Your Publishing Breakthrough Happens Here


The Cuddlefish Academy is an Advanced Online Illustration and Writing School.


We help children's book illustrators and authors break into traditional publishing and maintain thriving careers with personalized coaching, mentorship, and self-guided classes designed to level up your skills quickly. Our professors are successful and award-winning children's book author-illustrators passionate about helping you succeed in today's competitive market. (Scroll to the bottom for our accessibility statement.)



Mastering Your Busy Schedule for Illustrators

Fast Track Your Children's Publishing Career, a Live and Recorded BIG BITE Workshop with Jessica Lanan, Lily Williams, Heather Brockman Lee, Stan Yan, and Kaz Windness. Alt description of banner: Cuddlefish logo is orange pufferfish wearing a grad cap. Images of calendars and book deals in background.

Kaz Windness

Kaz Windness

$50

Mixed Media to Spark Your Creativity and Level Up Your Style

Learn new techniques to spark your creativity and help you stand out in the competitive world of Children's Illustration

Heather Brockman Lee

Heather Brockman Lee

$300

Drawing Diversity

Building your portfolios and character designs with respect to reflect the world around us

Stan Yan

Stan Yan

$100

Image of orange pufferfish wearing a grad cap. Text says a school for kidlit illustratos: the cuddlefish academy click here for al classes. Watercolor background.

Why Cuddlefish Academy?

We are passionate about you becoming your best YOU with affordable classes and personalized feedback designed to level up your skills and get you published with career traction.

All of our instructors are experienced illustration professors and mentors as well as successful writers and illustrators. We are committed to your growth and success and we know what it takes to make it in today's traditional children's book publishing market.

Follow us on our Cuddlefish Academy social media for more advice, encouragement, and news about upcoming classes. Check in often -- new curriculum launches frequently!

Spotlight on Student Success


⭐️ After less than a year of Cuddle Coaching with Kaz, a student landed a literary agent and multiple-book deal with Penguin Random House!

⭐️ After less than a year of Cuddle Coaching with Lily, a student landed an agent and has a manuscript on submission!

Image of orange pufferfish wearing a grad cap. Text says the cuddlefish academy
Accessibility Statement:

We care about disabled creators. Afterall, two of our professors are disabled themselves. Our web templates and hosting are provided by Teachable.com, which also provides the closed captioning for our in-class videos. In addition, we continue to update with features that may help you better access our content. If you notice something that could help you, don't hesitate to ask!

We are committed to making this website accessible to as many people as possible and aim to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards and continually work to improve the user experience for everyone.

If you experience any difficulty accessing content on this site, or if you need assistance with any part of the site, please contact our admin at profweirdness (at) gmail (dot) com and we will do our best to respond promptly and provide support.