The International Youth Library, located in Munich, Germany, is the largest library for international children’s and youth literature in the world. Opened in 1949, it has been continuously expanded and is now recognized internationally as a centre for children’s and youth literature from all over the world. Drawing upon its unique collection, the International Youth Library mounts a variety of exhibitions on a wide range of themes every year, in the halls of Blutenburg Castle, including original works by illustrators, representative surveys of the children’s literature from different countries or cultures, and current or historical aspects of children’s literature.

While attending the 2010 Bologna Children’s Book Fair in March, we visited the International Youth Library’s (IYL) booth and perused the books in the newly announced 2010 White Ravens catalogue: books that deserve worldwide attention because of their universal themes and/or their exceptional and often innovative artistic and literary style and design. We  also learned of the IYL’s  plans for the 1st White Ravens Festival to be held in the summer of 2010.  Although the festival seemed far away at the time, it is now set to begin – how time flies!

From July 20th to 25th, 13 authors and illustrators from Bavaria and abroad will read from their books, conduct workshops and creative writing classes, and talk about themselves and their work in podium discussions.  The festival will provide space both for renowned, award-winning authors and illustrators and for new literary discoveries, and will focus on the encounters between these authors and illustrators and their audiences. Readings in English, French, Norwegian, Polish and Spanish will turn the festival into a truly international experience and the festival’s Bavarian and international contributions will serve as a bridge between different cultures.

The main festival venue will be the International Youth Library. However, the invited authors and illustrators will also be available for performances and workshops in youth and cultural centres, schools, and libraries around Bavaria during this time. Apart from open events in the afternoon and on the weekend, there will also be a special program for schools.

This is sure to be a special event and we look forward to reading more about it from those lucky enough to be there…

After a busy day of presentations on Day 2, Day 3 of the Bologna Book Fair was spent meeting people and absorbing the different books on offer.

First up was a lovely chat with poet Jorge Luján, whom we’d caught up with on the Tuesday evening… He shared his brand new book with us and I will share some photos with you when I work out how to get them off the camera (as opposed to a storage disc)… but in the meantime, enjoy this gorgeous poster for the exhibition of Isol’s illustrations from his recently published Pantuflas de perrito which is on-going until 25th April, if you happen to be in Bologna…

Other highlights included:

The presentation of the International Youth Library‘s newly announced 2010 White Ravens Catalogue:

I had a great discussion with Janet Evans from Liverpool Hope University, UK, who is currently spending some time with the Library in Munich

while…

next door at the IBBY stand, Corinne and Aline had a good chat with Sylvia Vardell, editor of IBBY magazine Bookbird and host of the wonderful Poetry for Children blog (Don’t miss out on her current game of Poetry Tag for National Poetry Month in the US).

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Meeting Danilla Marii, an Australian writer based in Rome, who had come to the Fair to seek out a publisher for her beautiful and vibrant book The Rainbow Tree – it was a real privilege to be able to see the original draft that includes some intricate collage work. We loved the story too.

Catching up with Antoinette Correa from B.L.D. – Bibliothèque Lecture Développement (Senegal)

and Pilli Hamidu Dumea of the Children’s Book Project for Tanzania.

Meeting author/illustrator/stroyteller John Kilaka, an erstwhile winner of the BolognaRagazzi New Horizons Award (for New Friends in 2005), and seeing his new book, The Amazing Tree.

…And of course, the books…

A display of Mitsumasa Anno’s books at Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers‘ stand, including his new Anno’s Journey across Asia – and if you look at the first photograph for this post you should be able to spot it among the White Ravens 2010 selection too…

A display devoted to Jimmy Liao’s books – what a feast of color and imagination they are. Wouldn’t it be great to have more of his books available in English!

And the much-loved Guji Guji by Chih-Yuan Chen in lots of different languages – interesting, also, to see the different illustrations chosen for the covers.

You can see these and more photos from Day 3 here…