Let's Talk Illustration and Children's Books - a Q&A Session with Creative Director, Kerry Martin

Jul 06, 2025

Tokyo Women's Plaza 150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 5 Chome−53−67

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SCBWI Japan in-person event Sunday, 6th July, 10:30am - 12:00pm

SCBWI Japan is happy to welcome Kerry Martin, Creative Director of Holiday House and Peachtree Publishing Company, for this in-person event.

This is Kerry's third visit to our SCBWI region and she'll present examples of illustrators' portfolios, discuss what drew her to want to work with these illustrators and talk about the books that she and the illustrators have worked on, to show the process of creating a finished book.

Event Fees payable at the door:

SCBWI members 1,000 JPY,

SCBWI student members 800 JPY

non-members 1,200 JPY

student non-members 1,000 JPY

Lunch: TBA

Scroll down to find out about the options for portfolio reviews. These reviews are only for SCBWI members who live in Japan.


Recent book titles designed by Kerry Martin

One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome, which won a Newbery Honor and a Coretta Scott King Honor; 

I'm Gonna Paint by Anne Broyles, a winner of the Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award for Children’s Literature, and won the Silver Medal at the Society of Illustrators’ Original Art Show;

 Sharing Shalom by Danielle Sharkan which is a A Sydney Taylor Notable Book and won a National Jewish Book Award.

You can browse many more wonderful books on the Holiday House Publishers website.


Kerry Martin Profile

Kerry Martin is the creative director of Holiday House and Peachtree Publishing Company. She designs and illustrates picture books, novels, graphic novels, and illustrated nonfiction for very young through young adult readers. She lives in Queens, New York with her husband and son. When not designing books or watching her son ride a skateboard, she is swimming, drinking strong coffee, or listening to audio books.

You can also catch a great interview with Kerry on the Illustration Department podcast series here.

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Portfolio Review Option 1 - for event attendees

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Portfolio Review Option 2 - for non-attendees