Montagne illustrate

Simonetta Sandri · 8 September 2026

Storie (illustrate) di montagna

Mountains are not simple geographical relief features or dramatic scenic backdrops to be admired from afar: they are silent masters, guardians of ancient stories, and inner spaces where one can rediscover a deep connection with nature and oneself.

Too often, people think that illustrated literature is a territory reserved exclusively for childhood, but the truth is that picture books are a universal language, capable of speaking to the nuances of the human soul at any age. Through the perfect dialogue between poetic texts and evocative images (sometimes only the latter, in the case of silent books), the pages of these books capture the majesty of the peaks, the scent of high-altitude forests, and the sense of wonder felt before the immensity of the Alpine landscape. I read so many of them; it's a true passion of mine, and has been for years.

In this collection, we take you on a high-altitude journey through a special selection of picture books designed to enchant young readers and inspire reflection in adults. You will discover volumes that tell stories of exploration and respect for the environment, regenerating solitude, and unbreakable bonds with the earth. Whether you are an experienced hiker looking for fresh inspiration or simply a reader eager to disconnect from the hectic pace of daily life, these visual masterpieces will offer you a breath of fresh air. Prepare a warm cup of herbal tea, get comfortable, and let yourself be guided among these peaks of paper and color: the mountain is waiting for you between the illustrated pages.

Sulla montagna di Lù (On Lù's Mountain)

Author: Anouck Boisrobert | Illustrator: Louis Rigaud | Corraini Edizioni, 2021, 12 p.

An original pop-up book celebrating the beauty of nature and an invitation to take part in a high-altitude adventure. Because up on the mountain, above the refuge, a wolf has been spotted. Lù dreams of meeting it and sets off to find it after studying maps and trails. Together with her, we climb toward the summit across beautiful pastures and forests, meeting the animals that inhabit the mountain: bees, butterflies, ibexes, and even a few owls peering through the dark as evening falls… Snow begins to fall, but the wolf is still nowhere to be seen: will Lù manage to find it before returning to the refuge?

La mia montagna (My Mountain)

Author: François Aubineau | Illustrator: Jérôme Peyrat | MIMebù, 2025, 36 p.

A picture book about sharing, dialogue, and empathy, featuring great narrative strength and a powerful aesthetic and poetic value. Winner of the 2025 Leggimontagna prize for how it "delicately treats a universal theme: the Mountain and the encounter between worlds that are only apparently different... against the attentive backdrop of a Mountain serving as a silent companion and guardian of memories." Indeed, the same story can be told from different points of view (if you turn the book upside down, you will understand…). The wolf and the shepherd are enemies by nature—or at least that is what they have always believed. Yet both live in the same place: the mountain. For the man and his family, the wolf is a threatening presence to be feared and driven away; likewise, for the wolf and its pups, the man represents a mortal danger. But to whom does the mountain truly belong? Perhaps, united by their love for it, the wolf and the shepherd can learn to share it.

Recherche, storie di montagne (Recherche, Mountain Stories)

Author: Marianna Bruno | Ideestortepaper, 2023, 64 p.

«This book is about mountains, or perhaps it isn't about them at all. Above all, it speaks of the things I love to explore: myths, religions, folklore, traditions, and spirituality. I have always been convinced that on mountains, something has remained unchanged, just as it must have been when everything began. This something, magical and indefinite, connects us with the Other—the dimension of the unknowable, of deeper spirituality, and of divine mystery. It is said that sacred things cannot be described, only suggested. That is why this book was never meant to be a final destination. It is a beginning, for me as well as for the reader—an invitation to seek within suggestions the impulse to investigate the Other, what it means for each of us, and what space it can find in our lives.» A beautiful summary in the words of author Marianna Bruno herself. Five chapters telling the stories of twenty-two sacred mountains, symbolic places of spirituality.

La montagna (The Mountain)

Author: Ximo Abadía | Becco Giallo, 2023, 32 p.

Here live the forests and the rivers. Here foxes play with cherry trees, the sun, and the snow. Welcome to the mountain.

An illustrated book recounting the adventure of spending a carefree day in the mountains, packed with activities that thrill little ones (and grown-ups too): hiking, playing in the snow, or meeting some of the resident animals. A journey through colors, scents, and the true essence of the mountain, learning to discover its small secrets and enjoy nature—in summer and winter alike.

Il passo di ciascuno, Un racconto di montagna (Everyone's Pace: A Mountain Tale)

Author: Henri Meunier | Illustrator: Régis Lejonc | Terre di Mezzo, 2023, 40 p.

