TiBE 台北國際書展 2025.2.4-9

llustrator Jimmy Liao celebrates 20 years in the industry this year. Liao was invited by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair to give a speech on the topic of “Picture Books for Adults” on March 28^th at the Illustrator’s Survival Corner due to his numerous refined works that have translated into many languages. Liao quoted American picture book illustrator Maurice Bernard Sendak: “I self-taught myself to draw.” He also encouraged the audiences: “Please do not give up easily. The slightest inspirations may give birth to a good book; please preserve them.”

In this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Liao not only charmed the Italian readers, but also received the Portuguese National Comic Award. The Portuguese version of his picture book The Starry, Starry Night (Noite Estrelada) won him “The Best Foreign Children’s Book Illustrator” of Prémios Nacionais de Banda Desenhada (National Comic Award) in the 2017 Amadora BD. The representative of the book’s Portuguese publisher, KALANDRAKA, paid a visit to the Taiwan Pavilion to present the award to Liao.


Jimmy Liao (middle) receiving the award.

The representative pointed out that Amadora BD’s National Comic Award has over 15 years of history, and is an important award in Portugal. They are honored to publish The Starry, Starry Night, and they would like to invite Jimmy Liao to this year’s Amadora BD.