Marianna Balducci is a renowned Italian illustrator, celebrated for her innovative approach to visual storytelling. With a background in fashion and advertising, she seamlessly blends traditional illustration with photography and digital techniques, creating unique and thought-provoking imagery.
Her talent has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Premio Nati per Leggere (2018) for Il viaggio di Piedino and the Premio Andersen (2021) for Io sono foglia (both published by Bacchilega Junior). Her works are widely appreciated for their ability to evoke emotions, stimulate curiosity, and offer new perspectives through metaphorical and poetic illustrations.
Marianna collaborates with major publishers, educational institutions, and cultural organizations, bringing her artistic vision to books, advertising, and editorial projects. She is also a passionate educator, sharing her expertise through collaborations with institutions like Mimaster Illustrazione Milano.
-
Ghosts Are Kindly Asked Not To Scream
From the duo who won both the Andersen and Super-Andersen Prizes comes a spooky, funny ghost story. In Naples’ haunted Hotel Lojacono, four eccentric ghosts revel in scaring guests – until a famous actress books the entire hotel and demands silence. Miserable and forbidden to scream, they stumble on clues to a long-lost treasure and join forces with Armida, a…
-
I Am a Leaf
“One day I am blowing, one day I can’t get going. One day blazing sun, one day there is none.” Day after day, like a leaf in the wind, our emotions change. Sometimes we feel light and free, other times we feel weighed down. One day we feel brave, the next we feel scared and small. Some days we feel…
-
The Admiral Has Nicked the Sky
From award-winning author and illustrator Marianna Balducci comes a sharp, ironic tale that playfully exposes the absurdity of power and reminds us that what belongs to everyone can’t be taken by just one – especially not the sky. Driven by blind ambition, a stern admiral sets out to steal the unstealable: the sky. Bit by bit, he does the impossible…
-
There’s a Smudge On My Drawing!
A playful and wildly imaginative story about embracing mistakes, unleashing creativity, and turning smudges into masterpieces. Max dreams of being a great artist one day. He imagines long lines outside museums, collectors fighting over his work… but suddenly, disaster strikes! A smudge appears on his drawing! Max tries everything to fix it — an eraser, colors, glue — but things keep…
-
To Those Who Teach
For those who teach. For those who learn. For everyone. Teaching is not just a profession; it’s an act of generosity, a mark we leave on others, and a journey of mutual discovery. A chi insegna. Promemoria piccolo is a poetic and visual celebration of this timeless exchange, reminding us that we are all teachers and learners, in different ways…
