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Jan Dolby, The Pink Suitcase Studio

Illustrator

 

Member profile details

First Name
Jan
Last Name
Dolby
Organization
The Pink Suitcase Studio
Province or Territory
Ontario
Craft
  • Illustrator
Member Photo
 

Professional information

Bio
Jan Dolby is a freelance children’s illustrator and graphic designer based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. Internationally published, she brings extensive technical and design expertise to her work, and has illustrated more than 35 children’s books.

Grateful for a life filled with creativity, Jan is continually delighted to contribute to the world of children’s literature. Seeing her illustrations in bookstores and online remains a dream come true.
Her first Canadian picture book, Gabby—written by Joyce Grant—received the Rainforest of Reading Festival Award (Montserrat, 2015).

Since then, she has illustrated Gabby: Drama Queen, Gabby: Wonder Girl, Burst Your Bubble!: Outsmart the Algorithms and See What You’re Missing, I Drove My Bed to Grandma’s House, and the modern fairy-tale series Willa the Werewolf, and Curlilocks and the Three Hares. Over the years, Jan has collaborated with many wonderful authors, including Joyce Grant, Alison Hughes, Jackie Azúa Kramer, and Carolyn Huizinga Mills.

You can view her work at jandolby.com.
Publications
This Gift Stinks! How Animals Give Gifts by Etta Kaner, Owlkids Books 2026
Digital Red by Kim Delude, Little Press Publishing 2026
We Remember Canada’s Story by Amy Doyle and Marg Rogers, Royal Canadian Legion 2025
Burst Your Bubble!: Outsmart the Algorithms and See What you are Missing by Joyce Grant, Owlkids Books 2025
I Drove My Bed to Grandma’s House by Carolyn Huizinga Mills, Cormorant Books/DCB Young Readers 2025
A Broken Crayon by Jamison Statema, illustrated by Jan Dolby / Go Fish Resources 2025
Curlilocks and the Three Hares by Andrew C Hacket, Little Press Publishing 2024
Willa the Werewolf by Michele McAvoy, Little Press Publishing 2023
Just My Mama and Me by Maggie Ford, 2023
Part of Your Pack by Luisa Lloyd, Weezie Peezie Publishing 2023
Our Alphabet Roller Coaster, The ABCs of Training and Deployment by Marg Rogers, Royal Canadian Legion 2023
The Planets and Me, Astrology for the Wild Child by Lady Samantha, Friesen Press 2021
But Why? A Virus Story About Feelings by Cassie St. Amand, Friesen Press 2020
Be Proud to be Blue by Diane Hull, MacLaren- Cochrane Publishers 2019
The Cold Little Voice by Allison Hughes, Clockwise Press 2018
Lucky Me, by Lora Rozler, Fitzhenry and Whiteside Publishers 2017
Be Happy to be You by Diane Hull, MacLaren- Cochrane Publishers 2017
The Nifty Thrifty by Sandy Ferguson Fuller, MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing 2017
Gabby: Wonder Girl by Joyce Grant, Fitzhenry and Whiteside Publishers, 2016
Gabby: Drama Queen by Joyce Grant, Fitzhenry and Whiteside Publishers, 2013
Gabby by Joyce Grant, Fitzhenry and Whiteside Publishers, 2013
Feely Tonk Series by Barbara Catchpole, Ransom Publishing UK 2016
Below Your Belt by Missy Lavender & Jen Ihm, Women's Health Foundation, 2015
Riding the Potty Train by Missy Lavender and Jen Ihm, Women's Health Foundation, 2015
If I Had a Tail by Jane Clarke, Ransom Publishing UK, 2015
Mad, Mad, Mad by Stephen Rickard, Ransom Publishing UK, 2015
The Sugar Plum Tree by Katherine James, LilyLu & TT2 Publishing, 2013
How Lily Ate the Rainbow by Jackie Kramer, FastPencil, 2010
Phobiatopia by Tami Su, Dog Ear Publications, 2010
Jig, Jiggle, Sneeze by Joy Vitalis, Magic World Media, 2009
Ginger and the Magical Purse, colouring book by Jan Dolby, 2009
Awards
2025 California Reading Association Eureka Honours Book Award - Burst Your Bubble! Outsmart the Algorithms and See What You Are Missing by Joyce Grant
2025 Indigo Heather's Pick - I Drove My Bed to Grandma's House by Carolyn Huizinga Mils
2025 Children's Book Council Teacher Favourite Award - 3rd-5th Grade - Curlilocks and the Three Hares by Andrew Hackett
2023 Winner – Early Reader/Chapter Book Category Northern Lights Book Award - Willa the Werewolf by Michele McAvoy
2020 Best Book Awards Finalist - Be Happy To Be You by Diane Hull
2018 Literary Titan Book Award - Be Happy To Be You by Diane Hull
2018 Gold Medalist – Independent Publisher Book Award, Recognizing Excellence in Independent Publishing, Award for Juvenile-Young Adult Non-Fiction - Below Your Belt, How To Be Queen of Your Pelvic Region by Missy Lavender and Jeni Donatelli Ihm
2018 Gold Medalist – Nautilus Book Award, Better Books for a Better Word, Juvenile-Young Adult Non-Fiction - Below Your Belt, How To Be Queen of Your Pelvic Region by Missy Lavender and Jeni Donatelli Ihm
2018 Silver Medalist – Independent Book Publishers Association, Ben Franklin Award for Editorial and Design - Below Your Belt, How To Be Queen of Your Pelvic Region by Missy Lavender and Jeni Donatelli Ihm
2015 Rainforest of Reading Festival Award (Montserrat) - Gabby by Joyce Grant
Other Memberships
SCBWI, Illustrators for Hire