Commercial Proposals
New Project Proposals & Commissions
If you have a new assignment or collaboration to propose, please visit our CONTACT US page.
To help us evaluate your request efficiently, please write to our Shannon Associates Team via email info@shannonassociates.com (Phone: +1 212.333.2551) with everything we should know about the project, including:
• The Timeline & Schedule
• The Budget & Usage
• The Style & Aesthetic Direction
• The Number of Images & Subject Matter
• The Project's Objectives & Goals
Our team will review your proposal and provide you with all the necessary information quickly. Many thanks for your help!
Direct Contacts & Credits
Special Projects & Fine Press
For limited editions, private commissions, or special artistic collaborations, you can reach our studio directly.
Please visit our CONTACT US page and fill out our contact form. Your request will reach us immediately. We welcome proposals for:
• Gallery exhibitions, art shows, and museum invitations
• Stock Image Licensing (to use our existing images, please visit our STOCK LICENSING page)
• Interviews and press/blog features
• International competition jury invitations
• Talks, lectures, and panel proposals (please note: we do not conduct workshops)
• Non-profit initiatives and special events
Children’s Picture Books: Recent Highlights
© 2000-2026 Anna and Elena Balbusso. All rights reserved. | Contact: info@balbussotwins.com
All Balbusso Twins images and content are copyrighted. No Machine Learning, No AI. You may not use our images, our name (as authors), or any content of this website (including any caption information, keywords, or other metadata associated with the content) for any machine learning and/or artificial intelligence purposes.
The artworks featured on this website cannot be used for commercial purposes by any third parties without explicit written permission from the copyright holders, Anna and Elena Balbusso Twins. Any violation of this right constitutes an infringement of copyright law and is subject to legal prosecution.
Welcome to our dedicated children's book showcase. Over our careers as artists, we have had the privilege of illustrating more than 50 books for both young readers and adult audiences worldwide.
This page shines a spotlight on our most recent children’s picture books and illustrated albums published from 2017 to today, featuring curated image galleries of our award-winning artwork.
To explore our comprehensive body of work, classic literature masterpieces, and full publishing history, please visit our Illustrated Books Gallery and complete Bibliography.
CHILDREN'S BOOK SPOTLIGHT
Graciela in the Abyss
Written by Meg Medina | Published by Candlewick Press
Illustrations by Anna and Elena Balbusso
We are deeply honored that our illustration work for Graciela in the Abyss has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Hamilton King Award by the Society of Illustrators NYC – the highest recognition in contemporary American illustration.
Written by Newbery Medalist Meg Medina, this compelling middle-grade fantasy novel became a #1 Best Seller on Amazon.com (Kindle Edition) and was selected as an Amazon Editor's Pick for Best Books. The story follows Graciela, a young sea spirit, and Jorge, a mortal boy, who must unite far beneath the waves to stop a dangerous, magical harpoon from unleashing chaos.
Through our dark, atmospheric, and haunting black-and-white illustrations, we had the privilege of bringing this enchanting underwater world to life. It has been an incredible journey to see a selection of our artwork featured in major international exhibitions and embraced so powerfully by critics, juries, and readers worldwide.
The Kirkus review
The New York Times review
“With breathtaking underwater worldbuilding and eerie details, Medina’s latest immerses readers in Graciela’s ghostly realm, and they’ll root for the unlikely duo on their perilous quest. The Balbussos’ hauntingly beautiful illustrations enhance the story. The characters and setting evoke Spanish and Portuguese cultural influences. A thrilling, action-packed journey filled with heart, bravery, and ghostly exploits.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Anna and Elena Balbusso’s mesmeric illustrations accompany Medina’s graceful and gently eerie narrative about a sea ghost who must find purpose beyond the material contours of mortality… Medina, a lyrical and tender storyteller, elegantly merges Graciela’s mortal desire for a “bigger” life with the lesson her spirit must absorb before achieving peace.”
—The New York Times
Awards and Honors
Awards & Honors for our Illustrations
- Winner of the 2026 Hamilton King Award – Presented by the Society of Illustrators NYC.
- 2026 "Illustrators 68" Selection – A curated selection of 5 images chosen for the Annual Book and Exhibit at the Society of Illustrators New York.
- 2026 Award of Excellence – Selected for the Illustration Annual 67 by Communication Arts.
- 2025 Selected Work – Chosen by the Jury for The Original Art 2025 Exhibit at the Society of Illustrators NYC.
- 2025 Undies Case Cover Awards – Honored by School Library Journal (SLJ) in the Best Chapter Book/Middle Grade/YA category.
Book & Editorial Recognitions
- Publishers Weekly Best Books 2025 – Selected among the Best Middle Grade Books of the Year.
