Denitza Mineva

Denitza Mineva

Children’s author and illustrator

Books

School visits and workshops

Denitza Mineva running a workshop in a classroom

In schools, libraries, bookshops and book fairs, Denitza Mineva runs workshops based on her picture books. Children read, talk and create together.

The workshops are mainly for nursery and primary school children, from age 5 to 8. They can be adapted to library sessions, a highlight at a book fair, or a project run by an association or a local authority.

A class wearing their happiness glasses
Children showing their drawings in a library
Glasses drawn by the children
Workshop board about The Happiness Glasses
Denitza Mineva presenting a book to a class
Children’s drawings made during a workshop
Workshop in a classroom
Book signing at a book fair
Children at a Little Squares workshop
Denitza Mineva helping a pupil
The children’s portraits on display
Denitza Mineva, surrounded by the characters from her books

About

A varied palette of expression,
yet always unique

Denitza Mineva was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. After finishing secondary school at the Fine Arts High School, she specialised in illustration and book art at the National Academy of Arts in Sofia. Her final-year projects were already in children’s literature, which fascinated her.

Master’s degree in hand, she flew to France, partly out of a sense of adventure but above all to continue her training at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. The City of Light dazzled her, all the more so as it was home to the man who would become her partner in life.

Straight out of school, Denitza worked as a graphic designer and art director; but when she became a mother, she returned, alongside her work, to illustration and to creating books for children.

In children’s literature, Denitza creates her own books (concept, text, drawings and design), as well as illustrations for picture books, tales and novels.

Her graphic style reinvents itself from one story to the next, as she likes to explore a particular visual language for each: clean shapes, funny drawings, soft watercolours, intense engraving… a varied palette of expression, yet always unique. As for her subjects, some keep coming back: discovery, sharing, openness to others, or simply happiness.

Denitza Mineva regularly takes part in book fairs, school visits and workshops with children, which are as much a source of positive energy as of inspiration for her.

What they say

Les Touverts

“Through the metaphor of colours, the author playfully invites children to discover, understand and appreciate other people’s differences, which turn out to be truly enriching.”

Nous serons toujours là pour toi

“The reassuring picture book”
“inspiring”
“A wonderful picture book”

Parents Magazine / ELLE.fr / Ouest-France

Les Petits Carrés

“The character traits are brought to life and help children better understand these abstract notions, which are so hard to explain.”

Pour toujours

“A book that works like medicine and does you good, to help with the transitions and separations, big or small, that are part of life.”

Pour toujours

“Behind its apparent simplicity lies a philosophical work full of meaning.”

Les lunettes du bonheur

“I loved this picture book! It’s beautiful, a true ode to happiness.”

Petit Carré Jaloux

“A little book that’s perfect for children aged 4 to 6, and even for 6–7-year-olds once they can read.”

Nous serons toujours là pour toi

“A lovely reading moment, with a picture book full of love and humour!”

Petit Carré Timide

“A book I really recommend to anyone with children around them who wants help talking about emotions.”

Les Petits Carrés

“The Little Squares are going to be a hit! They’re small but mighty, small and very well thought out.”

A question, a visit, a workshop?

Write to Denitza