Alice do Lado Errado do Espelho, by Pedro Rodrigues, is a playful collection of seven short tales that reimagine classic fairy tale characters in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, blending humour, wit and modern twists on beloved stories like Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood. Published in late 2020 by Cultura Editora, the book offers a light and humorous take on the absurdities and anxieties of lockdown life.

I had the honour of illustrating the cover and creating interior visuals for this project. The tone was joyful, witty and irreverent, just like the stories. I drew playful scenes imagining, for example, Cinderella skipping the ball in sweatpants or Red Riding Hood ordering Uber Eats and discovering the driver is the Big Bad Wolf.

Working on this book was a delight. It felt amazing to reinterpret famous fairy tales through a fresh, pandemic-aged lens, full of surprise and laughter. My illustrations capture that sense of absurd whimsy while complementing the accessible and direct writing style of Pedro Rodrigues.

Together, the cover and illustrations help set the tone: light, funny, clever and a perfect foil to the unexpected challenges of a world turned upside down by lockdowns and distance.