A Stolen Treasure

For O Roubo da Cuia, Tai was tasked with illustrating both the cover and internal pages of Mayra Sigwalt’s evocative tale.

The story follows Renata, a determined 16-year-old sent to the International Mathematics Olympiad in Denmark, who unexpectedly encounters a cuia, a traditional bowl belonging to her Kaingang community that had been stolen from her ancestors. Now a grandmother, Renata shares with her grandchildren the journey she undertook following that powerful discovery, weaving together heritage, loss, and generational memory.

Tai’s illustrations enrich this narrative with warmth and narrative nuance, blending expressive characters with atmospheric scenes that bridge past and present.