Kertu Sillaste

Kertu Sillaste, born in 1973 in Tallinn, Estonia, is an art educator, illustrator, and author. Her books are designed to spark children’s creativity and inspire them to express themselves artistically. As a picture book author and educator, she firmly believes that illustrations should not merely accompany the text but also encourage children to experiment with their own artistic styles.

To achieve this, she uses a wide range of techniques – including collage, digital editing, and ink drawing – ensuring that each book becomes a visually stimulating and dynamic experience. One of her most distinctive approaches is the so-called bric-à-brac illustration, in which images are assembled from small leftover materials. Through this method, she fosters imagination and inventiveness.

More than 500 children in kindergartens, schools, and libraries have taken part in her workshops, discovering how simple materials can be transformed into vibrant works of art.

Kertu Sillaste’s books have received numerous prestigious awards, including a place on the IBBY Honour List 2022 for her illustrations in Kõige ilusam seelik (2019; German edition: Der schönste Rock der Welt, 2021) and inclusion in the White Ravens selection of 2016 for Ei ole nii! (German edition: Nein, so ist es nicht!, 2017).