Illustrator Spotlight: Judy Langemo Roth

© Judy Langemo Roth

 Dec. 1, 2025

We are pleased to feature illustrator Judy Langemo Roth and her website banner design for Kidlit411. Enjoy!

 

1. Tell us about yourself and how you came to illustrate for children.

I’ve always been interested in drawing and other arts and crafts. As a child in Minnesota, our giant ice cream pail of crayons was lugged around the house as my siblings and I drew and colored and cut and pasted. In elementary school, I was one of three students chosen to draw our US presidents’ faces on paper plates for a community production. And in 6th grade I was asked to head up a mural our class made on Tenochtitlan as part of a social studies unit. 

© Judy Langemo Roth

When I grew up, I became a third grade teacher. I loved doing art projects with my students, as well as sharing with them the wonderful illustrations in picture books! Years later and no longer in the classroom, I ran across a new (at the time) online school called Storyteller Academy. I signed up for classes and joined my first critique group. With their help, and the outstanding courses, I began to learn about both writing and illustrating in the picture book world. 

How did you approach this banner design?

One of my favorite characters I created in Storyteller Academy was Phil the Penguin, whose antics made me laugh each time I wrote about him. So when I heard about the Kidlit 411 Banner Contest, I knew penguins would be my stars! Phil was joined in the December banner by other King Penguins, as well as Adelie and Chinstrap penguin pals. I used my sketch book, Adobe Photoshop, and a Wacom Cintiq monitor to complete this artwork. 

After choosing Phil as my main character, I knew highjinks would follow. It’s well known that penguins trying to balance on a rope naturally leads to crazy comedy! Each penguin’s personality shines, and I hope their efforts make viewers smile! 

© Judy Langemo Roth

What is your preferred medium and style? 

At the time I created my banner entry, I was working primarily in Photoshop. But now I’m back to using a variety of mediums including oil paints, watercolor, charcoal, pastel, and colored pencil. My favorite styles are the imaginative illustrations found in picture books as well as impressionist paintings. 

© Judy Langemo Roth

What projects are you working on now? I have no professional obligations, but I continue to work on personal projects. One was suggested to me by my critique friend Mona: painting small postcard-sized paintings to mail to friends! 

© Judy Langemo Roth

What is something most people don’t know about you? 

While in 5th grade my school had a storytelling contest. Participants had to dress up as a character from a book and then go from classroom to classroom and tell the students a story. I chose to recount “Rumpelstiltskin,” whose title character is wonderfully weird and emotive! The other kids loved hearing me tell the story, and I won the contest! 

© Judy Langemo Roth

 

Where can people find you online? 

Some of my work is found here: https://www.facebook.com/JudyRothArt/photos 

Judy Roth, her husband, Dan, and their kittens Spritz and Stroop live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the years she has used her teaching, art, and music skills with children and adults in school and in her church and neighborhood. Judy enjoys growing native plants in her inner-city yard, and her birdbath is often full of feathered friends (though as of this writing, she is still awaiting her first penguin).