Meet the Illustrator Behind Made to Fly Free: A Conversation with Hannah Bird

One of the sweetest parts of creating Made to Fly Free has been partnering with Hannah. I’m a homeschooling mom with a story on my heart, and she’s a young illustrator stewarding her creative gifts so beautifully.

There’s something really special about the people who help bring a story to life. When I first came across Hannah’s work, I remember thinking… this feels right, this feels like home. There’s a warmth to her illustrations that you don’t just see, but feel. So when it came time to bring Made to Fly Free into the world, I’m so grateful she said yes.

Today, I wanted to invite you into a conversation between the two of us. Just a real, back-and-forth glimpse into her heart, her creative process, and the deeper purpose behind the illustrations your children will hold in their hands.

Honestly, this has been one of my favorite blog posts to pull together.

I think you’ll quickly see why her work feels so meaningful.

Meet Hannah Bird

Alison: Tell us a little about yourself. What does this season of life look like for you right now?

Hannah: I’m so excited to say that this season is holding a lot of work for me and I’ve got some big projects I’m working on with dream clients and companies!

Alison: When did you first realize you loved illustrating?

Hannah: I’ve always really admired the art of illustration – even at a young age I was drawn to particular books and art styles. But the real love and drive came after college when my illustrative worlds and characters began to take life in such a way that was positively affecting an audience and myself. I started to see it as a way of putting something good into the world, and I really can’t see myself doing anything else!

Alison: Do you remember the first time you thought, “Maybe I could actually do this professionally”?

Hannah: Not specifically, I did a challenge where I posted an illustration everyday for about a year and that in itself built up that confidence!

Alison: How would you describe your illustration style in your own words?

Hannah: Old school and comforting! I like that you can see the sketch lines and free form of certain characters and objects. I think little aspects like that give my work a nostalgic feel.

Alison: What kind of stories make you light up when you get to illustrate them?

Hannah: Stories that have full environments — I love building a world and its differing landscapes — which is usually accompanied by very cute characters.

Alison: What are a few things you enjoy doing when you’re not working on illustrations?

Hannah: Oh that’s tough! I’m a very active person, so my current fixation is biking. But I like to lead a pretty quiet life so when I'm not working it’s usually filled with travel plans, reading, or painting.

Bringing Made to Fly Free to Life

Alison: What was your first reaction when you read the manuscript for Made to Fly Free?

Hannah: It just put a smile on my face. I felt its pureness and wholesomeness would be good for the world and it was something that would spark something in kids that parents could be at peace about!

Alison: Was there a page or scene that immediately came to life in your mind?

Hannah: Any “action” pages where Peep is really learning to fly. Whether that was practicing his fluttering or finally leaving the nest, I had a perfect vision for those illustrations and I think they turned out wonderfully!

Alison: Which illustration felt the most special to create?

Hannah: I’d say the cover. The way Peep sputters and flutters around the title and figures out how to fly while transitioning to the back of the book felt creatively successful and eye-catching.

Alison: Was there anything in the story that stretched you creatively?

Hannah: It actually felt like a very natural book for me to illustrate, and any bumps or creative questions along the way were answered and solved with ease. It was genuinely so enjoyable, the whole process!

Creativity + Calling

Alison: Do you see children’s illustration as more than just art? How do you think it shapes young hearts?

Hannah: What a great question! I actually look at art in the children's illustrative world as preservation. What I mean is, I think any art and stories that filter into a kid's world is held at a higher standard — it should maintain a kid's goodness and innocence. My hope is that it encourages and fuels what is already built in them. So I guess I don’t look at it as necessarily shaping young hearts but caring for what is already there and nudging them in a positive direction.

Alison: What has God been teaching you lately about using your creative gifts?

Hannah: Persistence and practice. I think everyone has a gift or a calling from God. But to persistently listen to that calling is an act of faith. I really just think, the doors that have opened for me and the opportunities I’ve acquired are because of Him. And my faith in the persistence and pursuit of where I think He wants me to go and what He wants me to do has been the ultimate gift.

Alison: When doubt or comparison creeps in (because we all experience it), how do you keep going?

Hannah: I really don’t get the comparison creeps but I do have doubt, and when that creeps in I just dump it all on God. I give Him everything, as much as I can. And I try to keep it as simple as that, which has gotten me farther than I could have ever imagined.

A Word for Families Who Want to Create

Alison: Do you think creative work has a place in everyday, ordinary life even if it’s not someone’s full-time job?

Hannah: One hundred percent. People need outlets and creativity takes so many forms. Whether that's video games, reading... anything. Creativity is problem solving, but problem solving in ways that don’t hold too much pressure. It’s a good exercise for the brain that I think can leave you feeling very fulfilled.

Alison: What small step would you encourage someone to take if they’ve been sitting on a story idea?

Hannah: This is stereotypical, but just put it out there. Bombard people. Find artists you like and message them. Have family and friends read what you’ve written. As soon as you verbalize it, it makes it real — that in itself is a baby step towards success.

Alison: What encouragement would you give someone who feels like their creative ideas might not be “good enough”?

Hannah: No one's ideas start good enough, so that in itself takes so much pressure off. Once you get past that internal fear of what if it’s not “good enough” or “who's going to like this”, then everything is going to become a little easier. I’d also say, what really helped me — is I changed my perspective of audience. I wanted to create things that I felt glorified God. When I illustrate something, it’s my intention that it does nothing but positively influence the soul — which is what God’s done for me.

Working Together on This Story

Alison: What surprised you most about working on this project together?

Hannah: The ease in which we worked together. This has been one of the most enjoyable collaborations I’ve had and I look forward to any future projects together!

Alison: What do you hope children feel when they see the illustrations in this story, and when you think about the children who will read this book, what do you hope stays with them long after they close it?

Hannah: I hope they feel encouraged. Kids move quickly and it may be something they read a couple times and put down for a while. But every time they pick up the book, I hope they feel the adrenaline rush of taking a leap into something a little scary and end with the resolve that it all worked out.

Alison: Where can readers follow along with your work and cheer you on?

Hannah: My Instagram (@hannahb.studios) is the world that I’ve built and I post illustrations that are just good for the soul. I’m not here to persuade anybody to follow my content, I just like to create with no strings attached and appreciate anybody who wants to follow along!

Closing

Hannah, thank you—for your care, your creativity, and the way you steward your gift so intentionally. I’m so grateful for your beautiful work on these pages of Made to Fly Free. I, too, have so enjoyed our collaboration on this project. You have been a pure joy to work with!

One thing from our conversation that has stayed with me is this idea of illustration as preservation… that what we place in front of children should protect their goodness and gently nurture what’s already been placed inside them.

That’s exactly our hope for Made to Fly Free.

That it is a story that doesn’t rush childhood… but honors it, protects it, and quietly points children toward courage, truth, and trust in God.

And now, it’s almost ready to be placed in our reader’s hands. And that’s where you come in.

If you’ve been following along with this journey, you know this book has been created with so much intention and care—from the words on the page to the illustrations that bring it to life.

If it feels like a story your family would love to read together, you can explore Made to Fly Free here and reserve a copy while preorders are still open ahead of our May launch.

And if you’re someone who enjoys being part of the behind-the-scenes of a book finding its way into the world, we’re beginning to gather a small launch team as we prepare for release.

Nothing complicated—just families who want to read the book early, share it in simple ways, and help place meaningful stories into more homes.

If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, we’d truly love to have you join us.

Either way, thank you for being here and for caring about the kinds of stories your children are growing up with.

It matters more than we sometimes realize.