Christina Rodriguez-Unalt

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Christina Rodriguez-Unalt, or "C. Rod. Unalt" illustrates work for the picture book and middle-grade trade markets. As a Hispanic creator, her mission is to contribute to the cultural diversity of the children's book industry. She enjoys projects most when they are whimsical and better yet, if just a tad bit on the spooky side.

Christina has an MFA in Illustration from the University of Hartford. She is currently the Head of the BFA Illustration program at Montclair State University, where she has developed their current illustration curriculum. She teaches the next generation of professional illustrators how to bring their own authenticity into their work while contributing to the succession of illustration history.

When she's not illustrating, writing, or professor-ing, you can find her snuggled up on the couch with her family, and on movie night playing referee to her kids over the last kernel of popcorn.

Christina is an active member of SCBWI, Julie Hedlund's 12X12 Picture Book Challenge, and the Co-President of the Children's Book Illustrators Group of New York (CBIG).

Partial Client List:

• Arte Público Press
• Capstone Publishing
• Heinemann
• Spider Magazine
• Brandylane Publishers
• Seed Learning, Inc.
• Firewords Magazine
• Dinardo Design

Awards and Recognition:
2025- New Jersey SCBWI Portfolio Showcase Winner 
2025- Imaginary Kingdom: An Exhibition of Children's Book Illustrators, 19 works displayed at the Interchurch Gallery in New York
2024- Pedro and the Monster Eaters received Honorable Mention for Premio Campy-Ada de la Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española in the children's nonfiction category
2024 - PBParty Illustration Showcase Finalist
2023 - Original Illustration exhibition and permanent collection to the Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award (CICLA) in Shanghai, China
2022 - Original Illustration exhibition and permanent collection to the Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award (CICLA) in Shanghai, China
2020 - Certificate of Merit to the Society of Illustrators: Illustration West 58 Competition

Christina is represented by Sheila Fernley.

Publications

• ¡A bailar!/ Let’s Dance!, written by Judith Ortiz Cofer, Piñata Books, 2011
  
• I Want to be a Bald Eagle, written by Thomas Kingsley Troupe, Picture Window Books, 2015
  
• The Presidents Did What?, written by Wag Harrison, Brandylane Publishers, 2021
  
• Pedro and the Monster Eaters / Pedro y los devoradores de monstruos, written by Xequina María Berbér, Piñata Books, 2024
  
  • Winner, 2024 Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s Literature
    
  • Honorable Mention, 2024 Premio Campoy-Ada de la Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española (in the category of children's nonfiction, Latino-Céntrica)
    

Website: www.crodillustration.com
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/cRodArt210
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crod210  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crodillustration/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-rodriguez-unalt-7601179/
Blog: https://crodunalt.blogspot.com