- The Children's Book Review Best Books 2025 – Featured in the official 38 Best Middle Grade Books of 2025.
- Amazon Editor's Pick – Selected as one of the Best Books of July (Ages 9-12).
- Kirkus Reviews ⭐️ Starred Review – Praised for its thrilling, action-packed narrative and bravery.
Foreign Editions
- Spanish Edition: Graciela en el abismo, Candlewick Press, 2026. Translated by Eida Del Risco.
(Note: The Spanish edition has received a prestigious Starred Review from School Library Journal, which highly praises the accuracy of the glossary and describes our illustrations as "jaw-dropping"). - French Edition: Graciela dans les abysses, Éditions Lumen, 2026. Translated by Cyril Laumonier.
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Children's Picture Books Gallery
Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood
Written by Linda Elovitz Marshall | Illustrated by Anna and Elena Balbusso
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers / Random House US
As twin sisters and collaborators, we felt a profound, personal connection to this project. Sisters in Science explores the fascinating, true story of Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie and her older sister, Bronia Dłuska—two trailblazing women whose unbreakable bond and mutual devotion fueled a legendary impact on modern chemistry and healthcare.
While Marie Curie’s historic achievements are universally known, few realize that her scientific journey was propelled by an extraordinary pact of sisterly solidarity with Bronia. In our artwork, we sought to capture the invisible force of this relationship, blending rich jewel tones, scientific symbols, and atmospheric textures to visually reinforce their constant proximity and shared determination.
This project was a true labor of love, allowing us to merge history, mathematics, and science into a glorious visual celebration of family bond and female empowerment in academia.
Awards & Honors
Awards & Honors for our Illustrations
- 2024 "Illustrators 67" Selection – Selected for the prestigious Annual Exhibit and Book at the Society of Illustrators NYC.
- 2023 Award of Excellence – Winner in the Illustration Annual 64 by Communication Arts.
- 2023 Selected Work – Chosen by the Jury for The Original Art 43rd Annual Exhibit at the Society of Illustrators NYC.
- 2023 Merit Award – Recognized in the 3x3 International Illustration Annual Show No. 20 by 3x3 Magazine.
Book & Editorial Recognitions
- 2025 Beehive Award Nominee – Nominated in the Informational Book category by The Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU).
- Kirkus Reviews – Praised our artwork as "a glorious amalgamation of math, science, and illustration... a loving paean to strong sisterhood".
- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books – Highlighted the project by stating: "The story is well-organized and elegantly told, but the resplendent illustrations are true works of art".
- Publishers Weekly – Applauded the volume as a "fascinating double biography".
International Editions
- Italian Edition: Sorelle scienziate, published by EDT Giralangolo Edizioni.
- French Edition: Marie Curie et Bronia Dluska, published by Éditions Circonflexe.
- Korean Edition: 마리 퀴리, 대단한 과학자도 도움이 필요해, published by Kidari Publishing Co., 2024 (Translated by Jeong Yeong-im).
Me + Tree - Picture Book
Written by Alexandria Giardino | Illustrated by Anna and Elena Balbusso
Published by Creative Editions US
French edition: L'Arbre et Moi, Plume de Carotte 2022
Poland edition: Ja+drzewo, www.nobell.eu 2025
As artists, we were deeply moved by the emotional core of Me + Tree, which allowed us to weave profound universal themes of tolerance, integration, and multiculturalism into the visual narrative. We chose to set the story within the multicultural neighborhood of a bustling metropolis, focusing on a worn-out playground nestled between massive urban buildings.
In our visual development, we imagined that the young protagonist had arrived there after a long, perilous journey across the sea, fleeing war and leaving behind her native village filled with animals and trees. Alongside her suitcases and a cherished teddy bear, she carries a small sapling—a living piece of the home she lost. Through our illustrations, we map her emotional journey by intertwining past, present, and future. Initially, she feels completely isolated and estranged in this towering, unfamiliar city. Her only solace becomes a weathered tree stump sitting amid broken fences and dilapidated swings. However, as winter yields to spring, the playground transforms, and she ultimately discovers a vibrant community of new friends.
To bring this powerful story to life, we designed immersive, cinematic double-page spreads. By blending rich atmospheric textures with evocative color shifts, we sought to balance the harshness of the urban landscape with the poetic resilience of nature and the human spirit.
Awards & Honors
Awards & Honors for our Illustrations
- 2022 Shortlisted Work – World Illustration Awards (WIA), The Association of Illustrators (AOI) UK, Professional Children's Publishing Category.
- 2022 "The Braw Amazing Bookshelf" Selection – Honored as one of the 100 most amazing books at the 59th Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
- 2021 Accepted Work – Selected for the prestigious Illustrators 64 Annual Exhibit and Book by the Society of Illustrators NYC.
