Meet the Canadian illustrator Carmen Mok

Image Source: Vancouver Guardian

Image source: Foliojr

Carmen Mok studied studio art at the University of Waterloo and craft design at Sheridan College. While working as a magazine graphic designer she had the opportunity to explore editorial illustration, which inspired her to change her creative path and become an illustrator. Carmen’s illustrations have been published in magazines across Canada and the U.S., as well as on greeting cards, stationery and children’s home accessories. She now dedicates herself to children’s book illustration. She has received several illustration awards, including the SCBWI Canada East People’s Choice Award for Illustration in 2017 and the Exceptional Portfolio Award and the Storyteller Award in 2018. Carmen lives in St. Catharine's, Ontario. Kids Can Press

You can see the covers of her books here. And here is her website. You can see Carmen Mok at work in this video where she talks about Tough Like Mum. (15 minutes). Take a look at these gorgeous alphabet drawings by Carmen. I do hope Carmen Mok is able to attend the 2026 IBBY Congress in Ottawa. 

Awards & Accomplishments: 

• Violet Shrink, TD Grade One Book Giveaway 2024
• Tough Like Mum, written by Lana Button, Crystal Kite Award 2022, SCBWI
• Grandmother’s Visit, written by Betty Quan, picture book honor title of the Asian/Pacific American Award 2018-2019, and short list for the IODE Ontario Jean Throop Book Award 2019
• The Exceptional Portfolio Award 2018 by the Peers, SCBWI Canada East
• The Storyteller Award 2018 by the Faculty, SCBWI Canada East
• The People's Choice Award for Illustration 2017, SCBWI Canada East

Orris and Timble

Due for publication early in 2025

Publisher blurb: Through the window, the child can hear the trees breathe and watches them sway back and forth as they begin to dance. Then bears join in, accompanied by the child on their drum, making so much noise they wake up a dragon! The dragon’s smoky breath fills the sky, and the wind forms a knight on a steed that gallops through the stars. The child’s adventure continues, as one wonderful flight of fancy leads to the next, from pirates to mermaids to whales, until they find themselves sitting silent once again among the trees. 

Kirkus Star review

This is the companion volume to Cone Cat

Mok’s illustrations are in subdued hues, with a predominantly purple, green, and gray palette that pairs well with the dark purple print. Careful lines add detail and depth while giving the perception 

of a tactile, orderly calm. Kirkus

Here is a new book from Carmen Mok due out early in 2025. Alfred Blooms:

I like the sound of Luna's Green Pet.  Here is the publisher blurb: Luna longs for a pet but the apartment building where she and her family live has a very strict NO PETS! policy. Not even goldfish are allowed. While her friends try to help with alternate pet suggestions, none interest Luna. Almost ready to give up, Luna spies in the trash something small, something green, something someone has discarded—a wilted plant. Perfect! Luna names her new pet Stephanie, confident she can nurse the plant back to health. When others question Stephanie’s suitability as a pet, Luna’s devotion is unwavering. She knows Stephanie is perfect just as she is. But will Luna’s love and care be enough to bring Stephanie to full health? And what are those strange bumps growing on her?

You could pair this with My Amazing Poo Plant from the Aussie Nibbles series.