Sonja Wimmer – illustratör

Jane Addams Children's Book Award Finalist (2020)Two girls forge a forever-friendship by learning each other’s language. The Day Saida Arrived demonstrates the power of language to build bonds beyond borders.Whathappens when a new friend arrives who doesn’t speak your language? A young girl searches for the words to help her friend feel welcome and happy in her new home, and along the way learns about differences and similarities in countries and words. The two forge a strong bond while they each learn the other’s language, exploring the world around them. Ajoyous, lyrical text—including English translations and pronunciations and the complete Arabic alphabet—offers an accessible, fresh approach totalking about immigration. Paired with lushly vivid illustrations, The Day Saida Arrived demonstrates the power of language to build bonds beyond borders. Printed on FSC-certified paper with vegetable-based inks.

Finalist at the 2011 International Latino Book Awards. Balzo, a very restless boy, goes shopping with his mom and accidentally breaks some figurines. There is no reason to be angry ... couldn’t it happen to anyone?Balzo goes shopping with his mother and they stop by a store where boys and girls can’t touch anything. To stop himself from getting bored, he pretends to be a silkworm. But while he’s playing, he accidentally knocks some figurines off a shelf, and worst of all, he bumps his head. Neither his mother nor the storekeeper seem to notice the lump; instead, they tell off Balzo as if he’d smashed the figurines (and caused the lump) on purpose…. On purpose? He was just playing around with his imaginary friends! Unfortunately, no one is interested in knowing his part of the story… And mom is so angry she sounds like an ogre! Once they get home, Balzo goes straight to bed when suddenly he hears this powerful sound: «CRASH!». Could it happen to anyone?

Anastasia, formerly a princess thanks to the fairy Brunilda's magic wand, is now an everyday cockroach with a big heart, determined to do good. She dreams of becoming a famous, important figure like her distant relatives, the Egyptian scarab beetles who are treated like royalty. After some exciting adventures in her new incarnation--including saving the lives of an entire human family--Anastasia realizes it's not so bad being an ordinary cockroach after all. Will Brunilda reward Anastasia for her generous deeds? This humorous tale of self-acceptance and unity is sure to have children seeing cockroaches in a new light. Anastasia, anteriormente una princesa gracias a la varita magica del hada Brunilda, ahora es una cucaracha cualquiera con un corazon grande, empenada en hacer el bien. Suena con ser famosa e importante como sus parientes lejanos, los escarabajos egipcios que son tratados a cuerpo de rey. Despues de algunas aventuras emocionantes en su nueva encarnacion--incluyendo cuando le salva la vida a una familia de seres humanos--Anastasia se da cuenta de que ser una cucaracha comun y corriente no esta tan mal despues de todo.'Recompensara Brunilda a Anastasia por sus generosas acciones? Esta historia humoristica que trata sobre la aceptacion de uno mismo y la solidaridad hara que los ninos vean a las cucarachas con otros ojos.

Winner at the 2012 International Latino Book Awards. A superbly illustrated original story about the power of loving yourself and finding happiness.This is the story of Anastasia, a cockroach who dreamed of being accepted and becoming famous and important like her distant relatives the Egyptian beetles, sacred insects that everybody treated like royalty.Although it may seem impossible to believe, in another life Anastasia was a princess, transformed by a wave of the magic wand of Fairy Brunhilda, who was determined to sow good wherever she went. But being a princess is not an easy task… Soon Anastasia began to feel out of place. She didn’t like life in the palace too much, and after following exciting adventures, Anastasia came to understand that being an ordinary, everyday cockroach wasn’t such a bad thing after all. Especially when, moved by her great heart, she managed to save the lives of an entire family of humans, everything without getting a hair out of place! What prize did Fairy Brunhilda have in store for her as a reward for her generous actions?

Luna is passionate about words. She loves their light and becomes tickled with laughter from them. But one day she realizes that, little by little, the beautiful, gorgeous, and fun words are disappearing from the world--so she decides it's time to act. A poetic tale about the magic of words, this delightful story invites readers of all ages to enjoy the power that positive words can have.

“Cada nit, abans de dormir, ella s’asseu al meu llit amb un grapat de contes a les mans. En tria un a l’atzar i, amb veu suau, comença a llegir... Tot seguit, paraules i imatges transformen la meva habitació. Perquè en els seus contes, jo sempre sóc el protagonista.”Un nen, la nit, els somnis... Conte de Nit acompanya aquest moment màgic pel qual desfila davant els nostres ulls el que imaginem, el que somiem...

