne is currently working on illustrating the early graphic novel series VINNIE AND RU (Simon and Schuster) written by Lauren Glattly and expected to publish in 2027.
When not working on picture books and graphic novels, Anne teaches digital painting and watercolor for illustration at Montclair State University. They have also taught character design and picture books. Anne currently works with Boyds Mills (formerly the Highlights Foundation), monitoring their online classes and co-teaching classes in picture books, graphic novels, and chapter books. Anne is a member of SCBWI and volunteered as their local chapter’s Illustrator Coordinator for 5 years. In the past, they volunteered as a moderator for the #KidLitArt chat on twitter.
Anne is passionate about helping authors and illustrators elevate their storytelling and learn how to navigate this industry, especially those from historically underrepresented backgrounds. They are thrilled to be mentoring in the PBRising Stars program for a fourth year!
Anne finds inspiration in childhood memories, the outdoors, and anything colorful (particularly the color yellow). When not teaching or creating books for children, Anne enjoys dying their hair every color of the rainbow, making stickers, spending too much time at independent bookstores, playing video games, and traveling often on trains. They spend their down time with their partner and their five kids, a dog named Paddington, and two fluffy cats named Marmalade and Marshmallow.
You can find Anne online at:
Anne's strengths are…
Anne's strengths are story brainstorming, creating strong beginnings, pacing, writing humor with heart, writing in multiple genres, big picture changes and line edits, cutting the fluff (Anne has been called Anne the Ax by their critique groups!), dummy development, balancing words and art, website organization for illustrators, color palettes, portfolio development, illustrating in multiple styles, finding the heart of the story/illustration and strengthening it so that it can shine, letting your authentic voice find it's way into your storytelling (words and pictures!)
What Anne is looking for…
Anne is looking for a mentee who is actively working on their craft, is serious about a career in traditional children's publishing, and is seeking to grow as a storyteller.
Anne would love to work with someone who is eager to bounce ideas back and forth, who is open to feedback and adapts it to their work in an authentic way, and who communicates their goals/dreams for their career/this mentorship thoughtfully and clearly. Sometimes our creative journeys surprise us, and Anne hopes their mentee is open to the many unexpected possibilities and pivots that may arise while working together!
Anne is particularly excited to connect with someone creating fresh, humorous ideas, someone exploring important topics thoughtfully, and/or someone looking to develop an industry level portfolio. They are eager to work with someone who is ready to take their storytelling, whether in a dummy or a portfolio, to the next level and wants to prepare the foundation for creative sustainability.
They are excited to be surprised by a unique dummy or clever portfolio. Anne especially encourages neurodiverse and/or historically underrepresented creators to apply, particularly members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
A Note from Anne:
“Creating picture books is hard, frustrating, magical work. You should be so proud that you took this leap, believing in your work enough to invest the time in applying to this program and being a part of this wonderful community. I am looking forward to reading your fun, whimsical, weird, and heartfelt applications!”
Anne’s Picture Books:
Anne creates in other markets. For a full catalog of Anne’s work, please visit their website.
BLOB, written and illustrated by Anne Appert
WHAT IF YOU WISH? by Anne Appert (HarperCollins 2024)
HAPPYBARAS, written by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Anne Appert (Coming Summer 2026)
If Anne created a Visual Wish List, it would be made up of…
*Unless otherwise stated, the below serves as a wish list only. Each mentor is excited about the opportunity to find a manuscript they can’t stop thinking about. Please apply if you think you’d be a good fit.
BIG by Vashti Harrison
WE ARE DEFINITELY HUMAN by X. Fang
I’M FROM, written by Gary R. Gray Jr. and illustrated by Oge Mora
AFTER THE FALL: HOW HUMPTY DUMPTY GOT BACK UP AGAIN by Dan Santat
FIREWORKS, written by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Catia Chien
BUTTERFLY CHILD by Marc Majewski
BODIES ARE COOL by Tyler Feder
SPRECKLE’S SNACK SURPRISE by Sandra Salsbury
NOT HE OR SHE, I’M ME, written by A.M. Wild and illustrated by Kah Yangni
PROPER BADGER WOULD NEVER by Lauren Glattly and Rob Sayegh Jr.
Delightfully unique characters with their own quirky journeys of self-discovery, like those in…
T.V. Show - Schitt’s Creek
Stories/Art that embody the heart, sincerity, and queer normativity of…
The T.V. show - Our Flag Means Death
Anne is a good fit for:
Humor
Humor with heart
Subversive and/or quirky stories, dummies, and art
Lyrical and/or whimsical stories, dummies, and art
Illustrators
Author-Illustrators
Illustrators who want to be author-illustrators
Author-illustrators/Illustrators who enjoy writing/illustrating in a variety of genres/styles
Stories/Art tackling anxiety and mental health
Illustrators who work in Procreate or Photoshop
Illustrators who work in watercolor or gouache
Anne is not a good fit for:
Nonfiction
Rhyme
Stories/art with religion content
Illustrators who work in acrylic or oil*
Illustrators who work in marker or colored pencil*
*Illustrators! Please note: While Anne won't be able to help with HOW to use acrylic, oil, marker, or colored pencils, they can help with things like composition, color, anatomy, emotion, storytelling, etc. If you are confident in your medium of choice but would like mentorship and guidance on how to make images stronger, how to make them fit in the kidlit illustration market, how to make a strong dummy or portfolio, or other general illustration practices, DO still apply!
**A Note on Care and Respect: Using correct pronouns is essential. Misgendering Anne will result in an automatic “no” for placement with them.