Orecchio Acerbo Editore

Orecchio Acerbo Editore is an Italian publishing house founded in Rome in 2001 and directed by Fausta Orecchio and Simone Tonucci. The name coincides with the surname of the founder and also echoes the title of a Gianni Rodari nursery rhyme, "Un signore maturo con un orecchio acerbo". The company specialises in illustrated books for children and young readers, and its catalogue is distinguished by high-quality illustration and graphic design customised for each volume. It publishes many editions of classics of children's literature as well as established foreign authors, alongside a notable roster of Italian authors and illustrators such as Maria Attanasio, Pierdomenico Baccalario, Andrea Bajani, Marco Baliani, Stefano Benni, Davide Calì, Giulia Caminito, Paolo Cognetti, Goffredo Fofi, Anna Lavatelli, Lia Levi, Fabian Negrin, Davide Orecchio, Roberto Piumini and Marco Taddei. In 2012 the house was acquired by Fandango Libri, which retained the editorial imprint. The publisher has received numerous awards: the Premio Lo Straniero in 2004; the BOP – Bologna Prize for the Best Children's Publishers of the Year in 2017 at the Bologna Children's Book Fair; and multiple Premio Andersen recognitions, including Best Editorial Project in 2004, Best Picture Book in 2010, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022, Best Art Book in 2013 and 2016, Best 0/6 Book in 2015, Best Never-Awarded Book in 2017, and Best Narrative Series in 2021 for Pulci nell'orecchio edited by Fabian Negrin. The official website presents the catalogue with a playful, self-aware tone, describing its books as "libri illustrati per ragazzi e bambini che non recano danno agli adulti / libri per adulti che non recano danno a ragazzi e bambini".

Orecchio Acerbo was founded in Rome in 2001 and is directed by Fausta Orecchio and Simone Tonucci. Its name coincides with the surname of the founder and also recalls the title of a Gianni Rodari nursery rhyme, "Un signore maturo con un orecchio acerbo". From the outset the house focused on illustrated books for children and young readers, building a catalogue noted for the quality of its illustrations and for graphic design customised for each volume. It has published many editions of classics of children's literature and works by established foreign authors, alongside a significant group of Italian authors and illustrators including Maria Attanasio, Pierdomenico Baccalario, Andrea Bajani, Marco Baliani, Stefano Benni, Davide Calì, Giulia Caminito, Paolo Cognetti, Goffredo Fofi, Anna Lavatelli, Lia Levi, Fabian Negrin, Davide Orecchio, Roberto Piumini and Marco Taddei. In 2012 the publishing house was acquired by Fandango Libri, which maintained the editorial imprint. Over the years Orecchio Acerbo has received numerous awards. It won the Premio Lo Straniero in 2004 and the Premio Andersen as Best Editorial Project in the same year. In 2017, at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, it was awarded the BOP – Bologna Prize for the Best Children's Publishers of the Year, which annually honours the world's best publishers by geographic area. Further Premio Andersen recognitions include Best Picture Book in 2010 for Hänsel e Gretel by the Brothers Grimm, in 2018 for ’45 by Maurizio Quarello, in 2019 for La diga by David Almond with illustrations by Levi Pinfold, in 2020 for Tutto cambia by Anthony Browne, and in 2022 for Io parlo come un fiume by Jordan Scott with illustrations by Sidney Smith; Best Art Book in 2013 for A che pensi? by Laurent Moreau and in 2016 for Lei. Vivian Maier by Cinzia Ghigliano; Best 0/6 Book in 2015 for Piccolo elefante cresce by Sesyle Joslin with illustrations by Leonard Weisgard; Best Never-Awarded Book in 2017 for Martedì by David Wiesner; and Best Narrative Series in 2021 for Pulci nell'orecchio edited by Fabian Negrin. The publisher remains active, with its official website presenting new releases and bestsellers and describing its output as "libri illustrati per ragazzi e bambini che non recano danno agli adulti / libri per adulti che non recano danno a ragazzi e bambini".

• 2022

  Premio Andersen Best Picture Book for Io parlo come un fiume by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sidney Smith.

• 2021

  Premio Andersen Best Narrative Series for Pulci nell'orecchio edited by Fabian Negrin.

• 2020

  Premio Andersen Best Picture Book for Tutto cambia by Anthony Browne.

• 2019

  Premio Andersen Best Picture Book for La diga by David Almond, illustrated by Levi Pinfold.

• 2018

  Premio Andersen Best Picture Book for ’45 by Maurizio Quarello.

• 2017

  Awarded BOP – Bologna Prize for the Best Children's Publishers of the Year at the Bologna Children's Book Fair; also Premio Andersen Best Never-Awarded Book for Martedì by David Wiesner.

• 2016

  Premio Andersen Best Art Book for Lei. Vivian Maier by Cinzia Ghigliano.

• 2015

  Premio Andersen Best 0/6 Book for Piccolo elefante cresce by Sesyle Joslin, illustrated by Leonard Weisgard.

• 2013

  Premio Andersen Best Art Book for A che pensi? by Laurent Moreau.

• 2012

  Acquired by Fandango Libri, which retained the editorial imprint.

• 2010

  Premio Andersen Best Picture Book for Hänsel e Gretel by the Brothers Grimm.

• 2004

  Won Premio Lo Straniero and Premio Andersen as Best Editorial Project.

• 2001

  Founded in Rome by Fausta Orecchio and Simone Tonucci.

Independent, design-driven children's publisher known for artistic picture books and international authors.

• Al di là della foresta

• Tutto cambia

• Chi vuole un rinoceronte a un prezzo speciale?

• Topo Postino cerca e trova

• Cara Anna

• Il senso della vita

• Beatrix

• Ascoltami quando sto zitto

• A che pensi?

• Il custode delle fiabe

• Ho il sedere più bello del mondo!

• Il sentiero

• Ultimo

• Le vacanze degli animali

• Flutti

• C’era una volta e ancora ci sarà

• Meravigliosi vicini

1. 1Orecchio Acerbo editore | libri illustrati, Libri illustrati per bambini e ragazzi - Homeorecchioacerbo.it
2. 2Chi Siamoorecchioacerbo.it
3. 3Orecchio Acerbo Editorewikidata.org
4. 4Orecchio Acerboit.wikipedia.org