Felicita Sala

Felicita Sala, an illustrator and author based in Rome, works primarily with watercolor, gouache, oil, and wax pastels. Her favorite projects are humorous, absurd, fantastical, and inspired by folk tales—books that ignite imagination and wonder. Equally adept at writing her own stories as bringing other authors’ texts to life through illustration, she is deeply committed to children’s literature that honors and nurtures the imaginative capacities of young readers.

A career highlight came in 2023 when Felicita was awarded the Gold Medal at the Society of Illustrators Show. Among the many books she has illustrated, two hold special personal meaning: Lunch at 10 Pomegranate Street, which continues to receive heartfelt appreciation from families, teachers, and children, and If You Run Out of Words, her first authored story, which reflects profoundly on childhood curiosity and the limitless possibilities of imagination.

Felicita is dedicated to encouraging children to dream boldly and embrace the weirdness of life through literature that fearlessly explores the dark, the dangerous, the absurd, and the hilarious—without the confines of preaching or moralizing. Critics commend her for deeply respecting the everyday questions, anxieties, and creative ideas children have, and for meeting them where they are with respect and without condescension.