Bio
In a world that's becoming ever more digitized, Claudia Dávila (she/her) remains a believer and appreciator of books you can hold in your hands. She writes, illustrates and designs books for kids of all ages, with stories and themes that encourage children to be strong, thoughtful, compassionate and responsible people.
Claudia's deep love of nature, coupled with her fascination of how people interact with it, inspired her to write and illustrate her first book, the graphic novel Luz Sees The Light. Since then she has not been able to stop writing and illustrating new stories! After almost a decade of illustrating non-fiction books written by a number of talented Canadian authors, Claudia has joyfully found herself in the new and exciting world of turning her ideas and passions into her own illustrated stories.
Claudia is the former Art Director of Chirp and Chickadee magazines, and is author/illustrator of the award-winning graphic novel series The Future According To Luz. Her latest creation is Super Red Riding Hood, and she illustrated the award-winning biographical graphic novel Child Soldier. For a full list of titles, please see the bibliography below.
Born in Santiago, Chile, Claudia now makes her home in Toronto with her husband Michael Cho and their two kids.
They spend many evenings together drawing, sketching, and making up funny characters and super silly stories.
Events
Claudia not only loves writing for and about kids, she also loves talking with them and presenting books and related themes to them. She has twice been a guest speaker at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF), at the Comic Arts for Kids Expo (CAKE), and with the Toronto Public Library and Mississauga Library systems.
EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
May 27-28 2023
TORONTO COMIC ARTS FESTIVAL (TCAF)
11am Panel "Dynamic Duos: Writer And Illustrator/Cartoonists Collaborators" followed by book signing
April 30, 2023
PACKAGE YOUR IMAGINATION (CANSCAIP)
Virtual Conference | October 23, 2021
RUBY'S BIRDS BOOK SIGNING (Little Island Bookstore)
April 7, 2019
SOPHIE'S STUDIO (Dufferin Branch Library)
November 2018
CHILD SOLDIER Q&A (Mississauga Valley Library)
September 29, 2017
LAKES INTERNATIONAL COMIC ARTS FESTIVAL (UK)
October 13-15, 2017
1000 ISLANDS WRITERS FESTIVAL (Gananoque, ON)
May 5-7, 2017
CHILD SOLDIER Q&A (Toronto Reference Library)
October 6, 2015
TD CANADIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK 2015
May 2-9, 2015
Alberta Tour
BOOK EXPO AMERICA (New York) - May 27-29, 2015
SLJ Day of Dialog
Panel IV: Non-Fiction Goes Graphic (In Format)
SOPHIE'S STUDIO - April 4-25, 2015 (Saturdays 2pm)
Creative Writing Workshop
Every Picture Tells A Story
TPL Riverdale Branch (Toronto)
INSPIRE BOOK FEST - 5pm, November 16, 2014
Presentation with Authors
Viminy Crowe's Comic Book
Metro Convention Center (Toronto)
DRAWING WORKSHOP - 2pm, August 28, 2014
End Of Summer Party
North York Central Library (Toronto)
BOOK LAUNCH - 12-2pm, Saturday August 6, 2014
Super Red Riding Hood
Little Island Bookstore (Toronto)
BOOK READING & WORKSHOP - 2:20pm, June 22, 2014
Taddle Creek Magazine, Kids' Issue Launch event
Lillian H. Smith Library (Toronto)
BOOK READING - 2 & 3pm, June 7, 2014
Super Red Riding Hood (Kids Can Press)
"How U Livin'?" event @ Driftwood C.C. (Toronto)
BOOK LAUNCH - May 12, 2014
Viminy Crowe's Comic Book (Tundra)
Ben McNally Bookstore (Toronto)
TCAF - May 10, 2014
Viminy Crowe's Comic Book presentation,
with authors Marthe Jocelyn and Richard Scrimger
Toronto Reference Library, Beeton Auditorium
Bibliography
Please send all book illustration inquiries to my agent
Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Literary Agency
All other messages please use the form below:
From as early as I can remember,
I have loved drawing, and I’ve always loved stories. But it took until after a
post-secondary education in fine art to realize that I could have a career as a professional illustrator. I guess that’s because I didn’t know any illustrators growing up, certainly none in my family. Although I started out as a graphic designer, it led me to work at Owl Magazine — ultimately as the Art Director of Chirp and Chickadee — where I got to meet dozens of amazing illustrators. That gave me the encouragement to take the leap and start drawing for books. By now I’ve illustrated over 30 children’s books, both fiction and non-fiction, 3 of them written by me. Looking at other illustrators' pictures, and reading lots of kids’ books, continually inspires me to draw in new ways and come up with story ideas. The world is full of creators, and it’s truly magical to be a part of that world.
Super Red Riding Hood trailer by Kids Can Press
★ denotes awards, nominations, shortlist, commendations
Written & Illustrated by Claudia Dávila:
★ Super Red Riding Hood (Kids Can Press, 2014) 2016 Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Honour Book Winner (OLA)
★ Luz Makes A Splash (Kids Can Press, 2012) 2013 Green Earth Prize for Sustainable Literature Award Winner (Santa Monica Public Library)
★ Luz Sees The Light (Kids Can Press, 2011) 2012 Green Earth Book Award Winner (Nature Generation)
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★ Fast Friends. Written by Heather M. O'Connor.
