Illustrator Spotlight: Mitu Malhotra
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| © Mitu Malhotra |
Sept. 1, 2025
We are pleased to spotlight illustrator Mitu Malhotra and her website banner design for Kidlit411.
Tell us about yourself and how you came to write and illustrate for children.
I arrived at writing and illustrating for children via a meandering path. Initially I trained as a textile and fashion designer—have some fun memories of working in different countries across the globe designing clothes for women. When my children were born there were not many characters like them in books written in English for youngsters. It took me months of conversations spiced with stories to answer the questions my children asked, “Who am I?” “Where am I from?” That’s when I started to write about characters who ate foods laced with masala, who believed in 30,000 different gods and who spoke Hinglish—a curious mixture of Hindi and English peculiar to the Indian diaspora. In 2019, I discovered the Vermont College of Fine Arts. At VCFA I learned from amazing mentors and peers and my creative thesis was my first verse novel that became a finalist for the Lee & Low 2024 New Visions Award.
Since 2023, I have been interning with Cynthia Leitich Smith and interview authors and illustrators for Cynsations—a 20-year-old blog celebrating Children’s Literature run by her. You can read more in detail about my writing journey on Cynsations.
Congrats on your banner design for Kidlit411. Can you tell us about it and what inspired you?
The Kidlit 411 banner started with birds, so I had “birds on my brain” as I sketched ideas for this banner contest. My banner design is inspired by Indian mystical bird beings called Kinnara who are half-human and half-birds. Here they are hosting a diverse class of young ones in their moonlight library. This artwork was created using traditional media—watercolors, pen and ink. On my website you will see similar motifs— two kinnara safeguarding the portal—doorkeepers to my world of stories.
What is your preferred illustration medium and style?
Since I trained as a textile and fashion designer—I have always used traditional tools to draw and paint. Pen and inks, watercolors and sometimes acrylics are what I use to illustrate.
Since my MFA, I have grown as a writer; to improve my illustration ability I have joined CBIG: Children’s Book Illustrators Group, NYC — It is great to be in the company of other illustrators and learn from them during our monthly meetings. I am still in the process of finding and developing my signature art style. Through CBIG I have had critiques of my portfolio that is in progress.
I keep a daily drawing journal and experiment with mark making and trying different pen and ink techniques. Analog tools feel intuitive and comfortable for me and I use minimal digital techniques in my work. Some days, when I am stretched for time, I grab post its and do quick sketches to keep the creative ink flowing! The small squares are not too intimidating of a blank page to fill…Here’s a photo:
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| © Mitu Malhotra |
What projects are you working on now?
Right now, I am actively building portfolio pieces, and preparing dummies for a couple picture books. I also have two Middle Grade manuscripts in final stages of revision. As well as a very messy Young Adult draft that keeps popping up on my nightstand. In cooking terminology, at this time, all burners are occupied—most at a simmer and one at boil.
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| © Mitu Malhotra |
My family calls me “supercook’ — While I lived in Dubai, I won an amateur cooking contest sponsored by the UAE newspaper Gulf News and Le Meridien Hotels. In the final stages of this live cooking contest we had to create a three-course meal out of a mystery basket of ingredients. It was my first time working in an industrial kitchen in a hotel—I had no idea how large the equipment is! But in ninety minutes flat I prepped and plated: Pickled Prawns with Date Sauce for starters; Steamed Fish in banana leaf with a vegetable, mango and strawberry stir fry and rice for main course; and a cashew caramelized crepe with non-alcoholic pepper milk liqueur for dessert inspired by an Indian sugar parantha that I would make at home for my own family!!!
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| © Mitu Malhotra |
The prizewinning all-expenses paid trip for two to Barcelona was an amazing getaway for me and my husband. We had our fill of Gaudi, Picasso and Miro and all the wonderful food that Spain has to offer. And its no surprise that a lot of my writing for children has layers of food woven in it…
Where can people find you online?
My website is www.mitumalhotra.com and the best way to contact me is through that. You can find me mostly posting on Instagram @mituart although I have place holder presence on Bluesky @mitumalhotra.bsky.social and X @Mitu_B_Malhotra. But I have to disclose I am shy on social media. I prefer to use my time to draw and write.
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