No War for Children

I ❤️ SCBWI!

Rahele Jomepour Bell is an Iranian American illustrator, author, and educator. She moved to the United States in 2011 to pursue her dream of becoming a free international artist and earned her MFA in Integrated Visual Arts from Iowa State University in 2015. She is an assistant professor of Illustration at the Kansas City Art Institute and a full-time freelance picture book Creator, represented by Christy Ewers at The Cat Agency.

Rahele has illustrated over 20 picture books published across Iran, the United States, and Canada. Her work has been translated into multiple languages, including Vietnamese, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, and Turkish. Her illustrations have garnered numerous accolades, including a win at the 2023 Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustration Exhibition, the 2025 Blue Ribbons Award, and selections in the Society of Illustrators’ Original Art and 67th Annual Exhibitions, and also American Illustration 44 CHOSEN Winner. In 2025, she was nominated by USBBY to represent the United States at the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB).

Her research and creative practice center on diversity, cultural identity, and inclusive visual storytelling. Rahele has been an active member of SCBWI since 2012 and serves as a mentor in the KS/MO region. She regularly presents and leads workshops at national and international conferences, including SCBWI, ALA, and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

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Born and raised in Iran, Rahele draws deeply from her childhood memories, story-filled nights at her grandparents’ house, and richly illustrated books from around the world. Inspired by artists such as Zdeněk Miler, Fyodor Khitruk, and Farshid Mesghali, Mohammad Ali BaniAsadi creates illustrations that invite the imagination to travel, challenge expectations, and celebrate belonging.

As an educator, Rahele is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of visual storytellers. She teaches full-time at the Kansas City Art Institute’s Illustration Department, where her pedagogy is grounded in Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Through courses such as Senior Image Thesis, Children’s Picture Book Illustration, and Professional Practices, Rahele fosters inclusive, student-centered environments that honor diverse learning styles and cultural backgrounds. She emphasizes storytelling as a powerful personal and social connection tool, encouraging students to find and express their unique voices through illustration. Beyond the classroom, she actively mentors emerging artists, connects students with industry opportunities, and builds interdisciplinary collaborations that bridge creative writing, design, and motion arts. Her goal is to empower students with technical skills and confidence, critical thinking, and a deep sense of purpose in their creative practice.

Christy Ewers represents Rahele at The Cat Agency.

Member of: 

SCBWI: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

USBBY: The United States Board on Books for Young People

Awards/ Honors

2024, Society of Illustrators, selected work for Illustrators 67th annual show and book, NYC

2024, Runner Up; Selected piece from the book; “Missing Momma,” Creative Quarterly 78

2024, Original Art Show, “ Missing Momma,” Picture Book, SOI, NYC

2024, Original Art Show, “ My Mother’s Tongues” Picture book, SOI, NYC

2023, Green Earth Book Award for To Change A Planet Picture Book.

2023, Winner of the 57th Bologna Illustrators Exhibition, Italy

2023, Original Art Show,” GIVE ” Picture Book, Society of Illustrators, New York

2022, Original Art Show, “The Treasure Box” Book, Society of Illustrators, New York

2021, Ezra Jack Keat Illustration Award Nominee

2020, Original Art Show, “ Our Favorite Day of the Year” picture Book, Society of Illustrators

 Interviews:

Many thanks to John Schu for interviewing about TO CHANGE A PLANET

Thank you, Mel, for inviting me to talk about Angry Me on Let’s Talk Picture Books

I am honored to be interviewed by Dr.Elizabeth Dulemba’s Blog.

12 questions for a picture book illustrator by Dave Keane

Many Thanks to Betsy for interviewing me on FUSE 8.

Many thanks to Matthew Winner for having me talk about Our Favorite Day of the Year Book. I’m a huge fan of Matthew Winner's podcasts, school librarian, author, and the host and creator of The Children's Book Podcast!

Illustrator Spotlight on KIDLIT 411

Thanks to Dorothia Rohner for having me on my favorite blog, Kidlit Artists. 

Illustrator Saturday: Thanks to Kathy for featuring my portfolio on her fantastic blog.

Thanks to Angela Cerrito for interviewing me about my work selected for the SCBWI Bologna Book Fair.

Thanks to Joanna Marple for interviewing me

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