About

Writer and illustrator of picture books, Guilherme Karsten was born and lives in Blumenau, southern Brazil. He studied Advertising and Graphic Design, and started his illustration career in animation and fashion industry. In 2010, he illustrated his first children’s book. Since then he’s illustrated more than 30 books from Brazilian and international authors. Leading him to start writing himself and in 2017, “The Ride!”, his first book as an author & illustrator, won the honorable mention at the 2017 Serpa International Picture Book Prize (Planeta Tangerina, Portugal).

Guilherme’s work is published in over 20 languages. His books have won worldwide recognition with awards such as the Golden Plaque of the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (Slovakia) in 2019, the Golden Pinwheel Grand Award (China) in 2019, and the Jabuti Award of “Best Illustrated Book” (Brazil) in 2021.

Known for his characteristic style and fun stories that spark readers’ imagination, Guilherme believes that reading in childhood is much more exciting when it brings about moments of interaction and connection.

“While I create my books, I imagine people reading together, with friends, between parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren… having fun, laughing, getting emotional, sharing experiences, and stimulating conversations. I believe that the discovery of the taste for reading goes through this carefree moment, without obligations or moral lessons. Purely playful and fun reading is fundamental to this process.”

AWARDS

2024 – 2x Winner of the Jabuti Award, categories “Best Illustration” and “Best Children’s Book” – book “Cabo de Guerra”/“Tug of War” – Brazil
2024 – Winner of the BookTrust Storytime Award – book “Are you a monster?” – UK
2024 – TEDx Speaker “The stories that books don’t tell us” – Brazil
2024 – Selected for the Illustrators Exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair – book “Tug of War”.
2023 – Selected for the Itaú program – Leia com uma criança 2024 – book “Carona”/”The Ride!” – Brazil
2022 – Selected for the “Original Art Catalogue 2022” by the Society of Illustrators – book “Aaahhh!” – USA
2022 – Winner AEILIJ Prize, “Best Children’s Text” category – book “Carona”/”The Ride!” – Brazil
2022 – Exhibition at the Consulate General of Brazil in New York – book “Aaahhh!” – USA
2022 – Selected for the Ibero-American Catalog – book “Cambitos” – Mexico
2021 – Distinction Unesco award, Cátedra 20 prize – book “A Caçada”/”Run!” – Brazil
2021 – Selected for the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (Bratislava) – Slovakia
2021 – Winner of the Jabuti Award, “Best Illustration” category – book “Carona”/”The Ride!” – Brazil
2021 – 3rd place “Biblioteca Nacional” Award – book “A Caçada”/”Run!” – Brazil
2020 – 2x Finalist Jabuti Award, categories “Best Illustration” and “Best Children’s Book”- book “Aaahhh!” – Brazil
2020 – Speaker at Shanghai Book Fair – China
2019 – Golden Plaque at the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) – book “Aaahhh!” and “The Ride!” – Slovakia
2019 – International winner of the Golden Pinwheel Grand Award (CCBF – Shanghai) – book “Aaahhh!” China
2019 – Finalist Little Hakka International Picture Book Competition, China
2018 – Finalist Jabuti Award, ‘Best IIustration’ category – book “Agora!” – Brazil
2018 – Finalist Nami Picture Book Illustration Concours – book “The Ride!” – South Korea
2017 – Distinction Unesco award, Cátedra 20 prize – book “Vó para de Fotografar!”/”Stop taking pictures Grandma!” – Brazil
2017 – Honorable Mention Serpa International Award for Picture Books (organized by Planeta Tangerina) – book “Boleia”/”The Ride!” – Portugal
2010 – Winner New Illustrators Concours. Livraria da Vila – Brazil

PUBLISHERS

Abula Press / Bayard / Cia das Letras / Courte Echelle / Dongsim / Edelvives / Eerdmans / Fatatrac / Ghangxi Press / Harper Collins UK / Harper Collins Brazil / Kalandraka / Nosy Crow / Owl Kids / Penguin Portugal / Quarto Publishing / Seuil Jeunesse / Tapioca Stories / Tate Modern / Terre Di Mezzo / Thames & Hudson / The Poets and Dragons / Thienemann / Walker Books