Anoosha Syed is a Pakistani-Canadian illustrator and writer. She worked for Karamo Brown's picture book, I Am Perfectly Designed.[1] She illustrated a Google Doodle on the birthday of Waheed Murad.
Anoosha Syed | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Nationality | Canada |
| Occupation | illustrator |
| Notable work | That's Not My Name! |
Early life and education
editSyed moved frequently during her childhood, due to her father's work. She lived at times in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, and attended high school in Pakistan.[2]
Syed attended college in Switzerland, where she earned a bachelor's degree in illustration at Ceruleum Ecole d'arts Visuels.[2][3][4]
Career
editSyed's worked in the animation industry for about a decade.[2][5] Her illustrations gained some viral attention in 2016, when she illustrated modern day versions of the Disney Princesses,[6] and in 2017, when her Harry Potter fanart of a Black Hermione drew both negative and positive reactions.[7]
In 2019, Syed illustrated Karamo Brown's picture book I Am Perfectly Designed, which he co-wrote with his son.[4] In October of that year, Syed illustrated a Google Doodle in honor of Pakistani actor Waheed Murad's 81st birthday.[8]
In 2022, Syed released her first book as an author, That's Not My Name!. The book, which follows a young girl named Mirha teaching her classmates how to pronounce her name, drew inspiration from Syed's own experiences with having her name mispronounced in school.[2][9] In 2023, the book was nominated for the Blue Spruce Award.[10] Her second book as an author, Lost Stick, was released in March 2024. It is a finalist for the 2025 Blue Spruce Award.[11]
Syed has cited artists Brigette Barrager, Mary Blair, Stevie Lewis, the Provensens, and Miroslav Sasek as inspirations.[2]
Personal life
editAs of 2022, Syed lives in Toronto with her husband and her cat.[2] She is Muslim.[4]
Publications
editAs author and illustrator
edit- Syed, Anoosha (2022-07-12). That's Not My Name!. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-593-40517-8.
- Syed, Anoosha (2024-03-26). Lost Stick. Penguin. ISBN 9780593405192
As illustrator
edit- Harper, Benjamin; Stephens, Sarah Hines (2017-05-02). Bug Girl. Imprint. ISBN 978-1-250-10661-2.
- Stabler, David (2018-10-09). Kid Scientists: True Tales of Childhood from Science Superstars. Quirk Books. ISBN 978-1-68369-075-7.
- Brown, Karamo; Brown, Jason "Rachel" (2019-11-05). I Am Perfectly Designed. Henry Holt and Company (BYR). ISBN 978-1-250-76222-1.
- Harris, Robie H. (2019-08-27). Look!: Babies Head to Toe. Abrams. ISBN 978-1-68335-355-3.
- Saeed, Aisha (2019-06-04). Bilal Cooks Daal. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5344-1810-3.
- Soderberg, Erin (2019-06-04). Daring Dreamers Club #2: Piper Cooks Up a Plan (Disney: Daring Dreamers Club). Random House Children's Books. ISBN 978-0-7364-3944-2.
- Barnaby, Hannah (2020-07-28). Monster and Boy. Henry Holt and Company (BYR). ISBN 978-1-250-21784-4.
- Ahuja, Nandini (2021). Rise Up and Write It: With Real Mail, Posters, and More!. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0-06-302959-0.
- Barnaby, Hannah (2021-03-02). Monster and Boy: Monster's First Day of School. Henry Holt and Company (BYR). ISBN 978-1-250-21786-8.
- Barnaby, Hannah (2022-01-11). Monster and Boy: The Sister Surprise. Henry Holt and Company (BYR). ISBN 978-1-250-21788-2.
References
edit- ^ Lengel, Kerry. "'Queer Eye' star's new book says kids are 'perfectly designed.' Meet him Friday in Tempe". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Q&A With Anoosha Syed, That's Not My Name!". We Need Diverse Books. 2022-07-12. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ Pan, ChinLin (2017-12-29). "Illustrator Anoosha Syed talks art". Shuffle Online. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ a b c S, Arun (2022-11-09). "In Conversation With Illustrator Anoosha Syed". Brown Girl Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ de Wit, Alex Dudok (2022-01-20). "Following One's Dreams In Animation Can Be 'Toxic,' Says Former Industry Artist". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "These Illustrations of Disney Princesses As Millenials Represent Every Member of Your Squad". Seventeen. 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Illustrator trolled for black Hermione Granger drawing". Digital Spy. 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ "Waheed Murad's 81st Birthday Doodle". Google Doodles. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
- ^ Koranne, Shailee (2022-10-18). "This book is for anyone who knows what it's like to have a 'difficult' name". CBC News.
- ^ "Forest of Reading reveals chosen books for 2023 program — students across Canada will choose the winners". CBC News. 2022-10-18. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ Team, Education Library. "Research Guides: Forest of Reading®, K to 6 Programs: Blue Spruce Nominees, 2025". guides.library.queensu.ca. Retrieved 2024-11-08.