The night of the camping trip

You think when you go camping in the mountains you'll only encounter animals, plants, and insects? Think again!
Batman, elves, giants, UFOs, witches, sea monsters...
The night in the mountains is joyful and surprising!

 Italian young illustrator Andrea Antinori is the winner of the 2023 Bologna Children's Book Fair—SM Foundation International Illustration Award. This book is his new picture book, drawn by invitation after winning the award, and was published during the 2024 Bologna Children's Book Fair, with an exhibition of original artwork at the fair, attracting great attention and affection. This book is also the first time a winner of the SM Award has chosen to create a wordless picture book.

 As soon as you open the book, the endpaper depicts a big-nosed man wearing a red hat, carrying a large backpack, locking the door, leaving home, and embarking on a hiking journey. He climbs to the top of the mountain, crosses a suspension bridge, and finally finds a campsite in the forest where he sets up his tent, preparing to camp overnight. He builds a bonfire, enjoys a campfire dinner, and then goes into his tent to rest.

Do you think that's the whole story? —No!

From that moment on, many strange things begin to happen around the tent—first, is that Batman among the bats? Frogs, elk, and rabbits, bears all leap over the top of the tent? Did an army of ants carry away Santa Claus? Are elves drawing lines around the tent and starting a tennis match? The man feels something is amiss, crawls out of the tent, and turns on his flashlight, but finds nothing unusual. He steps out to relieve himself against a tree, then goes back to sleep. This time, the feet of a giant appear in the night sky!!!! It's not over yet, even aliens, flying witches, and spirits appear!

You think that's it? —No, none of this is over yet... There's more! This night of wild camping was truly astonishing and marvelous.

The entire book is colorful and fun, and Andrea Antinori's brushwork is relaxed and full of childish innocence, with a natural sense of humor. His depiction of the night forest becomes an imaginative and magical place. Are these strange creatures real, or do they only exist in the hiker's dreams and imagination?

When Andrea Antinori won the SM Award in 2023, the judges' comments were as follows:

☆☆"Andrea's paintings are captivating. We can easily resonate with the interesting characters in his works, who possess strong personalities and a sense of humor. All of his paintings appear light and pure, but we notice the exquisite craftsmanship hidden behind them. He uses limited shapes, colors, and lines to create a vivid visual expression, like neon lights in a city. These arrangements are not accidental; every element has its definite weight and intention. Each of his illustrations conveys a clear intention to all viewers."☆☆

       For readers who love picture books, especially those in the iMage3 series, this book offers an unexpected delight. After reading the entire book, one cannot help but think of the Spanish picture book author Manuel Marsol, also a recipient of the SM Award, and his picture book "The Mountain." In fact, Andrea was indeed inspired by Manuel Marsol, and he specifically mentions Manuel in the acknowledgments at the beginning of this book.