A solitary shepherd, his high-altitude hut, and the story of meeting a severely wounded stranger hunted by fascists. Both have chosen to live on the margins of a social order they do not recognize: «Why are you helping me?» the fugitive wanted to know. «You were wounded, and I treated you. I know nothing about you. I live far away from everything because I know no other way to live. And I dislike the dictatorship raging on the other side of the mountain.» Bound together on the same rope team, the shepherd and the stranger will find in each other the courage to walk toward their own destinies. A story of understanding and empathy.

Splendid, large-format plates set the stage for the third character of this story: a severe, majestic mountain—the only true space of freedom. Author Henri Meunier dedicates the book to the memory of his grandfather Jacques, the man of the mountain. Illustrator Régis Lejonc drew the landscapes of his childhood in Haute-Savoie: «Through this story, I was able to pay tribute to my mountain; I drew the sheepfold right on La Tournette, which overlooks Lake Annecy and the valley of my childhood.» Splendid.

Su e giù per le montagne (Up and Down the Mountains)

Author: Irene Penazzi | Terre di Mezzo, 2021, 40 p.

A silent book that acts as a year-long walk in the open air! Twelve months of friendship and sharing during which the three protagonists experience the most beautiful moments mountain life has to offer across the seasons: among ibexes, cows, and marmots, conversations and nights in a tent by the campfire stargazing, games by the lake, and forests full of mushrooms and chestnuts to collect together… Not an adult in sight.

The story follows a route—a trail you can track on a map—featuring a game of differences between the opening and closing pages for the most curious and attentive readers. Almost like a family photo album, capturing and gathering the happiest moments.

L’uomo che non aveva un nome (The Man Who Had No Name)

Author: Davide Calì | Illustrator: Lucia Carlini | Kite, 2025, 40 p.

He is a man who has no name, but who has everything else. He lives alone on a small island with no one else around—only trees and mountains, his true and only friends. And with them, white clouds that taste like whipped cream, and green grass that brightens the sky and reflects in the crystal-clear waters of the sea. He is so alone that he has given a name to everything on the island. Among the leafy trees are Andy Taylor and Little Stanley; among the mountains, Miss Perkins and Jarvis. Among the animals, Malmo the moose or Larsen the rabbit; and among the stones, Gerda, Charlotte, and Walter. Every morning he greets his friends, every day is the same—he fishes or sleeps. Until the day many people arrive from across the sea. They hop here and there taking photographs, looking like those thousand annoying invaders of pleasant places who take selfies in iconic poses to show to the distant world watching them.

A touching and poetic story that delicately explores themes of solitude, identity, the value of authentic relationships, and nature.

Sentieri (Paths)

Author: Guia Risari | Illustrator: Andrea Calisi | Kite, 2025, 40 p.

Sometimes, I fight against the wind and challenge time with my body. Then I stop to listen to the notes of silence, sliding across my damp skin. I enter an unfamiliar forest and look between the trees and clouds at the outline of the horizon.

So begins a story built through evocative fragments and beautiful images that alternate between moments of solitude and sharing. A book dedicated "to the road everyone must walk to find themselves and the other." A unique, magical picture book—an intense and delicate reflection on our relationship with nature and the deep bonds connecting every person to the surrounding world when we allow ourselves the time to truly observe, listen, and feel.

There is the encounter-clash with the wind and the unfamiliar forest in which we find ourselves, intricate yet filled with magic. Being fearless is a wonderful discovery: a way to make peace with the world and stand up to it when necessary. The lake, too, hides thousands of secrets and stories—you only need to look at it to imagine or rediscover them.

It is lovely to learn how to get lost every day along the way, because the path is always found again. Looking at the sky and an illuminated window is enough to try not turning back.

The same staircase leads to different places; you just need to know how to climb up and down it, looking ahead and smiling even at stumbles. At the end, there is a lush, flowering garden with a few fireflies and four friends waiting to listen. Who knows where that path leads and who one might meet or meet again… Ultimately, the paths to getting lost and finding oneself are infinite, with ourselves waiting at the end.

L’eco della montagna (The Mountain's Echo)

Author: Mona Leu-Leu | 24 ORE Cultura Kids, 2024, 40 p.

A contemplative tale that brings the Alpine landscape and its wildlife to the forefront.

The narrative alternates between two types of characters: a group of hikers and a series of animals watching them. The hikers set off from their valley village for a climb, but find themselves trapped in a storm with no choice but to wait for the weather to clear before moving on. As the pages turn, the reader discovers iconic animals of our mountains: marmots, chamois, rabbits, owls, and birds of prey.

It is through their eyes that we observe the human adventure unfolding in the heart of these harsh and demanding landscapes. In the mountains, despite the harshness of the environment, no one is ever truly alone, and the local wildlife offers us one of its most beautiful testimonies.

LOOK FOR EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN IN NATURE