Christina Rodriguez-Unalt, also known as C. Rod. Unalt, is an award-winning illustrator creating work for the picture book and middle-grade trade markets. Her mission is to bring greater Hispanic representation to the cultural landscape of children’s literature. She gravitates toward projects that are whimsical, and even better if just a tad bit on the spooky side.

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Christina’s illustrations are primarily drawn on an iPad, printed on watercolor paper, and finished with acrylic and colored pencil. (Learn more about her process here.)

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Her book Pedro and the Monster Eaters was recently recognized as a 2025 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year (Spanish edition). She also received the 2025 New Jersey SCBWI Portfolio Showcase Award and currently serves as Co-President of the Children’s Book Illustrators Group of New York (CBIG).

 

Christina holds an MFA in Illustration from the University of Hartford and is the Head of the BFA Illustration program at Montclair State University, where she designed the program’s current curriculum. She mentors the next generation of illustrators, encouraging them to create work grounded in authenticity and personal voice. Under her leadership, two of her first-year students earned recognition in the prestigious Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition, one of the nation’s top honors for emerging artists.

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When she’s not illustrating, writing, or professor-ing, you can find her curled up on the couch with her family, and on movie night playing referee to her kids over the last kernel of popcorn.

 

Organizations: SCBWI, Julie Hedlund's 12X12 Picture Book Challenge, SILA,  Children's Book Illustrators Group of New York (CBIG).

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Christina is proudly represented by Sheila Fernley

at Storm Literary Agency.

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Partial client list: Arte Público Press, Capstone Publishing, Heinemann, Spider Magazine, Brandylane Publishers, Seed Learning, Inc, Firewords Magazine, and Dinardo Design

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Awards and Recognition:

• 2025 Bank Street Best Books of the Year in Spanish-Pedro and the Monster Eaters 

• 2025 New Jersey SCBWI Portfolio Showcase Winner

• 2025 Honorable Mention for the Premio Campoy-Ada-Pedro and the Monster Eaters

• 2025 Collection of 15 works displayed at "Imaginary Kingdom: An Exhibition of Children's Book Illustrators" Interchurch Gallery in New York Coming May 13th-July 11th

• 2024 "Draw Off" Panel Moderator for LatinxKidLit Festival

• 2024 Hosted a Workshop at SCBWI NJ Conference

• 2024 PB Party Illustration Showcase Finalist

• 2023 Original Illustration exhibition and permanent collection to the Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award (CICLA) in Shanghai, China

• 2022 Original Illustration exhibition and permanent collection to the Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award (CICLA) in Shanghai, China

• 2020 Certificate of Merit to the Society of Illustrators: Illustration West 58 Competition

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