I’m a Slovenian illustrator and author, born in Novo mesto, Slovenia, in 1979. I’m best known for my wordless picture books. I studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, where I earned a master’s degree summa cum laude, and received the Academy’s Student Award.
My debut wordless picture book Kje si? (Miš, 2018) received multiple international recognitions and has been published worldwide, including in the United States as Every Little Kindness (Chronicle Books, 2021).
I illustrate books for Slovene publishers and contribute regularly to children’s magazines, including Ciciban, Cicido, and Mavrica. I am represented by Stimola Literary Studio, with Allison Hellegers as my agent.
I live in a small village surrounded by nature, which provides daily inspiration for my work.
Rights purchased abroad for the book Kje si?, Miš
- Sifriyat Pijama, Israel
- 1001 Merak Publishing, Turkey
- 2026 Portál, Czech Republic
- 2026 Verlagsgruppe Droemer Knaur/Geschengverlage/Pattloch, Germany
- 2026 IKO Publishing, Norway
- 2025 Bookscape Publishing House, Thailand
- 2024 Edições SM/Grupo SM, Brazil
- 2024 Metaixmio Publishing, Greece
- 2023 Editions Les 400 coups, Montreal, Canada (for French-speaking countries)
- 2023 Qinglin/Children’s Publications Co., Taipei, Complex China
- 2021 Terre di Mezzo Editore, Italy
- 2021 Sowonnamu Publishing, Korea
- 2021 Chronicle Books Publishing, USA (for English-speaking countries)
- 2020 Kalimat Group, United Arab Emirates (for Arabic-speaking countries)
- 2019 Baeschlin Verlag, Switzerland (for German-speaking countries)
International reviews of the US edition, Every Little Kindness, Chronicle
“In Bartolj’s wordless debut, first published in Slovenia, small acts of kindness have big effects. . . . The sweetness of the story is palpable without being cloying, and the message of care comes through without needing to be said. . . . A lesson by example in compassion for all ages.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Bartolj’s wordless picture book, originally published in Slovenia, beautifully illustrates the concept of paying it forward. . . . [T]his is a tale that begs for repeated viewings.” —Booklist Reviews
“A stunning example of wordless storytelling . . .”—Foreword Reviews, starred review
Awards and achievements for the book Kje si?/Every Little Kindness
- 2025 the ELNIPLEX Golden List 2025 (4-7 y), Greece
- 2025 Prix des Libraires du Québec 2025 winner (0-5 y), Canada
- 2024 Best Books of 2023 Children Should Read, Complex Chinese edition of Every Little Kindness, China
- 2023 Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List 2022, GNCRT of the American Library Association, US
- 2022 The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Italy
- 2022 Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Honor Winner, US
- 2021 People Magazine, the best ten books for children in 2021, US
- 2021 Editors’ pick: book of the month and among the 20 best books for children in the age group 3–5, Amazon
- 2021 Finalist, Shortlist for the 55th Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition, Italy
- 2020 Finalist for the BIBF Ananas Illustration Award, Beijing International Book Fair, and inclusion in the BIBF Ananas International Illustration Exhibition, China
- 2019 Biennial IBBY Silent Books Collection 2019, Final Destination Lampedusa, included on the honor list, Italy
- 2019 The White Ravens, The International Youth Library, Munich, Germany
- 2019 Golden Pear quality label, Slovenia
- 2018 Special prize at the Kristina Brenkova Awards, Slovenia
- 2016 Student award for master’s thesis, Academy of Art and Design, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Other achievements
- 2026 Italian Excellence. Pinocchio’s New Clothes – Winner (competition and exhibition), Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Italy
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2026 Turning the Page on Change, Children’s Books Inspiring Action for the Global Goals: BRAW Amazing Bookshelf Sustainability 2025 on Exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters, New York.
- 2025 IBBY Europe List, Ježek si bodice šteje (Hedgehog is counting his spines), Miroslav Košuta, Miš
- 2025 The White Ravens, The International Youth Library, München, Germany, Vse živali družine Cmok, Mateja Gomboc, Miš
- 2025, Golden Pear quality label, Družina, Feri Lainšček, Miš
- 2025 Golden Pear quality label, Barvice, Tinka Bačič, (11 illustrators), Mladinska knjiga
- 2025 The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf 2025 – Sustainability, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Italy, Družina, Feri Lainšček, Miš
- 2024 Nomination for the Kristina Brenkova Award, A smo že tam? (Are We There Yet?), Miš
- 2024 The White Ravens, The International Youth Library, München, Germany, Kot hiša velika žaba, Ana Duša, Zala
- 2024 Golden Pear quality label, A smo že tam? (Are We There Yet?), Miš
- 2024 Golden Pear quality label, Sto slovenskih ljudskih, Dušica Kunaver and 25 illustrators, Morfem
- 2024 Golden Pear quality label, Vesolje, žepi in slonji kihci, Gaja Kos and 13 illustrators, Mladinska knjiga
- 2024 And then what happens?, group illustration Exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Italy
- 2024 The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf, A smo že tam?, Miš, (100 Amazing Books, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Italy)
- 2024 Finalist, Shortlist for the 58th Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition, Italy, A smo že tam?, Miš
- 2023 Grand Prix for Book of the Year at the Slovenian Book Fair, Sto slovenskih ljudskih, Dušica Kunaver, Morfem, illustrated by 25 Slovenian illustrators
- 2023 An Unexpected Abundance, group illustration Exhibition at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany
- 2023 Zebra, Maus und Tuba. Bilderbuch-Illustrationen aus Slowenien, Struwwelpeter Museum, group illustration exhibition (Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany)
- 2023 Biennial IBBY Silent Books Collection 2023, Final Destination Lampedusa, Italy, Dogodivščina v žepu, Miš
- 2023 Longlisted for BIBF Ananas International Illustration Exhibition Beijing, China, illustrations from the picture book Kot hiša velika žaba, Ana Duša, Zala
- 2023 Golden Pear quality label, Dogodivščina v žepu, Miš
- 2023 Golden Pear quality label, Čudoviti vrt, Andreja Borin, Miš
- 2023 Golden Pear quality label, Kitajski miti in legende, Tina Ilgo et al., (eight illustrators), Miš
- 2023 Golden Pear quality label, Luka lovi, Marko miži, Barbara Hanuš, (six illustrators), Mladinska knjiga
- 2021 Nomination for the Kristina Brenkova Award, Ozimnica/Stores for the Winter, Nina Mav Hrovat, Zala
- 2021 IBBY Europe List, Zebra v ogledalu (Zebra in the Mirror), Tina Arnuš Pupis, Miš
- 2021 Golden Pear quality label, Vprašanje za babico/A Question for Grandma, Nina Mav Hrovat, Miš
- 2021 Municipality of Trebnje Recognition Award for well-received artistic work
- 2021 Inclusion in the permanent exhibition The Growing Book from the Trebnje and Mirna Valleys
- 2020 IBBY Europe List, Vprašanje za babico (A Question for Grandma), Nina Mav Hrovat, Miš
- 2020 Golden Pear quality label, Bo res vse v redu?/Will Everything Really Be Fine?, Cvetka Sokolov, Miš
- 2020 The White Ravens, The International Youth Library, München, Germany, Bo res vse v redu?/Will Everything Really Be Fine?, Cvetka Sokolov, Miš