Emila’s acrylic piece, inspired by Chapter 12 of 'The Adventures Of Pinocchio: The Story Of A Puppet', will be featured in the 'Italian Excellence: Pinocchio’s New Clothes' exhibition at the 2026 Bologna Children’s Book Fair in April. Photo: Emila Yusof
Children’s book author and illustrator Emila Yusof has been selected to take part in this year’s Italian Excellence: Pinocchio’s New Clothes exhibition, where her artwork will be displayed alongside international artists celebrating Carlo Collodi’s beloved The Adventures Of Pinocchio.
In a Facebook post announcing the news, Emila says her piece will be shown at the 63rd edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) from April 13-16, coinciding with the bicentenary of Collodi’s birth.
She is the only Malaysian among 25 winners from 17 countries.
Emila’s winning piece, inspired by Chapter 12 of The Adventures Of Pinocchio: The Story Of A Puppet, is painted in acrylic using the same techniques she applies to her landscape-themed artworks. It depicts the Fox pretending to be lame while the Cat feigns blindness.
“At the sight of the five gold coins in Pinocchio's pocket, the Cat’s greed betrays him – I painted him with one eye peeking open, staring at the money. It is a scene that contrasts the beauty of the Italian landscape with the sly intentions of the characters," says Emila.
"And since Collodi was born in Tuscany, I felt it was important to pay homage to his heritage, so I set the encounter against a Tuscan backdrop,” she adds.
After the fair, the exhibition will tour Italian cultural institutes worldwide.
Emila credits a mix of fate and determination for her participation.
“I was at the Frankfurt Book Fair last year and overheard the director of BCBF, Elena Pasoli, speaking to Sheikh Faisal Sheikh Mansor, president of the Malaysian Book Publishers Association, about the competition. I introduced myself,” recalls Emila.
Though Pasoli encouraged her, Emila had to take the initiative herself to sign up for the competition.
"I went straight to the BCBF website, studied the theme, rules, and regulations and realised this was a challenge I was ready for,” she says.
Aware of the competition’s scale, Emila kept her expectations low.
“I knew I’d be measured against world-class illustrators. My only goal was to see if my work could stand in the same room as theirs, so being selected was one of the best surprises,” she says.
She learned of her win through a friend who spotted the announcement online.
“My reaction was a mix of shock and pure joy. I had to stare at the screen before it sank in. Knowing the calibre of talent competing, I felt incredibly humbled. Being the only Malaysian winner made the moment even more emotional,” she says.
Emila is also no stranger to BCBF, having attended seven times, most recently in 2024.
“In the past, I went as a keen observer and student of the craft, keeping up with industry trends and studying what illustration styles resonated globally. I am also an avid collector, buying books I love, regardless of language, because great visual storytelling transcends borders,” she says.
This year, however, she returns with her own work on display.
“After years of walking those halls to learn from others, seeing my own work exhibited is a dream come true. I am most looking forward to seeing my Pinocchio artwork in Bologna,” she concludes.
