Emma Lidia Squillari
picture books & illustration
Fun fact: as a child I had an audiocassette tape, know to me
with the title of "Rosie". I loved it very much.
Many years later, as an illustration student, I realized that my "Rosie" actually was a recording of Maurice Sendak's Nutshell Library and of some of his other picture books.
Of course I had liked it so much!
I was born in 1991 in northern Italy to an American mother and Italian father, and I grew up surrounded by books, cementing my love of literature at an early age. After five years in a specialized art high school, I studied illustration
at Bologna's Academy of Fine Arts. Since graduation,
I have published books both in Italy and abroad.
My typical day? Listening to podcasts and looking after
my houseplants and cat, while worrying over my watercolors
in my home studio in Bologna.
If you want to get in touch with any questions,
send me an email at emmalidia.squillari@gmail.com.
I'll be happy to answer!
Books
La Joie de Lire / Illustrator of
L'odeur d'une journée d'été
by Clémence Sabbagh, 2026
Didier Jeunesse / Illustrator of
Le loup et la mésange, by Muriel Bloch, 2026
Terre di Mezzo / Illustrator and author of
Peloso come uno Yak, 2026
Terre di Mezzo / Illustrator and creator of
Le Ridarelle: Un Pomeriggio da Brivido,
text by Giuditta Campello, 2025
Terre di Mezzo / Illustrator and creator of
Le Ridarelle: Gita al Lago,
text by Giuditta Campello, 2024
Amicus Ink / Illustrator of
Was it a cat I saw? by Laura Bontje, 2024
Salani / Illustrator of
Devo dirti una Cosa, by Eshkol Nievo, 2022
ELI Greenwich / illustrator of
Alice in Wonderland, retold by Claire Moore, 2022
Terre di Mezzo / Illustrator and author of
I Dispettosi, 2021
Grasset Jeunesse / Illustrator and author of
La Baignade, 2021
Seuil Jeunesse / Illustrator and author of
Dans l’Oeuf, 2019
Atlantis Verlag / Illustrator and author of
Alle in den Garten, 2018
Mentions
2026
Selected artwork for the exhibit Pinocchio's new clothes, a competition by Bologna Children's Book Fair.
2025
Selected, fiction category, Un Pomeriggio da Brivido,
IBBY Italia Choice 2025, curated by IBBY Italia, AIE and Bologna Children's Book Fair.
2025
Finalist, 6-10 yr. category, Gita al Lago,
Premio Orbil, Associazione Librerie Indipendenti Ragazzi.
2025
Selected work, The Unpublished Picturebook Showcase in the Bologna Children's Book Fair, curated by DPictus and Picturebook Makers.
2024
Winning poster, Join the Revolution! Giving each child
good books.
A competition by Ibby Italia and
Bologna Children's Book Fair.
2022 - 2023
Winner, 3-6 yr category, Din Lou (Catalan translation of Dans L'Oeuf).
Premi del Libre Vivant, Departament dels Pirineus Orientals.
2021
Shortlisted, Dans l'Oeuf.
Prix Bernard Versele, Belgium
2020
Winner, Petite et Moyen Séction, Dans l'Oeuf.
Prix Atout Lire, Quint-Fonsegrives, France