Photo: Nika Gavrovska
Vivid imagination, weaving narratives with a cinematic flair that captivates both the eye and the mind. Gavrovska’s storytelling masterfully combines visual artistry with poetic prose, creating a rich, multi-layered experience that resonates deeply with readers of all ages, from children to adults.
Biography
Born and raised in Skopje, North Macedonia, Nika Gavrovska (1987) is the founder of “Gavroche Books”, an independent publishing house of literary fiction and creative non-fiction based in Skopje and founded in 2017. Through her publishing house, she provides a platform for emerging writers and illustrators and empowers them to share their unique narrative of the world. Beyond her academic pursuits and teaching responsibilities at the French Language Department at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, Nika actively engages with the wider literary community. She has participated in panel discussions over the importance of children’s literature and organized workshops that explore the interplay between the visual and the verbal narrative in illustrated books.
Writing primarily for children, Nika ventures into non-typical genres, frequently exploring the realms of magical realism and fantasy. Her work transcends conventional boundaries, inviting young readers into worlds where the extraordinary intertwines with the familiar, sparking imagination and wonder at every turn.
Nika is the author of “Bel” (2019), a picture book illustrated by Risto Avramovski; “Bambino” (2022), an illustrated story created with Nikola Radulović, which received the White Raven award 2023 and got published in Chinese; “Word by Word” (2021), a visual wordbook illustrated by Natasha Andonova; and most recently, “The Wind’s Tale”, also illustrated by Natasha Andonova, a children’s book developed as part of “The Ways of the Heroes” project.
Outstanding title:
BAMBINO (2022)

“Bambino” is a touching dark illustrated tale with a happy ending about a little boy and his father living in a forest. Being on the edge of magical realism, “Bambino” questions the notion of loss, fear, growing up, courage and nature through children’s eyes.
No. of pp: 66
Illustrator: Nikola Radulovik
Publisher: Gavroche, 2022
66 pages, hardback, 152 x 232 mm
Age: 6+
Awards and honors:
- White Raven 2023 by the International Youth Library
- First award for the best visually crafted and illustrated book at the Skopje Book Fair 2022 by the Association of Macedonian Publishers
Rights sold to:
China (CITIC press), English.
Latest title:
THE WIND’S TALE (2023)

The Wind is nowhere to be found, except in Grandpa’s story about the day it disappeared. His story recounts the history of the Aeolians, the myth of the Great Beginning and the subsequent mutation of languages, the song of the whales and the birth of the Wind.
This dystopian fairy tale follows little Verta’s path in her adventure to find the lost Wind in the windless world. Besides the ecological dimension of the story, this is above all a tale about loss. Loss of memories, loss of the ones we love, loss of the Earth as we know it.
No. of pp: 483
Illustrator: Natasha Andonova
Publisher: Gavroche, 2023
483 pages, hardback, 152 x 232 mm
Age: 6+
Awards and honors:
- First award for the most creative book at the National Book Fair 2023 organized in Skopje, Macedonia by the Macedonian Publishers Association
- First award for the most innovative approach at Litera Festival 2023
- Was selected for the Bologna Ragazzi Award 2022 in the Sustainability category with the project Amazing Bookshelf, highlighting innovative and eco-minded children’s publishing.
Rights sold to:
Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Greece, Italy.
Rights:
Gavroche Books
gavroche.books@gmail.com