Carolina Rabei

Carolina Rabei is a children’s book illustrator and author known for her richly textured, nature-inspired artwork. She gained particular recognition for illustrating Who Makes a Forest?, written by Sally Nicholls, a picture book that explores how forests grow and why they are important to the environment.

Ever since she was very small, Carolina Rabei has loved drawing. From an early age, she showed a strong interest in drawing, which grew into a professional career in children’s publishing. Rabei developed her artistic skills through formal study. She studied Fine Art professionally at age ten and after attaining a BA in Graphic Design in Moldova, she received a MA distinction in Children’s Book Illustration from the prestigious Cambridge School of Art. Her academic background helped shape her distinctive visual style, which combines traditional techniques with digital methods to create detailed, atmospheric illustrations.
Carolina’s stunning debut illustrating Walter de la Mare’s poem, Snow (Faber), was published to critical acclaim, nominated for the esteemed Kate Greenaway Medal, and featured on The Independent’s list of 11 Best Books for 4 to 7-Year-Olds. Carolina went on to illustrate more of de la Mare’s work for Faber: The Ride-by-Nights, Summer Evening and Silver, further establishing her reputation in the field. In Who Makes a Forest?, Rabei’s illustrations play a central role in explaining complex natural processes in a way that is accessible to children. The book shows how tiny elements—such as plants, insects, and soil—gradually work together to create a forest ecosystem, supported by her detailed and expressive visuals. Carolina’s illustrated the book A Story of The Seasons with text by Anna Wilson was published by Nosy Crow in collaboration with the National Trust. The book celebrates the beauty of the seasons, combining eye catching illustrations with engaging text to offer a magical journey through various habitats. 

Carolina Rabei has also written and illustrated her own books, including Crunch!, a story about friendship and sharing that was shortlisted for the Read It Again! award. Her work has been recognized with several nominations and features, including listings among notable children’s books for young readers. Carolina works from her home near Cambridge, UK. She finds a lot of inspiration in nature and also from her young son. She loves working on a diverse range of projects, creating worlds of warmth and heart. She continues to work on a wide range of children’s books and illustration projects. Her artwork is known for its strong connection to nature, expressive characters, and a balance between realism and imagination, making her a distinctive voice in contemporary children’s literature.