The Biennial of Illustration Bratislava was established in 1967 by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), an international non-profit organization committed to bringing books and children together. Arranged every second year in Slovakia the illustration event brings together children’s book illustrators from around the world.
This year IBBY Finland has selected 15 illustrators to represent Finnish picture book culture in Slovakia. IBBY Finland promotes Finnish children’s and youth literature both in Finland and overseas. For more details about the event and the list of all nominees, click here.
The selected nominees include four celebrated illustrators that are represented by the agency:
Linda Bondestam: My Life at the Bottom (Mitt bottenliv av ensam axolotl, Förlaget 2020). A touching and captivating illustrated story told by the voice of an extremely rare tiny axolotl who lives a joyous underwater life.
Erika Kallasmaa: Otus Opus – Zoology Poetry (Otus opus, Otava 2020). The delightful zoology poetry, written in verse, features 30 cat-sized creatures and smaller.
Matti Pikkujämsä: The Duck Who Was Afraid to Fly (Sorsa Aaltonen ja lentämisen oireet, Otava 2019). A wise, urban tale about the duck’s journey of gaining confidence and forgetting about what others think.
Nina Pirhonen: Leo the Lion Says No (Leo leijona sanoo ei! Otava 2019). A heartfelt picture book about little Leo coming to terms with new emotions, learning new skills and pushing his boundaries.
The main prize of the event, the Grand Prix has been awarded once to a Finnish illustrator. In 1987 illustrator Hannu Taina received the prize for the illustration he created for picture book Mister King (Herra Kuningas), written by Raija Siekkinen. This title is also represented by Rights and Brands.
Congratulations to all nominees, especially Linda Bondestam, Erika Kallasmaa Nina Pirhonen and Matti Pikkujämsä!