If we tell you that the illustrator behind the official image of Kolibrí Festivaali 2026 is Roger Mello, children’s literature lovers across Brazil and well beyond will instantly light up. And if you don’t know his work yet, you’re in for something truly special.
This year holds a double reason to celebrate. Kulttuurikeskus Ninho ry turns 10 – a decade of building community and promoting a more inclusive children’s art and culture sector in Finland. And what better way to mark this milestone than with the theme that says it all: “Living Community – Long Live Community!“
Over 100 books, one unmistakable voice
Born in Brasília in 1965, Roger Mello is an illustrator, writer, designer, playwright, set designer, theater director, actor, and singer. His creative life is as layered and rich as the visual worlds he builds on the page.
After graduating in Design from ESDI/UERJ, he threw himself fully into children’s literature and never looked back. In over four decades of work, he has published more than 100 books, bringing Brazilian culture, folklore, and nature to readers across continents and languages.
And if there’s one thing that defines Roger’s illustrations, it’s this: they don’t simply accompany a story. They open it up- through delicate linework, blazing colour, and even collage made from unexpected materials; his images invite readers to look again, to find new layers, to feel something they didn’t expect.
A legacy recognised around the world
In 2014, Roger made history by becoming the first Latin American illustrator to receive the Hans Christian Andersen Award- the highest honour in children’s literature globally. It was a milestone not just for him, but for an entire continent.
His awards speak to the depth and range of his work: recipient of the Kirkus Prize in the United States; honoured with the Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award in China; and recognised by both the Brazilian Academy of Letters and the Brazilian Union of Writers for his body of work as a whole. He is also considered hors concours by Brazil’s National Children’s and Young People’s Book Foundation (FNLIJ) — a distinction reserved for those who have simply surpassed competition.
Other Awarded Titles:
- You Can’t Be Too Careful! — Kirkus Prize, United States (2023)
- Meninos do Mangue — Fondation Espace Enfants Award, Switzerland (2002) + Jabuti Award for Best Text and Illustration (2002)
- Enheduanna — Best Foreign Work, Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Prize, China (2019)
- Inês — Jabuti Award, Children’s Literature Text and Best Children’s Book (2017)
- You Can’t Be Too Careful! — Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Books List, ALA, United States (2017)
- Griso, el único — Fundación Cuatrogatos, one of the 20 best books in Spanish in the United States (2017)
Rooted in Brazil, open to the world
Nature – especially Brazil’s extraordinary flora and fauna runs through Roger’s work like a thread you can’t unsee once you notice it. He takes inspiration from folk tales, regional landscapes, and the textures of everyday Brazilian life, transforming them into images that feel both deeply local and universally human.
Beyond his books, Roger serves as Vice-President of the Quindim Reading Institute in Southern Brazil — a reading promotion centre and international library with free access to over 7,000 books for children of all ages. Because for Roger, stories are not a privilege. They belong to everyone.
We are so glad Roger Mello’s hummingbird has found its way to Finland.
This participation of Roger Mello is made possible through the support of Quindim Reading Institute, Aurora Children’s Culture Center and the Intitute Guimaräes Rosa-Helsinque. You can follow Roger Mello work on Instagram (@rogermelloficial), Facebook (Roger Mello)
For media inquiries, additional press information, and photo requests, please email: [email protected]