Signe Ērmane - Ļitvina

Is a graduate of the Graphic Art Department of the Latvian Academy of Art who specialises in book illustration. Her work has been exhibited since 1992. Exhibitions of illustrations for the book “Tobias” Mischief Stories” by J. Zvirgzdiņš (Tobiasa blēņu stāsti, 2003) and “Tobias Goes Out Into the World” (Tobiass dodas pasaulē, 2005) have been held at the Children’s Literature Centre of the National Library of Latvia. She has participated in book illustration triennials (Vilnius 1997, Tallinn 2003 and 2006). She won first prize in the book competition “Most Beautiful Book” in 2001 and the Pastariņš Prize in 2003 for her illustrations to the book “To Klidziņa with One Wooden Horse” by U. Auseklis (Uz Klidziņu ar vienu koka zirdziņu. R.: Garā Pupa, 2001). Nominated for the Annual Prize for Book Publishing and the Jānis Baltvilks Prize in 2007 for her design for the book “Knorke! or Tobiass and Fufu go Searching for Mozart” by J. Zvirgzdiņš (Knorke, jeb Tobiass un Fufū meklē Mocartu. R.: liels un mazs, 2007, awarded the Rietumu Bank Special Prize).

At the international Frankfurt Book Fair the European Educational Publishers Group announced the results of the competition for Best European Schoolbook 2005. In this competition involving 22 countries, the textbook “The Little Tit: Latvian for Grade 1 (Mazā zīle: latviešu valoda 1. klasei. G. Andersone, V. Golubova, D. Ērgle, M. Filatova, I. Ikale; design: S. Ērmane-Ļitvina. R.: Zvaigzne ABC, 2004) won an award in the primary school books category.

The illustrations in a children’s book give a child its first impression of the book, while for book illustrators it’s a way for them to express themselves.. (Signe Ērmane - Ļitvina)