Illustoria: For Creative Kids & Grownups

Issue #5 The Motion Issue features an impressive roster of talent including Rad Women Worldwide creators Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl. In this issue we explore motion in all different forms: the movement of sea creatures at the aquarium, the gallop of horses, journeys into space and fantastical worlds, the capturing of motion through art and photography, and even the progressive, forward-movement of trailblazers and activists. Read comics about Henri Matisse, Madeleine L'Engle, and Eadweard Muybridge. Learn about the history of and alchemical properties of the color vermilion. Make Victorian-era thaumatropes (a simple paper-and-string animation toy), a flip-book, ice-cream in a bag, and enjoy so much more that will delight the senses in the form of comics, illustrated stories, book recommendations, a playlist and recipe, coloring pages, and activities. 

Issue #6 The Symbols Issue explores how we find meaning in letters, shapes, objects, and more through stories, comics, interviews, and activities that will get you seeing with fresh eyes. This issue features Yuko Higuchi, the brilliant cult artist known for her "dark kawaii" artwork; Shawn Harris, on drawing Her Right Foot, written by Dave Eggers; a stunning comic by issue 6 cover artist Marina Muun, The Rock Garden, an ode to the preservation of history alongside the progress of modern architecture;  the next segment in the popular Literary Giants as Kids series, featuring Dr. Seuss; a beautifully illustrated story on The Quiltmakers of Gee's Bend; DIY CD mandalas; the always gorgeous artwork and informative text in the Brief History of Color series, featuring Yellow Ochre; a tasty recipe for veggie curry; DIY cursive letters; collectable cut-out tarot cards; and the usual book recommendations, art supply reviews, music playlist, and so much more that you've come to enjoy and expect from Illustoria.

Issue #7: Black & White delves into the world of shadow and light with bold stories and comics that will have kids & grownups dreaming up the infinite possibilities of a bottle of ink and a brush. Acclaimed illustrator Rebecca Green graces the cover with an adorable animal portrait scene, and shares her artistic process in a full length interview. Obsess over the pets of your favorite Literary Giants by our creative director Elizabeth Haidle; find an interview with and fall in love with the illustrations of award-winning artist and writer Paul Madonna; learn about black & white pigments in The Brief History of Black and White by Alexis Joseph and Lindsay Stripling; swoon over a super sweet comic by and Q & Artist interview with children's book author & illustrator Basak Agaoglu; make your very own herb salve, thirst quenching horchata, concrete poetry pop-up book, and shadow puppet theatre; and delight over tons of comics, stories, and coloring pages in this packed issue!

Issue #8: HOME immerses readers into a subject so dear to everyone's heart: Home—a place full of life and living, brimming with dreaming and making. At Illustoria, we find homes in stories and pictures that sometimes leaves us feeling warm and cozy and familiar, and other times take us to extraordinary places beyond our wildest imaginations. In this issue, some of our favorite artists and writers contribute in the form of interviews, original stories, and art as to what Home means to them. From beloved kid lit author/illustrator (and our issue 8 cover artist) Carson Elis and her husband, the musician and children’s book author Colin Meloy, to musician Andrew Bird and designer Katherine Tsina Bird; from fairytale homes to designers who reinvented home—you’ll find a ton of original ideas and illustrations that you and your little ones will want to cozy up to. Make your own woven basket, cardboard furniture, peg dolls, and chai spice mix. Listen to songs that you’ll want to play at home or on the road. Enjoy this wonderfully packed, and super special issue—our last under founding editor Joanne Chan, as we pass the torch in this issue to our new magazine publisher, McSweeney’s!

Illustoria’s #9: The Food Issue! This first issue under our new publisher McSweeney’s is bursting with culinary delight, and is sure to satisfy any tummy rumbling for creativity. Feast your eyes on a delicious, impossibly groovy cover by illustrator Mar Hernández, in her signature bold and vibrant style.Get inspired by food youth activists Rachel Parent (founder of non-profit Kids Right to Know), Ziyon Williams (volunteer at urban farm Acta Non Verba), and Mikaela Ulmer (founder of lemonade company Me&theBees) who share their stories of entrepreneurship in brilliant interviews.

Issue 10: Color is here! Where did color come from? Some say New Jersey, and some say outer space. No matter what your opinion, this issue explores how we see and use color. We are honored to feature a cacophonous cover by printmaker and renowned children’s book illustrator JooHee Yoon, creator of Up Down Inside Out and Beastly Verse. Find an interview with the artist inside and more! 

Issue 11: Creatures is here! In this issue, find a parade of real, imaginary, and ugly animals, including zooplankton—the tiniest creatures. You’ll meet wildlife specialists and medieval-era pets. Trace your pencil along the 3-D Monstermaze and create textured creature rubbings with us.

Issue 12: Upcycle is here!Meet artists who transform found objects into visual delights, and visit the Museum of Trash–curated rubbish collected by a sanitation worker. Learn about fungi, nature’s original ‘upcyclers’, and raid your kitchen for materials that can be used to mix your own watercolors. Interactive pages, scattered throughout, invite readers to ‘upcycle’ this magazine by getting involved. Join in the joke-telling, book reviewing and playlist-making. Activities, games and DIY projects also revolve around this eco-friendly theme.

Issue 13: Maps is here! What does it mean to map a place, or an inner world? In this issue, you’ll find maps that are ancient and new … and imagined! Hear from an oceanographer who maps the sea floor, and meet a teenaged climate activist working to save our planet. Draw a treasure mashup map with friends, diagram a mind map using our story-starter cards, and bake a taco boat to let your tastebuds sail away.

Issue 14: The Myth Issue is here! Have you ever wanted to know more about myths, legends and folklore from around the globe? We’ve searched far and wide for tales of the unusual, featuring bugs, yetis, horse hybrids, magical dogs, & super strong babies. We’ll help you build your own labyrinth—indoors or out—using socks from your laundry pile, or rocks in the grass. Create your own edible dragon eggs with the help of Dog Chef. Read our interview with fabric sculptor Nick Cave, who is influenced by ancient mythology. Meet a New York City youth activist, go behind the scenes with cover artist Julie Benbassat, and see what other young writers and artists have been making lately.