07/10/2025
This week, we are excited to introduce five new illustrators to the agency, beginning with author-illustrator AJ Smith.
AJ specializes in silly stories and funny drawings for kids, but his work is often full of heart. AJ is passionate about crafting books that fuel a lifetime love of reading.
AJ's illustration style blends cut paper, marker, acrylic, colored pencil, and a bit of digital know-how with coffee stains (sometimes on purpose) and grape jelly (mostly not on purpose). For AJ, writing and illustrating are very reciprocal processes that both offer exciting opportunities to tell stories in different ways.
AJ loves to bring fresh ideas to the table and collaborate with creative clients, who have included Cartoon Network, Highlights, Kids Can Press, Nat Geo Kids, Nickelodeon, Sesame Street, and Sourcebooks.
When not creating kidlit books and other artwork for the childrenâs market, AJ loves illustrating projects that tap into his love of animals, the outdoors, travel, and tasty eats. Over the past 20 years, heâs scribbled up illustrated projects ranging from icons, character art, hand lettering, and branding to clothing, greeting cards, murals, packaging, murals, maps, and stickers.
AJ Smith lives a bit north of Boston, where he also works as a high school educator.
AJ Smith is represented by Carter Hasegawa.
Please give AJ a great big WELCOME!
