Malgosia Krol

Hello! I’m an award-winning illustrator and author originally from Poland, but I live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. English is my third language and I speak Polish, French, learning Spanish and refreshing my German.
Although my background is in Landscape Architecture and Journalism, my first loves in life were reading, drawing and telling stories. These loves are deeply steeped in my Polish heritage of storytellers, artists, traditional folklore, folk art, nature and design.

With my storytelling I aim to guide readers to the magic within us all. Highlighting emotional awareness and acceptance and celebration of oneself and others. I do this through stories of adversity and reflection; subjects I continually revisit from my own lived experiences and multiple immigrations. My goal is to provoke thought in the reader by inspiring them to peel back the layers within their own life story.

It is important to me that the illustrations in my picture books deepen and expand the narrative instead of only serving as an echo for the words. Each book expresses itself in my own unique illustration style and always carries an element of simplicity, an emphasis on imperfection, and pops of colour throughout. I use a combination of analogue and digital tools to illustrate, mainly working with ink, watercolour, charcoal, graphite and coloured pencils. Textures and patterns are important to me and I delight in using stamps, stencils, and found objects from nature.

As a mama my storytelling is further influenced by life viewed through my child’s lens. This is my constant inspiration in how to communicate big world issues to little people, so that they are prepared for the world they live in, and not a world that doesn’t exist (yet). 

Since embarking on this journey in 2010 and feeling encouraged by winning industry recognition and awards for my children's books, my continued focus is to make writing and illustrating my life’s work. It has been an adventure in trusting in the process and I’m excited to complete a graphic novel series for YA readers, along with five kid’s books planned for 2025, while the other 40 books patiently await their turn in the publishing queue.

When I’m not getting my hands dirty making marks on paper, screen printing or throwing mud on the pottery wheel, I can be found gardening with my hands in the dirt or adventuring in nature with my family.