Yasmeen Ismail

The Family Quiz

Written by Robert Tregoning

Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Bloomsbury UK

Publishing in April 2026

Joyfully inclusive. A celebration of families of every shape and size - The Bookseller

Who's ready to answer the family quiz?
Let's try to work out what a family is!

Is your family big or small? Noisy or quiet?
Is it full of singing and hugs? Or dancing and dogs?
Is it one you were born into? Or one that found you?

This joyfully inclusive picture book celebrates every kind of family - and the love that lies at the heart of each one. From Robert Tregoning, Polari Prize-shortlisted author of Out of the Blue, with stunning illustrations by the award-winning Yasmeen Ismail.

Written by Tracy Darnton

Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Simon & Schuster UK (Out August 2025)

A warm and affectionate look at the funny ways we describe a new baby from the creators of My Brother is an Avocado.

"Dad says my sister is a treasure.
I can't wait until we play pirates together and dig holes to look for more.
I'll be the captain and wear the hat because I'm the oldest."

A girl takes the terms of endearment her family use at face value when she wonders what it would be like if her new baby sister really was a treasure or a ray of sunshine or a dimply dumpling in this adorable new picture book from Tracy Darnton and Yasmeen Ismail.

Written by Kusum Mepani

Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Kokila USA

Shortlisted for the Bank Street College of Education 2025 Irma Black Award, USA

SELECTED for the Society of Illustrator’s Exhibition New York, 2024

Received a Starred Review in the School Library Journal USA

Ismail’s mixed-media illustrations reflect these layers through vibrant images with varying transparencies and washes of color. –Sarah Pousty, School Library Journal

Received a Starred Review in The Horn Book

Illustrator Ismail meets and enhances this achievement. Busy, vibrant mixed-media pictures of Meena and her friends and family bear stylistic resemblance to Bob Graham’s, Helen Oxenbury’s, and Quentin Blake’s work but are entirely her own. - Megan Dowd Lambert, The Horn Book

Ismail’s energetic watercolor illustrations are a visual feast -Linda Ludke, Booklist Online

Mirrors the realities of many immigrant communities…Told in a realistically childlike voice, the narrative also highlights the gender disparity that many children encounter from a very young age. The bright watercolor illustrations are bursting with life. A lively look at community, connections, and ways to foster change. - Kirkus Reviews

A slice-of-life story with a feminist message about a young Indian girl and her sisters managing a bustling house full of boisterous guests on a busy Saturday.

Written by Tracy Darnton

Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Simon & Schuster UK

WINNER Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services Picture Book Award 2024

SELECTED for the Society of Illustrator’s Exhibition New York, 2023

Longlisted for the Inclusive Books for Children Awards 2024 (Picture Book Category)

A warm and funny stage-by-stage tour through all the sizes of a growing baby – from teeny-tiny poppy seed to giant watermelon – from an exciting new picture book partnership!

It’s hard to wait for a new baby to join the family, especially when it’s still growing inside Mum’s tummy. But when Dad describes the size of the baby at each stage, one little girl imagines, while she waits, all the fun she can have with her baby brother as a teeny-tiny poppy seed, then a grape, then a lemon . . . But she’s not quite sure how she feels about having an avocado for a brother. Or an onion. Or – gulp – a watermelon!

This joyful picture book playfully explores the loooong waiting game for a much-anticipated new sibling – with an adorable twist at the end . . .

Written by Nadim

Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

SELECTED for the Society of Illustrator’s Exhibition New York, 2022

Longlisted for the the AOI World Illustration Children’s Publishing Professional Award, 2022

Published by Walker Books

Read about the inception of this incredible book here.

