About

Joelle Avelino is a Congolese and Angolan Illustrator who grew up in the United Kingdom. She obtained a BA (Hons) in Illustration with Marketing from the University of Hertfordshire. She is particularly motivated by the need for people from all races and backgrounds to see themselves in the world around them.

Her most recent children’s book, written by best selling author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, ‘Mama’s Sleeping Scarf’, will be published in September 2023. It is a tender story that celebrates the simple joys of family life. 

She has also worked on several other titles including Hey You! Written by Dapo Adeola, a 2022, British Book Awards winner. An empowering celebration of growing up black and she worked on the 25th anniversary edition of Baroness Floella Benjamins classic memoir Coming to England. Her animation project with the Malala Fund was featured as one of Design Week’s favourite International Women’s Day projects of 2020.

Joelle is also a teacher, a personal chef, a cleaner, a nurse and a chauffeur...the list can go on... to her Seven year old daughter.

Full Clients List:

HarperCollins Publishing, Head of Zeus, Puffin, Penguin Random House, Scholastic publishing, Anderson Press, Macmillan, Workman Publishing, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Ivy Kids, The Guardian, The BBC, Malala Fund, Elle Magazine, WWD, Macmillan, Mother Jones,Collins, NPR Music, Time Magazine, Bravery Magazine, Google's Women Tech Makers, The Washington posts: The Lily and In These Times, A Cup Of Jo, Longform Podcast, Backstage.com, Huffington Post, Piccolina Kids, Daydreamers press and The Wild Honey Pies. 

For all enquiries please contact: joelleavelino@gmail.com