WHAT IF, AS I GROW UP…

What if, as I grew up, I forgot how to talk to the grass and admire clouds of insects?

Crickets, ladybirds, dragonflies, spiders, ants, bees…

What if I could no longer see myself reflected in puddles?

A poetic picture book celebrating wonder, empathy, and the beauty of keeping our inner light alive.​

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Through a sweet monologue, a little girl wonders if growing up means losing her wonder, forgetting to talk to the grass, listen to others, or mirror herself in puddles.

Yet, she realizes she won’t forget: she will thread all the beauty of the world into a necklace to gift to everyone.​

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A moving tribute to childhood wonder and the art of staying kind as we grow.​

Key highlights: 

◊ Poetic philosophical approach: a gentle monologue on the fear of losing childhood wonder, speaking directly to young readers’ inner world.​

​◊ Focus on empathy: strong core message encouraging children to listen to others, observe nature, and stay connected as they grow.​

​◊ Evocative visual storytelling​: artwork by Andrea Calisi that seamlessly blends internal reflections with the beauty of the natural world.​

Author & Illustrator

GUIA RISARI​

Guia Risari is a versatile author, translator, and scholar with an extensive academic background in philosophy. Writing and publishing in four languages, she collaborates with international publishers, universities, and cultural institutions, bringing deep narrative elegance and philosophical depth to children’s literature.​

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ANDREA CALISI​

Andrea Calisi is an acclaimed illustrator whose painterly, highly atmospheric artwork is featured by top Italian publishers, including Einaudi and Rizzoli. Exhibited across Europe and Japan, his sophisticated mixed-media style seamlessly combines rich textures with poetic visual storytelling.​