About me

Tiiu Kitsik is an Estonian author and illustrator based in Berlin. She writes and illustrates children’s books and creates illustrations for magazines and newspapers.

Her work combines oil pastels, coloured pencils and watercolours with digital tools. For her, text is the heart of a picture book; illustrations give it life and soul. She creates stories of her own and collaborates with other writers, often letting familiar things take a slightly absurd turn.

Get in touch

A plump blue-and-violet hare in oversized round green glasses, long yellow ears, standing on thin black legs

Awards & recognition

2026 Official Selection, Everybody Reads (Iedereen Leest) Annual Children’s Book Contest (Belgium)
2026 Brandenburg State Science Award · Co-facilitator and guest expert on the impact of illustration in communicating economic concepts for the University of Potsdam seminar “Discover the World of Economics” (Germany)
2025 Good Children’s Book 2025 · For Seest siiruviiruline (Estonia)
2025 Good Children’s Book 2025 · For Riidesse (Estonia)
2025 The White Ravens Catalogue Selection · International Youth Library, Munich, for Me kolime ära (International)
2025 Finalist, Põlvepiku Book Competition · For Uudishimulik Ines (Estonia)
2024 Good Children’s Book 2024 · For Meie tee (Estonia)
2024 Good Children’s Book 2024 · For Maailma parim liivaloss (Estonia)
2024 Karl Eduard Sööt Children’s Poetry Public Award · For Musterpere (Estonia)
2024 2nd Place, Children’s Story Contest “Minu esimene raamat” · For Me kolime ära (Estonia)
2023 2nd/3rd Place, Põlvepiku Book Competition · For Meie tee (Estonia)
2023 EKGL Special Prize, Five Most Beautiful Estonian Children’s Books · For Jalad (Estonia)
2022 Winner, Five Most Beautiful Estonian Children’s Books · For Emil, Sass ja kivimutukad (Estonia)
2019 1st Place, II Salon International Illustration Festival (International)

Selected coverage

Out of the Book: picture-book art beyond the page BilderbuchMarkt · German · 2026 Inside Picturebooks Berlin’s group exhibition at Neurotitan, featuring work by Tiiu and fellow illustrators.
Bringing economics into children’s books University of Potsdam · German · 2026 A feature on a university seminar, with Tiiu contributing as a guest expert on creating children’s nonfiction.
Me kolime ära in The White Ravens 2025 International Youth Library · English · PDF, page 38 A critical assessment of the story’s humour and its portrayal of moving abroad and starting again.
Jaanika Palm reviews Me kolime ära ERR · Estonian · 2024 A literary review exploring school life, belonging and self-acceptance.

Selected bibliography

Original Estonian titles with English translations for reference.

As author & illustrator

2026 Siin ma nüüd olen Well, Here I Am! Published by Tänapäev.
2025 Jooksvad ninad ja teisi talvejutte Runny Noses and Other Winter Stories Published by Tänapäev.
2025 Riidesse Getting Dressed Published by Koolibri.
2025 Vennad Brothers Published by Varrak.
2025 Aardejaht The Treasure Hunt Published by Puänt.
2024 Päkapikk ja hambahaldjas The Elf and the Tooth Fairy Published by Koolibri.
2024 Meie tee Our Road Published by Päike ja Pilv.
2024 Me kolime ära We’re Moving Away Published by Tänapäev.
2023 Jalad Legs Published by Koolibri. Also published in Dutch by Book-A-Tale, 2025. Edition details
2023 Musterpere A Patterned Family Published by Koolibri.
2022 Emil, Sass ja kivimutukad Emil, Sass and the Painted Stone Bugs Published by Koolibri. Also published in Italian by Il Gatto Verde, 2025. Edition details
2020 Herkülo büroo The Herkülo Agency Published by Koolibri.
2019 Krokodilli saba The Crocodile’s Tale Published by Koolibri.
2016 Lepatriinu täpid The Ladybird’s Spots Published by Miimik.

As illustrator

2026 Suur digiseiklus The Great Digital Adventure Written by Inger Klesment, Maria Murumaa-Mengel and Killi Agur. Published by Police and Border Guard Board.
2025 Seest siiruviiruline From the Inside, It’s Truly Vibrant Written by Tiina Laanem. Published by Pegasus.
2024 Muri mure Muri’s Worry Written by Indrek Koff. Published by Koolibri.
2024 Maailma parim liivaloss The Best Sandcastle in the World Written by Tiina Laanem. Published by Pegasus.
2024 Kust tulid muinasjutud? Where Did Fairy Tales Come From? Written by Epp Petrone. Published by Petrone Print.
2023 Omad jutud 4 Our Own Stories 4 Stories by twelve young authors, Tiiu Kitsik, Indrek Koff, Anti Saar and Ilmar Tomusk. Published by Tallinn Central Library.
2020 Inspektor Telinski, kummisuti ja kõik ülejäänud Inspector Telinski, Kummisuti and Everyone Else Written by Hugo Vaher. Published by Koolibri.

As author

2022 Mirjami palett Mirjam’s Palette Published by Tänapäev.
2022 Kes seal on? Who’s There? Illustrated by Pamela Samel. Published by Koolibri.

Exhibitions

2026 Out of The Book · Group exhibition, Neurotitan Gallery, Berlin
2026 Mycology, or the Secret Life of Fungi · Group exhibition, Sztuki Gallery, Poland
2026 Children’s Rights: Protected Through Stories · Group exhibition, United Nations Headquarters, New York
2025 Mycology, or the Secret Life of Fungi · Group exhibition, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (ELK), Estonia
2025 Cittadini Creativi / Creative Citizens · Group exhibition, Estonian National Museum (ERM), Estonia & Bologna, Italy
2025 Terves kehas terve vaim · Group exhibition, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
2024 Haapsalu Graphic Design Exhibition · Group exhibition, Haapsalu Cultural Centre, Estonia
2023 VII Tallinn Illustration Triennial · Group exhibition, Estonian Museum of Architecture

Creative experience

2016–
present Freelance author and illustrator
2011–
present Editorial illustrator & contributor (magazines and newspapers including Hea Laps, Täheke, Mesimumm, Müürileht, Pere ja Kodu, Gecko)