Observation Achieves Creation: Bologna Award Winner Azul López Visits Taiwan
Mexican picture book author and Bologna Award winner Azul López visited Taiwan for the first time. She shared how her childhood of constantly moving fostered a sharp observation of daily details, heavily inspiring her acclaimed work 'Crocodile in a Pit'.
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- 📰 Published: April 26, 2026 at 19:46
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(Central News Agency, Reporter Wang Pao-er, Taipei, 26th) Moving around constantly during childhood, Mexican picture book author Azul López grew up continuously adapting to new environments. She turned this into a keen observational ability towards the world, filling her creations with details and recently winning major international awards. She recently visited Taiwan for the first time and was deeply inspired by Taiwanese picture books.
Currently, Azul López's only traditional Chinese published work in Taiwan is "Crocodile in a Pit" (literal translation of 掉進坑裡的鱷魚克洛克) published by Locus Publishing. She gained rapid international fame after winning the SM Foundation International Illustration Award at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in 2022 and the Green Island Award at the Nami Island International Children's Book Festival in South Korea in 2023. She recently visited Taiwan to attend the inaugural Golden Illustration Awards ceremony and related activities, and Maison Temps-Rêves also hosted a pop-up exhibition of her original illustrations.
In an exclusive interview with the Central News Agency, López mentioned that seeing various Taiwanese picture books at the Golden Illustration Awards made her feel full of freedom and hope. "Thinking that Taiwanese children have so many picture books to read, I am deeply inspired."
She recalled that there weren't many books to read at home during her childhood, but there were DIY encyclopedias for building tables or knitting sweaters. Even though she never successfully made one, just looking at the books and imagining was fun. Now, as a creator, making a book is also a form of creation figured out from scratch.
"Starting from scratch" is an experience López repeatedly went through in childhood. Due to family circumstances, she moved constantly, from big houses to small ones, changing schools 6 times during elementary school. This constant change necessitated her staying vigilant and highly observant of her surroundings. As she grew older, she became grateful for her ability to see so many details in life. "It used to feel like a burden on my shoulders, but now it has become wings that allow me to fly."
For example, while taking a walk, López notices a line of small snails strolling, or fat earthworms amidst the traffic. While people hurry down the street, she deliberately walks in the opposite direction to observe their expressions, clothing, and voices. These large or small details are interesting landscapes in her eyes, which is why whenever she feels "stuck," her favorite thing to do is take a walk.
In "Crocodile in a Pit," you can see her utilizing her life realizations and grasp of details. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she felt extremely frustrated because she couldn't go out. One day while showering, the water suddenly stopped. The accumulating frustrations of life made her cry uncontrollably, which developed into the story she wrote about a crocodile getting trapped after accidentally falling into a hole.
In the story, animals like snakes and monkeys appear one by one, offering advice to the crocodile on how to escape. López also drew a little mouse waiting for readers to observe. López laughed, saying she always thinks of the reader while writing, "Will the crocodile eat the mouse after going through an ordeal?" She leaves this for readers to feel and think about, and it is also the question she wants to pose: "Will people change themselves after going through challenges?"
Animals are a common element in López's works. Through interaction, she discovered that children are unpredictable, intuitive, and instinctual, just like animals. As a creator, she deliberately cuts off adult sensibilities so she can unleash her creativity without limits and have more empathy. "I hope that after reading my books, Taiwanese children will also enjoy observing life in the future."
López previously explored the fields of technology and graphic design. Relying on long-term writing, self-study, and short courses to learn drawing, she submitted a self-made picture book directly to editors, which ultimately led her down the path of becoming a picture book creator. Visiting Taiwan by invitation for the Golden Illustration Awards is also her first time in Asia. Looking back on her journey, she said, "Life is full of many surprises, and I am very grateful."
Currently, Azul López's only traditional Chinese published work in Taiwan is "Crocodile in a Pit" (literal translation of 掉進坑裡的鱷魚克洛克) published by Locus Publishing. She gained rapid international fame after winning the SM Foundation International Illustration Award at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in 2022 and the Green Island Award at the Nami Island International Children's Book Festival in South Korea in 2023. She recently visited Taiwan to attend the inaugural Golden Illustration Awards ceremony and related activities, and Maison Temps-Rêves also hosted a pop-up exhibition of her original illustrations.
In an exclusive interview with the Central News Agency, López mentioned that seeing various Taiwanese picture books at the Golden Illustration Awards made her feel full of freedom and hope. "Thinking that Taiwanese children have so many picture books to read, I am deeply inspired."
She recalled that there weren't many books to read at home during her childhood, but there were DIY encyclopedias for building tables or knitting sweaters. Even though she never successfully made one, just looking at the books and imagining was fun. Now, as a creator, making a book is also a form of creation figured out from scratch.
"Starting from scratch" is an experience López repeatedly went through in childhood. Due to family circumstances, she moved constantly, from big houses to small ones, changing schools 6 times during elementary school. This constant change necessitated her staying vigilant and highly observant of her surroundings. As she grew older, she became grateful for her ability to see so many details in life. "It used to feel like a burden on my shoulders, but now it has become wings that allow me to fly."
For example, while taking a walk, López notices a line of small snails strolling, or fat earthworms amidst the traffic. While people hurry down the street, she deliberately walks in the opposite direction to observe their expressions, clothing, and voices. These large or small details are interesting landscapes in her eyes, which is why whenever she feels "stuck," her favorite thing to do is take a walk.
In "Crocodile in a Pit," you can see her utilizing her life realizations and grasp of details. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she felt extremely frustrated because she couldn't go out. One day while showering, the water suddenly stopped. The accumulating frustrations of life made her cry uncontrollably, which developed into the story she wrote about a crocodile getting trapped after accidentally falling into a hole.
In the story, animals like snakes and monkeys appear one by one, offering advice to the crocodile on how to escape. López also drew a little mouse waiting for readers to observe. López laughed, saying she always thinks of the reader while writing, "Will the crocodile eat the mouse after going through an ordeal?" She leaves this for readers to feel and think about, and it is also the question she wants to pose: "Will people change themselves after going through challenges?"
Animals are a common element in López's works. Through interaction, she discovered that children are unpredictable, intuitive, and instinctual, just like animals. As a creator, she deliberately cuts off adult sensibilities so she can unleash her creativity without limits and have more empathy. "I hope that after reading my books, Taiwanese children will also enjoy observing life in the future."
López previously explored the fields of technology and graphic design. Relying on long-term writing, self-study, and short courses to learn drawing, she submitted a self-made picture book directly to editors, which ultimately led her down the path of becoming a picture book creator. Visiting Taiwan by invitation for the Golden Illustration Awards is also her first time in Asia. Looking back on her journey, she said, "Life is full of many surprises, and I am very grateful."