(Scholastic, 2020) 2021 Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Nominee (OLA); 2022 TD Grade 1 Book Giveaway (CCBC); 2021 Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Award; 2021 Jean Throop Award Shortlist; 2021 Shining Willow Award Shortlist; 2020 Best Books for Kids and Teens (CCBC) commended; 2020 OLA Best Bets commended; 2020 Toronto Public Library First & Best Booklist commended
★ Hockey Night in Kenya. Written by Eric Walters & Danson Mutinda. (Orca, 2020) 2022 OLA Forest of Reading Silver Birch Non-Fiction Nominee; 2021 Best Book for Kids & Teens (CCBC) Starred; 2021 BC Books for BC Schools commended
★ The Canadian Kids' Guide to Outdoor Fun.
Written by Helaine Becker. (Scholastic, 2019) 2021 Rocky Mountain Book Award Shortlist; 2021 & 2020 TD Summer Reading Club Top 10 commended; 2019 Best Book For Teens (CCBC) Starred Selection; 2019 OLA Best Bets commended
★ Ruby's Birds. Written by Mya Thompson. (Cornell, 2019) 2020 Northern Lights Award Winner (Northern Dawn), Nature Category
The Ghost of Mill House. Written by Margiet Ruurs. (Orca, 2019)
Bus to the Badlands. Written by Margriet Ruurs. (Orca, 2018)
★ Child Soldier. Written by Jessica Dee Humphreys and
Michel Chikwanine. (Kids Can Press, 2015) 2018 Non-Fiction Award, Grand Canyon Reader Awards Shortlist; 2017 Red Maple Non-Fiction Award Winner (OLA); 2017 Golden Oak Award (OLA) Shortlist; 2016 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction, Shortlist; 2016 The Dragon Award, The Joe Shuster Awards, Shortlist; 2016 Book of the Year for Children Award, Canadian Library Association, Shortlist; 2016 ALSC Notable Children's Books; 2016 (Older Readers), American Library Association, Longlisted; 2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens, YALSA, Longlist; 2016 Children's Choice Book Award, Hackmatack, Longlisted; 2016 Information Book Award, Honour Book; 2016 Children's Literature Roundtable of Canada Winner; 2016 Best Publication for Kids, Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, Shortlist; 2016 Best Books for Kids & Teens Winner (CCBC); 2016 Honor Book, Skipping Stones; 2015 Best Bets Junior Non-Fiction Winner (OLA)
The Candy Conspiracy. Written by Carrie Snyder.
(Owlkids Books, 2015)
Viminy Crowe's Comic Book. Written by Marthe Jocelyn & Richard Scrimger. (Tundra Books, 2014)
★ Motion, Magnets and More. Written by Adrienne Mason.
(Kids Can Press, 2011) 2012 Best Books for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection (CCBC)
Magic up Your Sleeve. Written by Helaine Becker.
(Owlkids Books, 2010)
Sweet! Written by Ann Love and Jane Drake.
(Tundra Books, 2009)
★ The Insecto-Files. Written by Helaine Becker.
(Owlkids Books, 2009) 2010 OLA Silver Birch Non-Fiction Nominee (Forest of Reading)
Science on the Loose. Written by Helaine Becker.
(Owlkids Books, 2008)
Mother Goose Unplucked. Written by Helaine Becker.
(Owlkids Books, 2007)
★ It's Your Room. Written by Janice Weaver and Frieda Wishinsky. (Tundra Books, 2006) 2007 OLA Red Maple
Non-Fiction Award Nominee (Forest of Reading)
Build It! Written by Adrienne Mason.
(Kids Can Press, 2006)
★ Change It! Written by Adrienne Mason. (Kids Can Press, 2006) 2007 Information Book Award, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada, Shortlist
★ Money, Money, Money. Written by Eve Drobot. (Owlkids Books, 2006) 2007 OLA Red Maple Non-Fiction Award Nominee (Forest of Reading)
Like A Pro. Written by Helaine Becker.
(Owlkids Books, 2006)
Body Talk. Written by Ann Douglas and Julie Douglas.
(Owlkids Books, 2006)
Funny Business. Written by Helaine Becker.
(Owlkids Books, 2005)
Are You Psychic? Written by Helaine Becker.
(Owlkids Books, 2005)
The Girls' Yoga Book. Written by Michaela Caldwell.
(Owlkids Books, 2005)
Move It! Written by Adrienne Mason.
(Kids Can Press, 2005)
Touch It! Written by Adrienne Mason.
(Kids Can Press, 2005)
★ Boredom Blasters. Written by Helaine Becker.
(Owlkids Books, 2004) 2006 OLA Silver Birch Non-Fiction Award Winner (Forest of Reading)
Money, Money, Money. Written by Eve Drobot.
(Owlkids Books, 2004)
The Girls' Spa Book. Written by Mary Wallace and
Jessica Wallace. (Owlkids Books, 2004)
Art For The Heart. Written by Mary Wallace.
(Owlkids Books, 2004)
Super Red Riding Hood adaptation by Aurea Pasten Davila
High school film project by my very own niece!
IG Live at Read Your World for Hispanic Heritage Month
“Claudia did a group drawing lesson for 80 children and parents. Her well prepared presentation included drawing emotions on a human face and drawing simple movement.
She gave clear, joyful instruction to the
children and they were totally engaged.
I highly recommend Claudia!”
— Sharon Andic, North York Central Library
“I invited Ms. Davila to hold a presentation for two classrooms of Grade 4 students. She was fully prepared with a visual presentation, and was very friendly and engaged with the children. The students were thrilled, and full of questions, which she answered with ease and flair.”
— Veronica Ramirez, Mississauga Valley Library