Local children’s book illustrator Amy Jindra Hodgson knew who she was from a very young age.

“My parents would read to me every night,” Hodgson said. “I was so fascinated with the merge between image and creativity and story. I knew that one day … I wanted to go into storytelling and illustration and write my own books.”

It took the Sylvania-based illustrator 12 years to get an agent, she said. Now, she’s been a full-time illustrator for two years. The author studied at the Ohio State University’s design school and graduated in 2008. 

Hodgson has illustrated the pages of The Very Worst Ever book series and is currently working on the illustration for its ninth book, she said. Her other works include Becca and Benj, How to Train Your Pet Brain, along with more upcoming projects.

“The author has sort of a vision from the start,” Hodgson explained of the illustration process.

“It’s great to work with the author and the art directors and the editor. It’s such a collaborative process. … We start with the characters, the main characters, and we do character development together, and then once we have the characters kind of nailed down, then I work with the art director on what goes on each page.”

The illustrator said that when she draws characters, she’ll often take inspiration from people in her life — like her 7-year-old niece that has “the best facial expressions.”

“I really have a good time creating cameos in my work,” she said. “Just about every family member has been a character in one of my books.”

Future works

Hodgson and her father, Jerry Jindra, are currently working on getting the stories that he told her during her childhood written down on paper and illustrated.

Another collaborator in her life is her husband, Rob Hodgson, she said, noting that the pair are writing and illustrating some books together, with hopes of releasing their first project within the next year.

“We wrapped up one called The Elephant in the Room,” Rob Hodgson said. “That’s the perspective of the elephant in the room for children with these rhymes that are covering topics.”

The husband shared that he graduated from the Columbus College of Art Design with a degree in illustration, so when he looks at Amy's work — it’s through a bit of a shaped lens.

“I saw her line work go from slightly stable to now it’s just magnificent," he said. “I’ve seen the characters go from interesting to just incredible. ... I’m just blown away.”

Both the emotion and expression in her illustration have come so far, Rob added, noting that he’s seen Amy’s confidence grow in her work over time, too.

Working with one another inspires both creativity and support, the couple said, with Amy adding that Rob has done wonders for the pride she feels in her work.

“My whole purpose, the reason why I do this, is really for kids to feel like they’re okay, to be themselves, for kids to feel fulfillment and laughter,” Amy said. “Books for me, my dad’s stories, my mom reading to us, and teaching us about the wonder of reading really helped me gain strength and confidence and gave me a path and a purpose."

Amy had a book signing at Finch & Fern Book Co. in Sylvania on Friday, and said she is eager to plan more book signings and library readings in the future. 

To learn more about Amy’s work and find out about her upcoming projects, go to amyjindrahodgson.com.

First Published March 8, 2025, 4:10 p.m.