About

Hello!

I'm Barbara, an illustrator and author of books for children and young adults.

I'm the author and illustrator of the "Mortina" books series, published by Mondadori Ragazzi, who sold in Italy more than 200.000 copies since 2017.
Known as "Ghoulia" in the English language, the series is now published all over the world in 32 different languages.
In October 2020 Mondadori Ragazzi published in Italy my new book "Puffy & Brunilde".

After graduating and gaining a diploma in cinema animation, I started my career as a cartoon animator, working on various TV series for the italian RAI TV channel. In 2011, I won the Città del Sole 'Illustrator of the Year' award, and since then I've specialized in children's illustration.

I like vintage clothes, chocolate, traveling (and returning home), interior design, eggs, American comedies from the 50s & 60s, board games and breaking the crust on crème brulée.

I'm also (in random order):
... a compulsive buyer of books, especially illustrated ones
... a mum to two lovely daughters, Eleonora and Camilla
... a hoarder of coloured napkins
... a huge cat-lover
... and a very sporadic walker

I live in the Tuscan countryside with my husband, our two daughters, a dog, three cats, two turtles and some fishes.

Barbara-Cantini-Illustrator - Portrait

Published by:

HarperCollins (Greenwillow books), Mondadori Ragazzi, Abrams kids (Amulet books), Albin Michel Jeunesse, Rabén & Sjögren, Einaudi Ragazzi, Città del Sole, Emme edizioni, Top That Publishing, ISeeMe!, Companhia das letras, La Galera, Clavis, Dtv ed., Bertrand Editora, Hércules Ediciones, Pedio Publishing, Corint Editura, Petroleum, Kirmizi Kedi Publishing (Çınar Yayınları), Macmillan, Pearson Italia, Rizzoli Education, Parpignol.

Competitions, exhibitions, reviews

"Annual Illustratori Italiani" 2018
Strumenti di viaggio competition and exhibition Lucca Comics & Games 2015
Featured on Illustrati no. March 2014 – LOGOS ed.
"Annual Illustratori Italiani" 2012
Winner of the Illustrator of the Year award, Città del Sole, 2011.