Winner at the 2013 IPPY AwardsThis tale visits the magic moment, when all of the things we imagine, all of the things we dream, parade before our eyes…Guided Reading Level: L, Lexile Level: 790L

La imaginación desfila por nuestros ojos en forma de cuentos y sueños que se dan la mano en este magico libro que te invita a soñar. Ideal para que la noche nos acompañe y no nos asuste. This tale visits the magic moment, when all of the things we imagine, all of the things we dream, parade before our eyes…Lexile Level: 700L

Gold Medal at the 2012 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. With lyrical, stirring text and stunning, evocative artwork, El cielo de Afganistán, offers a moving ode to dreamers, to peace, and to finding hope for ending war once and for all.In a country ravaged by war, a girl looks up at the sky, closes her eyes and her imagination begins to soar, far away from hatred, from sadness. She flies up high, high above into the sky, until she envisions that long-awaited dream in which we all hold hands. She invites us to dream with her so that in her country, Afghanistan, peace may reign forever. Her dream is directed to all regions, she enters homes, homes, families, hearts.An ode to peace that reminds us of the need to be supportive and tolerant.Medalla de Oro en los Moonbeam Children's Book Awards en 2012. El cielo de Afganistán , un texto conmovedor con ilustraciones de ensueño, es una oda conmovedora a los soñadores, a la paz y a la esperanza de poner fin a la guerra de una vez por todas. En un país destrozado por la guerra, una niña mira al cielo, cierra los ojos y su imaginación empieza a volar lejos, muy lejos del odio, de la tristeza. Se eleva más y más alto, hasta que visualiza ese sueño tan anhelado en el que todos nos damos la mano.  Nos invita a soñar para que en su país, Afganistán, reine para siempre la paz. Su sueño se dirige a todas las regiones, se introduce en las casas, en los hogares, en las familias, en los corazones.Un canto a la paz que nos recuerda la necesidad de ser solidarios y tolerantes.

Gold Medal at the 2012 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. With lyrical, stirring text and stunning, evocative artwork, The Sky of Afghanistan offers a moving ode to dreamers, to peace, and to finding hope for ending war once and for all.In a country ravaged by war, a girl looks up at the sky, closes her eyes and her imagination begins to soar, far away from hatred, from sadness. She flies up high, high above into the sky, until she envisions that long-awaited dream in which we all hold hands. She invites us to dream with her so that in her country, Afghanistan, peace may reign forever. Her dream is directed to all regions, she enters homes, homes, families, hearts.An ode to peace that reminds us of the need to be supportive and tolerant.

Gold Medal at the 2012 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards. With lyrical, stirring text and stunning, evocative artwork, The Sky of Afghanistan offers a moving ode to dreamers, to peace, and to finding hope for ending war once and for all.In a country ravaged by war, a girl looks up at the sky, closes her eyes and her imagination begins to soar, far away from hatred, from sadness. She flies up high, high above into the sky, until she envisions that long-awaited dream in which we all hold hands. She invites us to dream with her so that in her country, Afghanistan, peace may reign forever. Her dream is directed to all regions, she enters homes, homes, families, hearts.An ode to peace that reminds us of the need to be supportive and tolerant.

Winner at the 2015 International Latino Book Awards. A magical hat shop arrives in town. However, all the customers who enter leave somehow changed... Do you dare to discover the mystery?One day, a hat shop mysteriously appears in the main square of a little town. The townspeople are surprised by this new arrival. No one knows where it came from or why it appeared right there, in the middle of the town square. “Who needs a hat?”, some wondered. Confusion and mistrust begin to reign in town, but Timid Tim, determined to reveal the mystery that the hat shop was hiding, decides to enter and reveal what is it that the shop offers. But then something happens that nobody expects: the first customers put on their hats, and make an amazing discovery.A delightful tale about magic hats and bonnets, but above all about the importance of being yourself and the hidden treasures we carry within us.Premiado en Estados Unidos en los 2015 International Book Awards. Una sombrerería mágica llega a la ciudad. Sin embargo, todos los clientes que entran salen cambiados… ¿Te atreves a descubrir el misterio?Un día, sin saber cómo, una sombrerería aparece en la plaza de un pequeño pueblo. Sus habitantes se sienten inquietos ante tal novedad. Nadie sabe de dónde ha salido ni por qué se ha establecido allí. “Pero quién necesita sombreros?”, se preguntan algunos.  La confusión y la desconfianza empieza a reinar en el pueblo, pero Miguelito el miedoso, decidido a desvelar el misterio que la sombrerería escondía, decide entrar y averiguar qué ofrece esa sombrerería. Pero entonces ocurre lo que nadie esperaba: los primeros clientes se ponen los sombreros y hacen un gran descubrimiento. Todos los que entran salen cambiados, de una manera u otra.Una bella historia sobre sombreros mágicos pero sobre todo que resalta la importancia de ser uno mismo y de descubrir los tesoros que todos llevamos escondidos en nuestro interior