With a loose line and sparky excitement, Ismail captures children of various abilities and skin tones in uninhibited play.-Publishers Weekly

Accompanied by energetic illustrations full of buoyant, frolicking children of varying races, the results of his first year of writing are striking -Kirkus Reviews

It’s a pleasure to read and the illustrations by Irish artist Yasmeen Ismail capture the joy and wonder of childhood perfectly. A real gem. - The Irish Independent

In mixed-media illustrations replete with soft washes of desaturated color, Ismail locates introspective moments in the text and amplifies them, using them as jumping-off points for scenes depicting archetypal imagery of youth: exuberant dancing and pretend play, exploration in nature, a skinned knee, the peak of a jump-rope jump, hiding in a cardboard box. The treatment of these scenes—busy, but uncluttered; energetic, but never distracting—evokes both the wildness and calm of childhood. -Jonah Dragan

Yasmeen Ismail’s illustrations are wonderful, evocative, fun and colourful. -Juno

Written and Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Walker Books

WINNER of the AOI World Illustration Children’s Publishing Professional Award, 2020

Shortlisted for Oscar’s Book Prize, 2021

Ismail is incredibly skilled at recognising, honouring and celebrating the emotional life of toddlers - BookTrust

With its zippy rhythm and bright yellow cover, Yasmeen Ismail’s Would You Like a Banana? (Walker), is another book to transport readers at this grey time of the year. … Little children will giggle at the gorilla pictured with his bum out, while grownups with food-rejecting offspring should enjoy the drawing of his disgusted face as he rebuffs the snack. Of course, as soon as the gorilla is left alone he eats the banana and then asks for another one – without saying please. Parenting in a nutshell. - Imogen Carter, The Observer

Another humorous, expressive and jauntily paced #picturebook from @YasmeenMay #wouldyoulikeabanana? Gorilla is hungry but he will NOT eat a 🍌 No way! Set to be a family favourite with a relatable topic, this will have everyone laughing - Picture Books Blogger

A smashing read aloud picture book from Yasmeen Ismail that is terrific for audience participation and very funny to boot. - Red Reading Hub

Written and Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing UK

Selected for The Original Art exhibition 2015 by The Society of Illustrators, New York, USA

Shortlisted for the Junior Magazine Book Awards 2014

Shortlisted for the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards, 2014

Nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, 2015

"Each spread is a fantastic frenzy of colour and seems to capture the messy explosion of colour involved in being this age. All in all, it's a perfectly judged story and visual treat that fills an important gap and yet has wide universal appeal." - BookTrust Reviews

"Somehow, one look at Ismail’s, shaggy dog, Fred, is enough to make readers grin... " - Publisher's Weekly

Winner, V&A Best Illustrated Book Award, 2014

Best Illustrated Book, New York Times, 2014

Selected for The Original Art exhibition 2015 by The Society of Illustrators, New York, USA

New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice, March 23 2014

Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, 2014

Longlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, 2014

Nominated for the 2015 National Cartoonists Society “Silver Reuben” Divisional Award for "Book Illustration"

Received a Kirkus Star

Shortlisted for the Little Rebels Children’s Book Award 2016

Shortlisted for the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2014

Part of the Bold Girls List, Children’s Books Ireland

There’s no better rallying cry for girls … than Yasmeen Ismail’s forthcoming I’m A Girl! - a challenge to every instant playground assumption that a blue-clad, rambunctious speed demon must be a boy. With her repeated, crescendo-ing assertion: “I’m a girl! I’m a GIRL! I’M A GIRL!”, Ismail exactly captures the wrong-footing frustration felt by girls who don’t fit the princess mould, as well as the pride they take in their strong, swift bodies. - Imogen Russell Williams, The Guardian

"A rallying cry to be enthusiastically true to oneself." - Kirkus Reviews

"I’d almost imagine her giving everyone a big middle finger." - Julie Danielson article for Kirkus 2016

Written and Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Nosy Crow

Received a Kirkus Star

"This one has it all: original characters, an exciting plot, dazzling illustrations, and the triumph of an underdog (or underbunny). More Greta and Gracie, please. " - Kirkus Reviews

Written by Jim Averbeck

Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

One Word From Sophia

Selected for The Original Art exhibition 2015 by The Society of Illustrators, New York, USA

Received a Kirkus Star

"Starting with the endpapers, the watercolor-and–colored-pencil illustrations depict the closeness of the family, their expectations of Sophia’s intellectual prowess, and her adeptness at employing all of the wiles of childhood to persuade." - Kirkus Reviews

