Meet the illustrator Qin Leng

Image Source: Open Book

I have illustrated close to 40 picture books (I have lost count) but each one of them was 

a stepping stone, a means to explore, make mistakes and learn. Each new book I produce, 

I am hoping is a step towards an even better book.

Image from Shelter by Celine Claire

I have a plan to occasionally post a "meet the illustrator" piece featuring a Canadian illustrator in readiness for the 2026 IBBY Congress which will be held in Ottawa.

I first saw the art of Qin Leng in one of my most favourite books - Shelter. And later I was lucky enough to meet her at a USBBY Conference. I do hope she will attend the 2026 Congress.

The French title is L'Abri by Celine Claire

Qin Leng is an illustrator and author of children books. She graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and has spent almost two decades creating content for kids television. Throughout her career, Qin has illustrated picture books, chapter books, magazines and book covers with publishers around the world. Trèfle - Clover (written by Nadine Robert) was the winner of the Governor General Literary Award for best picturebook. Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin (by Chieri Uegaki) was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award, and received the APALA Award for best picture book. She lives in Toronto, with her husband and her son. Source Qin Leng

You can see many examples of her work here. And here are all Qin Leng's books from her webpage. Check out her Instagram page. 

I have always loved to draw children. Their innocence, their pure unfiltered joy, their silliness, are all qualities I strive to translate into my work. (Interview with China Underground). 

This is the cover of Clover or Trèfle

Selected for the 2024 IBBY Honour List

Norman Speak!

Illustration from Ordinary Extraordinary Jane Austen

Here is my blog post

Coming soon:

Every day, a child walking a dog around the block passes a woman seated in her wide front window. What is she doing? What does she see? Days pass, and the two neighbors exchange smiles, nods, and waves. Soon they’re calling out “Hello!” But one day, the child finds the wide window empty and a For Sale sign on the lawn. When the opportunity to look out through, instead of up into, that now-lonely window arrives, the rewards ripple out in heartwarming ways. 

Meet Lou. Lou is many things: clever, creative, competitive, thoughtful, funny . . . and, most of all, FANTASTIC! He meets life's ups and downs with courage, curiosity and a plucky openheartedness. He enjoys his own thoughts and solo company but is always ready to dance, wrestle, wriggle, somersault and karate chop his way into his parents' day (or night).

Here are some Kirkus comments from their Star reviews:

Piper Chen Sings: Leng’s delicate, expressive ink, watercolor, and oil pastel illustrations capture Piper’s enthusiasm and uncertainty as well as Nǎi Nai’s loving warmth, working seamlessly with the text in vignettes and full spreads.

A day for Sandcastles: Single-page and double-page montages consisting of rows of square and rectangular panels are used to compress time, highlight characters’ emotions, and create bridges between scenes. A wondrous wordless picture book that will make readers want to grab a sand bucket and head to the beach.

Shelter: Leng’s earth-toned watercolors and light strokes of pen and ink have a wonderful messiness about them, and her clothed, anthropomorphic animals are drawn more gesturally than the rounded cartoony look found in many picture books. Claire and Leng have created a beautiful tale that reads like a fable to teach giving and kindness, with artwork that warms up as its characters do.

Illustration from Bompa's Insect Expedition by David Suzuki