Miguel Tanco · Author, illustrator & teacher

A little about me.

Miguel Tanco

Stories, pictures
and a curious mind.

I am a children's book author and illustrator, born in 1972 in Extremadura, Spain. I live in Milan with my wife, Federica, and our two sons.

I have published more than 60 books and teach illustration through classes and creative workshops with children and illustrators around Europe.

Alongside my books, I share ideas about drawing, storytelling and the creative process through Proyectos Ilustrados and my Substack.

Explore my booksWrite to me
Selected bibliography

Earlier publications

  • Il paese delle meraviglie. Editori Riuniti 2013 (illustrations)
  • Cuentos para dormir y soñar. SM 2013  (illustrations)
  • El papá que no sabía contar cuentos. Pintar-Pintar, 2012 (illustrations)
  • Antología Romancero. Teide, 2011 (illustrations)
  • Cyrano de Bergerac. Repubblica-Espresso, 2011 (illustrations)
  • Where Are you?, Yoewon, 2011 (illustrations)
  • La primera palabra de Mara. Narval, 2010 (illustrations)
  • Me ha hecho poeta la vida. Ediciones SM, 2009 (illustrations)
  • A toda Vela. Edelvives 2008 (illustrations)
  • Los tres osos. Kalandraka, 2008 (illustrations)
  • Caperucita Roja. Edelvives, 2009 (illustrations)
  • ¿Quién soy yo?. Edelvives, 2008 (illustrations)
  • ¿Qué papá eres?. FCE, 2008 (illustrations)
  • 200 amici per una sola mucca. Arka, 2007 (illustrations)
  • Due eroi sono troppo . Arka Edizioni 2006
  • Sulla strada per Siviglia . Arka Edizioni 2005 (illustrations)

Les Farfelus has also been adapted for the stage in France.

Prizes, honours & selections

Awards & recognition.

Earlier awards and selections
  • 2023

    Bologna Illustrators Exhibition

    Selected illustrator · Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

  • 2022

    Prix des libraires du Québec

    Finalist · M. Tigre le magnifique / Mr. Tiger, written by Davide Calì and illustrated by Miguel Tanco.

  • 2021

    Banco del Libro

    Best Informative Book · Count on Me.

  • 2020

    Mathical Honor Book

    Count on Me · Mathical Book Prize.

  • 2019

    USBBY Outstanding International Books

    Count on Me · Selected for the Outstanding International Books list.

  • 2018

    Alcuin Society Book Design Award

    Great Dog, written by Davide Calì and illustrated by Miguel Tanco. Book design by Five Seventeen.

  • 2018

    Ilustrarte

    Illustrations from Great Dog selected for the international illustration biennial.

  • 2017

    Illustration West 55 · Gold Award

    You and Me, Me and You · Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles.

  • 2016

    Association of Illustrators

    Annual illustration selection.

  • 2014 · 2016

    3×3

    Children’s illustration selections.

  • 2010 · 2012

    Bologna Children’s Book Fair

    Illustration recognition.

  • —

    Further recognition

    Includes nominations and shortlistings for Les Farfelus at the Prix Sorcières, Prix Ficelle, Prix Brindacier and Prix Totoulu; selections for the New York Society of Illustrators, Sharjah International Book Fair and Sarmede; and reading recommendations from School Library Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Public Library and Stiftung Lesen.

  • —

    Premio nazionale per l'albo illustrato Nicolò Bettoni

    Quando sarò un cavernicolo was also a finalist for the Premio nazionale per l’albo illustrato Nicolò Bettoni.