Giving
Children's Book
This year, we're launching an exciting project at Cedar River Montessori School: our first children's book, set to be published in Fall 2025. Inspired by the folk parable "Stone Soup," this multi-phase project involves our students collaborating with staff and educators to showcase the cherished animals on our campus, both from our farm and surrounding wildlife. Through this project, students will explore various aspects of publishing and authorship—from letterpress to poetics, illustration, and literary community-building through local libraries and parent reading groups.
We've begun the first phase by starting the book's illustration process, with the winning illustrator chosen in early April, and the debut illustration of our book to be showcased at our Annual Gala—A Community in Bloom—on May 3rd, 2025!
Thank you for supporting this wonderful project and helping us share our unique campus with the wider world!
Congratulations 🎉 to the Illustrators chosen as finalists in our 2025 Children's Book project; Jarrod Schneider, Karine Makartichan, and Zhanna KIbassova. You can see more of their work in the voting portal link below 👇🏽
🗳️ VOTE HERE
VOTING is OPEN until Midnight Sunday, March 30th.
Illustrator Finalist: Jarrod Schneider
Children’s Book Illustrator & Creative Storyteller
As a child, I always asked too many questions, sought adventure, and saw the world differently. Growing up with ADHD and dyslexia, I often felt like I was living in a mirror, writing from right to left, drawing upside down, and finding my own unique way to express myself. However, this curiosity and creativity led me to discover my passion for art.
Today, I’m a passionate children’s book illustrator with over 7 years of experience bringing stories to life. I’ve had the privilege of working with renowned companies like Book Baby, Trilogy, Illustration Wizard, and Book Quill, creating illustrations that capture the imagination of young readers. My work spans various artistic styles, each tailored to the unique vision of the story I’m helping to tell.
My childhood may have been a roller coaster, but it taught me to embrace the unexpected and find beauty in the unconventional. As an artist and a free thinker, I believe in the power of creativity to transform challenges into opportunities and inspire children to see the world through their unique lens.
I’m look forward to helping create art that sparks curiosity, joy, and a sense of wonder in every child who encounters it.
Today, I’m a passionate children’s book illustrator with over 7 years of experience bringing stories to life. I’ve had the privilege of working with renowned companies like Book Baby, Trilogy, Illustration Wizard, and Book Quill, creating illustrations that capture the imagination of young readers. My work spans various artistic styles, each tailored to the unique vision of the story I’m helping to tell.
My childhood may have been a roller coaster, but it taught me to embrace the unexpected and find beauty in the unconventional. As an artist and a free thinker, I believe in the power of creativity to transform challenges into opportunities and inspire children to see the world through their unique lens.
I’m look forward to helping create art that sparks curiosity, joy, and a sense of wonder in every child who encounters it.
Illustrator Finalist: Karine Makartichan
Karine Makartichan began drawing at the age of five. In 2000, she was accepted into the Fine Arts program at the State Pedagogical University of Armenia. After graduating, she participated in over 25 exhibitions across Armenia, Russia, Italy, France, Belgium, and Turkey. She spent nine years as a fine arts lecturer and owned an art studio in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she worked on various projects and taught students. Today, through US Illustrations, Karine leads a team that brings children's books to life with captivating illustrations, creating around 200 books each year.
Illustrator Finalist: Zhanna KIbassova
Zhanna's Published Works:
Another book - Flores De Mi Casa / Flowers of My Home: Piano and ukulele music, bilingual English and Spanish, nature Kindle Edition by Dora Nuñez
Zhanna's BIO:
Hi, I'm Zhanna, and I am an illustrator who loves creating diverse, whimsical, and colorful illustrations for children's books. Drawing has been my passion since childhood, and I have always dreamed of becoming an artist. I specialize in creating illustrations for children's books and am constantly seeking new ways to bring magical stories to life.
I am also a traveler at heart, and I love exploring different cultures and seeing the world through the eyes of a child. I believe that every child should have access to books and education, and my illustrations reflect that belief. I strive to make my illustrations eye-catching so that children can engage with the stories in a fun and interactive way.
In my free time, I enjoy learning new things and exploring traditional art forms as a hobby. I believe that by expanding my artistic horizons, I can bring even more creativity and diversity to my illustrations.
