Meet the illustrators for Reading Expands Our Universe

  • Joel Christian Gill

    Joel Christian Gill is a cartoonist and historian who speaks nationally on the importance of sharing stories. He is the author of the acclaimed memoir Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence, cited as one of the best graphic novels of 2020 by The New York Times and for which he was awarded the 2021 Cartoonist Studio Prize. He wrote the words and drew the pictures for Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride and the award-winning graphic novel series Strange Fruit: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History, as well as 3 volumes of Tales of The Talented Tenth, which tell the stories of Bass Reeves, Bessie Stringfield, and Robert Smalls. He illustrated the graphic novel of Ibram Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. Gill has dedicated his life to creating stories to build connections with readers through empathy, compassion, and, ultimately, humanity. He received his MFA from Boston University and his BA from Roanoke College.

    Find him online as @joelchristiangill and at https://www.joelchristiangill.com.

  • Jen Corace

    Jen Corace was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, and she earned a BFA degree from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1996. She made cover illustrations for Cricket magazine from 1996 to 2006. Corace illustrated Amy Krouse Rosenthal's books, Little Pea (2005), as well as the additional books in the Little Books Series, Little Hoot and Little Oink (2009). Corace also illustrated Small World by Ishta Mercurio (2019) and Gibbus Moony Wants to Bite You! (2011). They live in Providence, Rhode Island, with their family.

    Find them online at https://www.jencorace.com.

    Check out iREAD's interview with Jen Corace, featured in the September 2026 issue of the ILA Reporter. 

  • Stevie Lewis

    Stevie Lewis is an illustrator of over 30 children’s books. She also enjoys painting, hiking and climbing outdoors, and spending time with her husband and dog. Her most recent works include The Queen of Chess by Lauri Hallmark and How to Eat in Space by Helen Taylor.

    Find her online at https://www.chocosweete.com.

  • Lisa Sterle

    Lisa Sterle is the co-creator and artist of the comics Witchblood, Squad, Long Lost, and Submerged. She has worked with HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, DC, IDW, Image, BOOM! Studios, and many others.

    Find her online at https://www.lisasterle.com