Historically, illustrated books have been associated with children, whose favorite stories were accompanied by colorful drawings. However, times change, and the demand for illustrated books among adults has become a trend that renowned artists and publishers have embraced. For example, here are some of the best illustrated books for adults that will transport you to another world of words and illustrations.
The Starry Night, by Jimmy Liao
I remember when this book came into my hands a couple of years ago. A story starring a girl forgotten by her parents who remembered "that summer of the loneliest and most beautiful starry nights" that she spent with a mysterious young man. And despite its seemingly childish nature, The Starry Night is a story that captivates children and adults alike thanks to its poignant portrayal of childhood and illustrations of broken fishbowls, giant cats, and dreamlike landscapes. After years working as an illustrator for various magazines and being diagnosed with leukemia in 1995, the Taiwanese artist Jimmy Liao decided to dedicate himself to illustrated literature that will make those who have forgotten the magic of reality itself dream.
One Hundred Years of Solitude (Illustrated Edition), by Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez
Published by Literature Random House to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the publication of One Hundred Years of Solitude last year, this illustrated version of Gabo's masterpiece features illustrations by Chilean artist Luisa Rivera and typography designed by the author's son, Gonzalo GarcÃa Barcha. This edition will resonate with all those who once journeyed to the town of Macondo, lost among ghosts and banana plantations, where the stories of the BuendÃa saga unfolded.
Seda (illustrated edition), by Alessandro Barrico and Rebecca Dautremer
In 1996, the Italian author Alessandro Barrico published Silk, a love story disguised as a travelogue about a young French merchant named Hervé Joncour's journey to a mysterious lake in Japan. One of the best-selling novels of the 90s, it also deserved its own illustrated version, and Contempla's edition, featuring artwork by the renowned French artist Rebecca Dautremer , is a true delight—so poetic and captivating that it makes you want to drop everything and embark on a quest to find those famous silkworms.
Would you like to read the illustrated version of Silk?
All my friends are dead, from Jory John and Avery Monsen
If you're a dinosaur, all your friends are dead. If you're a tree, all your friends have turned into wooden tables. Throughout the 96 pages of * All My Friends Are Dead* , its authors navigate between horror and humor in an astonishing way, inviting the reader to reconsider existence through the story of clowns, zombies, and cassette tapes. In Spain, the translated version was published by Norma Editorial and has a sequel, *All My Friends Are Still Dead*.
Lovers, by Ana Juan
In 2010, Ana Juan began a project in Paris, adapting eleven poems, each accompanied by eight images, to depict different love stories: a man with a stripper, two women, and an elderly woman longing for a youthful love. These tales explore themes ranging from fidelity to nostalgia, unfolding through diverse settings and characters with a tenderness that resonates deeply with readers. Both the texts and the evocative illustrations are by Juan, winner of the National Illustration Prize in 2010.
Don't miss Lovers, by Ana Juan.
Emigrants, by Shaun Tan
Known as "the good illustrator" in his native Perth, Shaun Tan is an artist who delves into political and social themes as a vehicle to bring his stories to life. The best example is the acclaimed * The Arrival* , a graphic novel that combines his own fantasy worlds with scenes of immigrants arriving in new lands. The textless illustrations make the feeling of loneliness and fear that pervades all those who have arrived in a different country universal. It's a work in which the story is mentally filled in by the reader, resulting in a fascinating narrative experience.
The metamorphosis (illustrated edition), by Franz Kafka
Considered one of the great books of the 20th century , The Metamorphosis tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who one day wakes up transformed into an insect. A metaphor for a generation, one that searched and searched beneath the layers of life yearning to find something, the illustrated version by Antonio Santos Lloros adds even more perspectives and dimensions to one of the most unusual stories of our time. Undoubtedly, one of the most highly recommended illustrated books for adults, especially if you are an admirer of Kafka's work.
Immerse yourself in the illustrated edition of The Metamorphosis?
The things of love, by Flavita Banana
Known for her breakout success on Instagram, where she has amassed over 381.000 followers , Flavita Banana is a Barcelona-based illustrator who has captured a perfect blend of humor and social commentary in her cartoons. With a feminist sensibility, Banana's drawings delve into women's perspectives on themselves, their fears, stereotypes, and relationships from a sharp, unflinching point of view. An illustrator for publications such as El PaÃs, the artist presents in * Las cosas del querer* (Things of Love) some of the comics that propelled her to fame in recent years.
Bosco: The Strange Story of Hieronymus, the Hat, the Backpack and the Ball, by Thé Tjong-Khing
Of Chinese and Indonesian descent but residing in the Netherlands, illustrator Thé Tjong-Khing adapted the best of Hieronymus Bosch's work to create this story that will delight readers of all ages. The story stars Hieronymus, a boy who goes out to play one day and falls from a cliff into a lake, losing his hat, backpack, and ball. It's a journey where we encounter magical creatures that live underwater, straight from the world of one of history's greatest painters.
Nothing through the worlds of Bosch: The strange story of Hieronymus.
What other best picture books for adults would you recommend?