Shinsuke Yoshitake is a Japanese illustrator and picture book author born on June 17, 1973, in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. He studied at the University of Tsukuba, where he completed the Plastic Arts and Mixed Media course at the Graduate School of Art and Design. Initially aspiring to create miniatures and props for films, he found that his university did not offer direct instruction in that field, leading him to learn techniques independently from seniors and professors.

After graduating, Yoshitake worked briefly for a game company before leaving to join a shared atelier with former classmates, where he began working in advertising art. During his time at the company, he developed a habit of drawing small doodles to avoid detection by coworkers. When one of these doodles was discovered and praised by an accounting staff member, he began photocopying his drawings at a convenience store to create homemade books, which he sold and gave away at his solo exhibitions. This eventually led to a publisher contacting him about producing a collection of his work, resulting in his first published book, the sketch collection "Shikamo Futa ga Nai".

Yoshitake made his picture book debut in 2013 with "Ringo kamo shirenai" (It Might Be an Apple), which won the MOE Picture Book Shop Award and the Sankei Children's Book Award. His major works include "Boku no Nisemono o Tsukuru ni wa" (How to Make a Fake of Myself), "Mou Nugenai" (I Can't Take It Off Anymore), "Riyuu ga Arimasu" (I Have a Reason), "Kono Ato Doushichau yo" (What Should I Do After This), "Tsumannai Tsumannai" (Boring Boring), and "Atsukattara Nugeba Ii" (If You're Hot, Just Take It Off). His books have been translated into more than ten languages. He is also the author of sketch collections such as "Sonouchi Puran" (The Later Plan) and "Kekkyoku Dekizu Jimai" (In the End, I Couldn't Do It).

In March 2023, Yoshitake's picture book "Sore Shikanai Wake Nai Deshō" (That's Not All There Is, Right?) was adapted into a television anime that aired on the NHK Educational channel. This marked the first television anime adaptation of any of his works. The story centers on a girl who worries excessively about the future and her grandmother, who teaches her a more optimistic way to view what lies ahead. The anime was directed by Ryūshirō Yoshiba at NHK Art in collaboration with Studio Nanahoshi.

Yoshitake's artistic identity is characterized by a distinctive, simple line drawing style. He works primarily with pen and avoids erasing, having established two personal rules: not using erasable mediums exclusively and not drawing while looking at the actual object. He prefers to draw from memory, believing that this process reveals what he truly notices about his subjects. Notably, Yoshitake only provides the line art for his picture books; coloring is handled by professional designers, a decision made after his editor suggested it following his early attempts at coloring sample pages. He typically does not name the characters in his books, wanting readers to relate to them more directly.

Recurring themes in Yoshitake's work include philosophical questions about everyday life, the nature of worry and possibility, and the small absurdities of human behavior. He draws significant inspiration from observing his two children, often developing ideas based on their actions and reactions. His work has received numerous awards, including the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book Award for "Tsumannai Tsumannai" (Boring Boring) and the Bologna Ragazzi Award Special Mention for "Mou Nugenai" (I Can't Take It Off Anymore). He has also received the Sankei Children's Book Award, the Shimpu Prize, and multiple MOE Picture Book Shop Awards.