Salma Ali is an interdisciplinary author and illustrator whose work is deeply rooted in child-centered storytelling. She holds a Ph.D. focused on co-creation and co-design alongside children, drawing inspiration from their unique stories, voices, and lived experiences. She was also an in-house designer at NASA and top tech companies before devoting herself to children’s books.

Informed by her childhood as a second-generation Arab-American and Muslim, Salma channels her personal journey into crafting heartwarming, character-driven picture books to uplift and inspire young readers, particularly those whose identities are often overlooked in mainstream narratives. She works both digitally and traditionally with mixed-media.

She resides in coastal Virginia, finding inspiration in the beach and local wildlife, reinventing Middle Eastern recipes, and her ever-growing collection of stationary and souvenirs from around the world.

You can find more of Salma’s work on Instagram and LinkedIn

For all inquiries, please contact salmaillustrate [at] gmail [dot] com

Salma is currently open to literary representation.