- 2021 Selected Work – Chosen by the Jury for The Original Art 2021 Exhibit at the Society of Illustrators NYC.
- 2021 SELECTED Winner – Featured in the 40th-anniversary annual book and gallery of American Illustration (AI-AP).
- 2021 Merit Award – Recognized in the 3x3 International Illustration Show No. 18 by 3x3 Magazine US.
Book & Editorial Recognitions
- Kirkus Reviews ⭐️ Starred Review – Praised the volume as "one of those rare picture books that demands equal attention to lyrical text and outstanding art (always in double-page spreads) to work its magic".
International Editions
- French Edition: L'Arbre et Moi, published by Plume de Carotte, 2022.
- Polish Edition: Ja+drzewo, published by Wydawnictwo No Bell, 2025.
- Chinese Edition: 我和树 (Wo he shu), published by China Electric Power Press, 2022.
- Korean Edition: 나와 나무 (Nawa namu), published by Sanha Publishing Co., 2022.
Make the Earth Your Companion
Written by J. Patrick Lewis | Illustrated by Anna and Elena Balbusso
Published by The Creative Company - Creative Editions US
French edition by Plume de Carotte, Italian edition by Rizzoli Libri, Chinese edition by United Sky Beijing New Media Co. Ltd. 2018
As artists, we were deeply inspired by the deeply philosophical and poetic nature of Make the Earth Your Companion. Rather than following traditional characters, this fully illustrated picture book unfolds like a lyrical meditation on our planet. The text guides readers through a series of diverse, evocative landscapes and environments—from the vastness of the sky, rivers, lakes, and oceans, to the quiet majesty of deserts, forests, and icy poles, ultimately arriving at the bustling togetherness of the city and its people.To honor the profound reverence of the text, we focused on creating highly symbolic and poetic imagery designed to deeply engage the reader. Our goal was to transform every page into an evocative space of reflection, inviting audiences to truly listen to the messages of our fragile world.To bring this powerful vision to life, we developed a mixed media technique that blends traditional painting tools with digital media, bridging our two creative souls: the painterly and the graphic. Grounded in a deeply artisan philosophy, we reject standardized digital shorthand; there are no virtual brushes, pre-made filters, or automated shortcuts in our workflow. Instead, we execute every single pictorial element completely by hand on paper using traditional black gouache, raw watercolor washes, pencil, and collage. Each element is then scanned, and the artwork is finalized using digital media to achieve the highest level of pictorial and chromatic quality. This meticulous process preserves the organic grain of the paper, the authentic physical weight of our brushstrokes, and a profound analog depth.
Awards & Honors
Awards & Honors for our Illustrations
- 2018 Shortlisted Work – World Illustration Awards (WIA), The Association of Illustrators (AOI) in partnership with the Directory of Illustrators, UK.
- 2017 Selected Work – Chosen by the Jury for The Original Art 37th Annual Exhibition at the Society of Illustrators NYC.
- 2017 Merit Award – Honored in the Picture Book Show No. 14 by 3x3 Magazine, USA.
International Editions
- Italian Edition: Fai della Terra la tua compagna, published by Rizzoli Libri.
- French Edition: Fais de la Terre ton amie, published by Éditions Plume de Carotte.
- Chinese Edition: Published by United Sky Beijing New Media Co. Ltd., 2018.
Lire et s'entraîner: Le Petit Prince
Written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | Illustrated by Anna and Elena Balbusso
Published by Black Cat - Cideb / De Agostini
As artists, we felt both a great responsibility and an immense joy when we were commissioned to illustrate a new edition of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s timeless masterpiece, Le Petit Prince. This poetic and deeply philosophical tale follows a young blond boy from a far-off asteroid who meets an aviator stranded in the Saharan desert. For six days, this adult—who has kept the heart of a child—listens as the Little Prince recounts his extraordinary journey through the universe to Planet Earth, delivering universal observations about love, friendship, and the essence of life.
Awards & Honors for our Illustrations
- 2018 Spectrum 25 Winner – Selected for inclusion in Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art (Annual Book, USA).
COVERS AND ILLUSTRATED BOOKS GALLERIES
Book Cover Gallery
We create compelling artwork for book covers spanning contemporary novels, classics, fantasy, historical fiction, and children’s literature for major international publishers.
Classic Literature Gallery
Discover our illustrations for iconic classic and modern masterpieces by best-selling authors including Shakespeare, Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charlotte Brontë, Margaret Atwood, and more.
Illustrated Book Gallery
Explore our extensive bibliography featuring over 50 fully illustrated books, ranging from fiction and non-fiction to special luxury limited editions and children's picture books.