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…

(Click on event name for more information)

Books Illustrated Exhibition: Animalia and other Animals – from Real to Fantastic~ ongoing until Jul 12, Middle Park, Australia

International Youth Library Exhibit: Darkness Had fallen, The Night-time World in International Children’s Literature~ ongoing until Jul 31, Munich, Germany

Hollins University: Children’s Literature Lectures~ ongoing until Jul 31, Roanoke, VA, USA

An Exquisite Vision: The Art of Lisbeth Zwerger~ongoing until Sep 26, Amherst, MA, USA

Dromkeen National Centre for Picture Book Art Exhibit: From the Collection~ ongoing until Oct 24, Riddells Creek, Australia

Expo 2010~ ongoing until  Oct 31, Shanghai, China

International Youth Library Exhibit: Shaun Tan, Pictures and Books~ ongoing until Oct 31, Munich, Germany

Everyday Adventures Growing Up: Art from Picture Books~ ongoing until Nov 28, Chicago, IL, USA

Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award 2011~ entries accepted until Dec 31, Singapore

Manchester Children’s Book Festival~ Jul 1 – 4, Manchester, United Kingdom

Beyond The Border International Storytelling Festival~ Jul 2 – 4, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales,United Kingdom

Children’s and Young Adult Literature Festival: Reaching the World ~ Jul 3, Rozelle, Australia

aWAy With Words: Exploring the Ambiguities in Literacy and English Education~ Jul 4 – 7, Perth, Australia

West Cork Literary Festival~ Jul 4 – 10, Bantry, Ireland

NAIDOC Week~ Jul 4 – 11, Australia

Voices on the Coast, A Youth Literature Festival~ Jul 7 – 12, Sunshine Coast, Australia

Tokyo International Book Fair~ Jul 8 – 11, Tokyo, Japan

4th Annual Book Passage Children’s Writers & Illustrators Conference~ Jul 8 – 11, Corte Madera, CA, USA

The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature Exhibit: Golden Kite, Golden Dreams: the SCBWI Awards~  Jul 8 – Oct 1, Abilene, TX, USA

Children’s Literatrure Conference: Changing A-genders in Children’s Literature~ Jul 9 – 10, Hatfield, United Kingdom

UKLA’s 46th Annual International Conference: The Changing Face of Literacy: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow~ Jul 9 – 11, Winchester, United Kingdom

Hey, Your Pixels are Showing! A Photoshop Workshop and Creative Exchange with Illustrator Jed Henry~ Jul 11, Tokyo, Japan

2010 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition of Children’s Books~ Jul 11 – Aug 16, Tokyo, Japan

World Congress on Reading~ Jul 12 – 15, Auckland, New Zealand

Mazza Museum: International Art from Picture Books Summer Conference~ Jul 12  – 16, Findlay, OH, USA

Children’s Book Fair~ Jul 12 – 31, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival~ Jul 14 – 17, Mackay, Australia

Chapter & Verse, a Book Club for Adults Discussing Children’s Lit~ Jul 15, USA

19th Storytelling Festival at the Edge~ Jul 16 – 18, Stokes Barn, United Kingdom

Storytelling Saturday at Fully Booked~ Jul 17,  Quezon City, Philippines

11th Annual Pacific Northwest Children’s Book Conference~ Jul 19 – 23, Portland, OR, USA

National Children’s Book Day~ Jul 20, Philippines

White Ravens Festival For International Children’s and Youth Literature~ Jul 20 -  25, Munich, Germany

Racial Harmony Day~ Jul 21, Singapore

Book Launch and Art Exhbition of the Winning Book from the Romeo Forbes Children’s Story Writing Competition~ Jul 21, Philippines

Hong Kong Book Fair~ Jul 21 – 27, Hong Kong

Lima International Book Fair~ Jul 22 – Aug 4, Lima, Peru

Storytellers of Canada Annual Conference~ Jul 28 – Aug 1, St. John’s, NF,  Canada

Southampton Children’s Literature Conference~ Jul 28 – Aug 1, Southampton, NY, USA

Text+Image: Picture Books and Graphic Novels One Day Seminar~ Jul 30, Melbourne, Australia

Cape Town Book Fair~ Jul 30 – