Book Birthday Blog with Kristen Uroda

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Kristen Uroda on the release of Scientists Like Me: Stories, Advice, and Inspiration from 25 Trailblazers with Experiments to Try at Home

 

 

Your work includes a variety of genres, clients and projects, and this year, you have two new books releasing. How do you keep yourself organized?

My biggest secret isn’t fancy, I’m afraid! After more than a decade juggling illustration and graphic design alongside school or a full-time job, I’ve learned through trial-and-error what I can realistically take on and where my limits are.
 
For me, staying organized means being clear-eyed about what’s sustainable. Sometimes that means turning down projects to protect my health and sanity because I see this work as a marathon, not a sprint. So if saying no to a gig means I can enjoy dinner with my family tonight, sleep well, and avoid burnout later down the line, then that’s absolutely worth it to me.
 
Beyond that, I lean on project management skills I’ve picked up over the years that I definitely didn’t learn in art school! I’m normally a pretty optimistic person, but when I plan, I look at things with a very pessimistic mindset: I think about the unexpected hiccups like power outages, getting sick, or delayed feedback, and how I know I’ll always hit a few spreads that take three times longer than I expect. For editorial work, there’s fewer surprises because the turnaround is so tight, but for picture books I build in my own buffer time so I’m not derailed by the inevitable surprises and I can reasonably manage more than one large project at a time.

Which illustration is your favorite in the book and why?

It’s hard to pick just one because they were all such a joy to create! But Jane Goodall’s portrait stands out in my memory as I really admired Dr. Goodall as a child, so it felt especially meaningful to illustrate her. Throughout the book, we assigned each field of study its own color palette—Medicine, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and so on. Jane falls under Social Sciences, which was represented with purple. But of course, she’s so closely tied to the deep, green jungles where she did her pioneering work! Using the designated purple palette with hints of green was a fun creative puzzle, and I love how it turned out.

 

 

Jane Goodall

What do you hope readers will take away from the book? 

I hope readers come away thinking: science is cool! I love how this book highlights a wide range of scientists—both familiar faces and inspiring new voices so my biggest hope is that every reader finds someone they connect with and feels motivated to explore and ask questions, just like these scientists did. 

 

 

Karlyn Beer

 

 

Alan Turning

 

 

Nadine Caron

 

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it? 

Hachette Book Group is handling most of the marketing and outreach, and I’m excited to see the book make its way to science fairs, classrooms, and libraries where curious minds can discover it.
 
But it’s available wherever books are sold! 

What's next for you? 

As shared previously, I’m currently illustrating my 5th picture book and continuing to illustrate covers for the Race to the Truth series with Crown Books. Last year was pretty busy, so I’m taking it slow this year to recalibrate a bit, think about some personal projects, and learn how to garden a little too. 

More about the book . . . 

Perfect for science loving kids, this book offers engaging profiles of twenty-five diverse scientists in fields ranging from physics to medicine to programming, paired with hands-on activities that let young readers jump right into the work.
 
From doctors and physicists, mathematicians and marine biologists, to AI experts and more, Scientists Like Me profiles a diverse collection of historic and contemporary scientists and encourages readers to discover their own scientific passions.



Written in partnership with the Kamin Science Center, Scientists Like Me is the perfect book for any kid who loves observing and discovering. It’s for any adult hoping to invigorate a young person’s interest in science. Most of all, it’s for anyone who’s ever wondered about the incredible world around us and wanted to find out more. 

Published by:  Hachette Book Group

More about the author . . . 

Kristen Uroda is a Michigan-based artist who creates vibrant illustrations that inspire people to dream, hope, and imagine a better, kinder world. 



Beginning her career in editorial illustration, Kristen has expanded her work to include publishing, creating picture books and illustrated book covers. Known for her light, joyful style and bursts of color, Kristen uses her art to spark joy, inspire connection, and renew moral imagination. 

Bluesky: @kristenuroda.bsky.social