First things first…. in an attempt to stem the tide of online name misspellings, my first name is Kirsti. I before R. No Y. Second is Anne. With an E.

You may come across my name spelled in a number of different ways – sometimes all in the same article, and sometimes on official looking websites (including book data sites and publisher sites). But I assure you, it is Kirsti Anne Wakelin.

Now that that’s out of the way, on to the biography part, where I’d like to begin by mentioning that next to having my picture taken, writing bios is one of my least favourite things to do.

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I am an illustrator, designer (and sometimes painter). As well as illustrating children’s books, and in addition to my freelance work, I am a collaborator at a multidisciplinary studio that produces, among other things, interpretive and exhibit design for arts, culture, and corporate clients.

In the non-work realm of random facts, I am or have been, a planter of plants, a nurturer of mason bees, an urban gardener, an over-consumer of coffee, an obsessive researcher, a rescuer of injured crows, a collector of books (usually bought for the pictures), a recycler, and a friend of dogs, cats and all animals regardless of how many legs they do or do not possess. I appreciate things that were built to last, am a critic of the disposable, and am a fan of film and print. I have waded with beluga whales and was once bitten by a seal. I am not very tidy.

Now for the less interesting facts: I live in Vancouver, B.C. I grew up on a hobby farm in Maple Ridge. I went to school at Capilano College (now University) and graduated from the Graphic Design and Illustration Program (now IDEA program).

I have illustrated of a handful of children’s picture books, including Pig in The Middle (authored by my mother, Sally Fitz-Gibbon),  A Pod of Orcas, Looking for Loons, and Dream Boats (find a full list of my books here). I am a member of CWILL BC, (Children’s Writer’s and Illustrators of British Columbia), and at about 4 years old I had a Shetland pony called Duffy, and I rocked the gumboot look:

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pangolin::AT::kirstiwakelin::DOT::com

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For questions regarding my availability for children’s book illustration please contact my agent directly:

Lynn Bennett, Transatlantic Literary agency

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Due to studio commitments, I am unavailable for school or library visits.
If you are a teacher or librarian interested in booking an author or illustrator to visit your school or library, please consider visiting the CWILL BC website where there is a searchable database of available speakers.