Two Problems for Sophia

Received a Kirkus Star

One of Bank Street’s Best Books Of the Year

“Fun, clever, and empowering, this is the rare case of a sequel that outshines its predecessor.” - Kirkus Reviews

“There’s a freedom and a sort of looseness” to Ismail’s art, that is really hard to achieve, and she does it beautifully....I love her interpretation of the characters and that she didn’t keep them static.” - Jim Averbeck

Love By Sophia

Received a Kirkus Star

“Ismail’s whimsical watercolor-and–colored-pencil illustrations of this interracial family will entertain and delight while they inform. She captures Sophia’s shifting attitudes particularly well as the determined protagonist pleads her case for abstract art.” - Kirkus Reviews

Written and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing

Selected for The Original Art exhibition 2015 by The Society of Illustrators, New York, USA

"Embracing the wild side of your imagination and unleashing your inner creativity, you can’t help but be swept away wth this wildly inventive read." - Picture Books Blogger

“Vibrant, brilliant and practically fizzing with energy. Run away with your imagination! "Nothing" is a joyous celebration of that most treasured thing, a child's imagination.” - ReadItDaddy Blog

Written and Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Laurence King Publishing

A trio of activity books written and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

"It’s a gimme that no kid can resist. A 5-year-old I showed it to sat up straight and practically screamed, “I want to draw the ice creams!” - New York Times 2017

“Beneath the simple line drawings and primary colors lies a more subtle message that understanding the world is about understanding everything in relation to everything else — about how we orient ourselves to it — and, most of all, that everything is a matter of perspective.” - Brain Pickings 2017

The Draw and Discover books are a series of three activity books ideal for ages 4-7.

They include: "Inside, Outside, Upside Down", "Push, Pull, Empty, Full", and "Happy, Sad, Feeling Glad".

Written and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Walker Books

Kiki and Bobo’s Birthday Surprise

This is a delightful book bursting with bright and engaging illustrations, and with its interactive lift-the-flaps on every page, little hands can join in and have fun with this delightful duo. - BookTrust

This book illustrates the power of friendship, love and sharing. Its colourful illustrations engage the younger child, thus encouraging our earliest readers to engage with literature. Highly recommended. - Children’s books Ireland

Juicy technicolour illustrations bring Kiki and Bobo to life as they plan a secret surprise party. The clever flap details create an immersive and fun-filled read for toddlers. -Baby Magazine

Kiki and Bobo’s Sunny Day

While the pictures are delightful, the real joy of this book is in its story-telling. With Kiki displaying true understanding and a desire to always help, a message of what true friendship is about rings out so clearly that even the youngest child can understand. A lovely picturebook, this is definitely one that will be read again and again, even when the summer is over. - Children’s Books Ireland

This is a lovely book with bright, welcoming illustrations and clear text, with the addition of very clever lift-the-flaps on every page. It’s the perfect read for those about to go on holiday, and particularly to address the fear of swimming. Kiki and Bobo are a delightful pair, and will make you look forward to their next outing!”- Booktrust

Written and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Pan Macmillan

Crack open those felt tips and prepare to get sticking! It's time to find monkeys, elephants, crocodiles - and if you're very lucky, a tiger! 

Written by Lou Peacock

Illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Published by Nosy Crow

"This memorable story will help toddlers (and caregivers) connect behavior to the language of sharing." —Kirkus Reviews

Written by Yasmeen Ismail

Illustrated by Jenni Desmond

Published by Walker Books

Selected for BookTrust’s Great Book Guide 2019

It is a pleasure to read a book which captures a purely happy, upbeat mood. This warm, fun and funny book is the perfect comfort read for a gloomy day. - BookTrust

A delightfully upbeat read-aloud picture book, perfect to share with very young children. - GoodReads

Joy is literally a joy to read! - Kids’ Book Review

The succinct, rhythmic text flows and intertwines with the illustrations wonderfully, it has such an uplifting feel that I almost found myself singing the words -Jackie French