A delightful tale about magic hats and bonnets, but above all about the importance about being yourself and the hidden treasures we carry within us.Guided Reading Level: O, Lexile Level: 950L

Winner at the 2015 International Latino Book Awards. A magical hat shop arrives in town. However, all the customers who enter leave somehow changed... Do you dare to discover the mystery?One day, a hat shop mysteriously appears in the main square of a little town. The townspeople are surprised by this new arrival. No one knows where it came from or why it appeared right there, in the middle of the town square. “Who needs a hat?”, some wondered. Confusion and mistrust begin to reign in town, but Timid Tim, determined to reveal the mystery that the hat shop was hiding, decides to enter and reveal what is it that the shop offers. But then something happens that nobody expects: the first customers put on their hats, and make an amazing discovery.A delightful tale about magic hats and bonnets, but above all about the importance of being yourself and the hidden treasures we carry within us.

Winner of the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Thousands of families around the world have loved this magnificent picture book — Little One.Since its launch, Little One has garnered the most incredible reviews from readers and specialized media, becoming an instant bestseller on digital platforms and in bookstores. This book addresses important topics such as emotions, hesitation, the challenges of child development, and also the desire to discover, as a family, all the wonders of an infinite world. This book is perfect for girls who are yet-to-be-born, for toddlers, and also for those mothers who will always see their daughters, no matter how old they are, as their little one.With delicate words and lightsome illustrations that invite you to dream, Daughter is the book you need in your little offspring’s library. A thrilling story to reread again and again as girls grow up.Ganador de los Independent Publisher Book Awards 2020. Hija es un maravilloso álbum ilustrado que ha emocionado a miles de familias en todo el mundo.Desde su lanzamiento, Hija ha cosechado las más increíbles críticas tanto de los lectores como de los medios especializados, convirtiéndose en un bestseller instantáneo en las plataformas digitales y en las librerías. A través de sus páginas, se pueden abordar temas como las emociones, las dudas, los desafíos del crecimiento y las ganas de descubrir en familia todas las maravillas de un mundo infinito. Es ideal para las niñas que están por llegar, para las que ya tienen algunos años y también para aquellas mamás que siempre verán en sus hijas, sin importar la edad, a “su pequeña”.Con palabras delicadas e ilustraciones llenas de luz y que invitan a soñar, Hija es un libro que no puede faltar en la biblioteca de tu pequeña. Una lectura para emocionarse una y otra vez, y releer a medida que las niñas van creciendo.

Winner of the 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Thousands of families around the world have loved this magnificent picture book — Little One.Since its launch, Little One has garnered the most incredible reviews from readers and specialized media, becoming an instant bestseller on digital platforms and in bookstores. This book addresses important topics such as emotions, hesitation, the challenges of child development, and also the desire to discover, as a family, all the wonders of an infinite world. This book is perfect for girls who are yet-to-be-born, for toddlers, and also for those mothers who will always see their daughters, no matter how old they are, as their little one.With delicate words and lightsome illustrations that invite you to dream, Daughter is the book you need in your little offspring’s library. A thrilling story to reread again and again as girls grow up.

The book feels modern in its references and social cornerstones while retaining a classic, elegant style thanks to Wimmer's gorgeous portraits of the princesses in their crowns, each facing a page of that princess in action. Brown and Wimmer use diversity not only to highlight important differences among people, but also to show how these unique traits and interests allow every princess to choose her own path. If every girl is a little princess, this book shows that to keep that crown requires only finding things to love in life and pursuing them. ~Kirkus Star Review and BEST BOOKS OF 2018There’s a princess closer than you think. You just have to open your eyes and your heart wide. Don’t expect your typical fairytale princesses inside this book. These princesses are neighbors, schoolmates, the cashier at your supermarket, a lawyer, an architect… The Truly Brave Princesses will help you realize that, if you watch closely, princesses are all around you, and they are brave, caring and determined.

The book feels modern in its references and social cornerstones while retaining a classic, elegant style thanks to Wimmer's gorgeous portraits of the princesses in their crowns, each facing a page of that princess in action. Brown and Wimmer use diversity not only to highlight important differences among people, but also to show how these unique traits and interests allow every princess to choose her own path. If every girl is a little princess, this book shows that to keep that crown requires only finding things to love in life and pursuing them. ~Kirkus Star Review and BEST BOOKS OF 2018There’s a princess closer than you think. You just have to open your eyes and your heart wide. Don’t expect your typical fairytale princesses inside this book. These princesses are neighbors, schoolmates, the cashier at your supermarket, a lawyer, an architect…The Truly Brave Princesses will help you realize that, if you watch closely, princesses are all around you, and they are brave, caring and determined. También disponible en español. (Also available in Spanish.)