Michaela Kukovičová

These are some pages from a wonderful book illustrated using paper cuts by Michaela Kukovičová and published by Baobab. Michaela  uses many techniques and is a master of collage. This book is full of primitive charm and brings all the wonder of the mythical Hans Christian Andersen's paper-cuts and storytelling.

Chrudoš Valoušek

Illustrations from a set of three books published by Baobab, called 'Chrudoš's Menagerie' by Chrudoš Valoušek using techniques of mono and lino printing.

Juraj Horváth

Juraj Horváth's illustrations form a collection of short stories published by the publishing house Baobab which he established with his wife Tereza in 2000 . Since 2003 he has been leading the studio for illustration and graphic art at Prague’s Art College VŠUP.  

Baobab's stall as part of a collective supported by the Sasek Foundation at the Bologna Children's Book Fair is always such a treat, rich, varied and unique, I really admire the work which they produce. 

Daniela Olejníková

 A book about the small creatures who share our living space by Jiří Dvořák and illustrated with a vibrant combination of digital and linocuts by Daniela Olejníková.

""Each of us has at home a small, but quite a large zoo . . .  flies, spiders, fruit flies ... Yes, sometimes fleas or lice. But in this zoo are missing labels. Which is a pity, because each of those small animals has its own story. So I thought to write it -." Jiří Dvořák

Alžběta Skálová I

A tiny tulip turbaned man, eating gherkins seems like the perfect way to start a new working week. These are the illustrations of  Alžběta Skálová a Czech artist whose books I discovered in Bologna. These are some tulip men from Rostlinois. 

"Strange Truths and Fables of the Green World
This book gives answers to all the curious children, who are not satisfied with simple explanation and often ask their parents: why? Why do ants live on the acacia, why does the nettle sting? Do flowers need to have roots in the ground? Which flower was the first in the world, who managed to cultivate the first tangerine without pits, and is it true that the most expensive coffee in the world is pooped out by the civet? It is also a book which can be used by teachers, when their pupils are bored in the Biology class: the nature is full of small adventures and exciting stories, riddles and unbelievable mysteries. It is also a family book: for little children there is a riddle or a rhyme, the bigger ones will read a story with a happy ending. And the adults? They will be surprised there were so many things they did not know."

Anna Kocmanová

" This book is for all who like play and discovering the world with a pencil and paper. Every little task frotážisty is search and find, collecting and chasing the contours and shapes of various objects around and create your own world."

I love this book 'Rukověť malého frotážisty', with illustrations made from rubbings by Anna Kocmanová and published by Baobab who was one of my favourites at Bologna this year.