Kertu Sillaste

Kertu Sillaste (1973) is an illustrator, art teacher, and picture book author. She graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in textile design, studied tapestry at the École Supérieure des Arts Appliqués Duperré in Paris, and received a master’s degree in art education at Tallinn University. Sillaste has worked as a graphic designer at the Tallinn Central Library, and currently teaches art at the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre. She has written five books, illustrated 16 works, and is a long-time collaborator with the children’s magazine Täheke. Sillaste was listed in the 2016 White Ravens catalogue and was a candidate for the 2017 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Her signature style includes thick, vibrant India-ink brush strokes combined with acrylics or collage.

I've authored texts for picture books. The writing in my books is very concise – what matters is that it always fits with the pictures. I usually write a story and illustrate it simultaneously, and therefore I might not tell everything in the story itself: the pictures tell part of the tale, too. When I write, I keep in mind that a book meant for small children should have short words and sentences, but also a little bit of excitement and great characters.

Profile photo: Piia Ruber

 

Bibliography

Too Many Things

2026

The Soup Book

2025

I am an Illustrator

2024

In a Tiny House

2022

I Am Not Afraid

2022

Help!

2021

The Animals Went to Town

2019

The Prettiest Skirt

2019

I Am an Artist

2018

Everyone Makes Art Their Own Way

2016

No, It Isn't So!

2015

It’s Pancake Time!

2012

Translations

Jeder macht Kunst auf seine Weise

2017

Nein, so ist es nicht!

2017

Der schönste Rock der Welt

2021

It’s pancake time!

2015

I Am an Artist

2021

Herkesin Tarzı Başka İşte Sanat Burada

2021

Artist Ydw i

2021

Tsillokõsõn majan

2022

I Am An Illustrator

2026

Darlunydd Ydw I

2026

Awards

2023
UKLA Book Award Longlist 2023 in the information book category I am an Artist

2022
IBBY Honour List (The Prettiest Skirt)
Good Children’s Book (In a Tiny House)

2021
5 Best Designed Estonian Children's Books ("Help!)

2020
International Illustration and Book Design Competition ‘Image of the Book’, Moscow, laureate

2019
25 Best-Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (The Prettiest Skirt)

2018
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special Prize of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Good Children’s Book (I Am an Artist)

2017
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award candidate

2016
The White Raven (No, It Isn't So!)
Good Children’s Book (Everyone Makes Art Their Own Way)

2015
Raisin of the Year Award (No, It Isn't So!)
Nominee of the Annual Children’s Literature Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (No, It Isn't So!)
Good Children’s Book (No, It Isn't So!)
The Knee-High Book Competition, winner (Astrid and Ott)

2014
25 Best-Designed Estonian Books, Certificate of Merit (Liis Sillaste-Toots. „Kokatarkusi must valgel”)
Good Children’s Book (Kätlin Vainola. Where is Love?)

2013
The Knee-High Book Competition, 1st place (Kätlin Vainola. Where is Love?)
The Knee-High Book Competition, honorary mention (Kertu Sillaste. No, It Isn't So!)

2011
The Knee-High Book Competition, 3rd place (It’s Pancake Time!)

About the author

2020
Story time with Kertu Sillaste (video)
Jeder macht Kunst auf seine Weise (Das Baltikum-Blatt, German)

2019
Estonian illustrators at the Pop Up festival (UK)
Kertu Sillaste will perform in Leipzig and Berlin in March 2019
Kertu Sillaste. I Am an Artist (ELM)

2018
Kertu Sillaste’s Book Chosen Among the 100 Best Books from 2017 in Germany 

2017
Estonian Illustrators at the Literary Festival Berliner Bücherinseln
Jeder macht Kunst auf seine Weise (Kullerkupp, German)
Nein, so ist es nicht! (Kullerkupp, German)
Nein, So ist das nicht! (VivaVostok, German)

2016
Estonian Children's Books Chosen for The White Ravens Catalogue
Estonian Children’s Literature Days in New York and Toronto
Kertu Sillaste’s Book Launch in England

2015
Kertu Sillaste Won The Raisin of the Year Award

Home Page
Wikipedia (German)

Contact info

Concerning copyrights, please contact:
ulla.saar@elk.ee
+372 617 7238