Sophie Blackall

Sophie Blackall

Sophie Blackall (born 2 July 1970 in Melbourne) is an Australian artist and children's book illustrator who has lived in Brooklyn, New York since 2000.

Sophie Blackhall grew up in the Adelaide area and studied at the Walford Anglican School for Girls (en) . In 1992, Blackall graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Bachelor of Design).

She illustrates more than 30 children's books, including Annie Barrows' Ivy and Bean series. She collaborates with various authors such as Jacqueline Woodson, John Bemelmans Marciano (en), Jane Yolen and Meg Rosoff. Her work also includes animated television commercials and illustrations for newspapers and magazines.

In 2015, her collaboration with Emily Jenkins on A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat, was well received by critics but became controversial due to her portrayal of her enslavement. Her work has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Caldecott Medal twice: in 2016 for Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear and in 2019 for Hello Lighthouse.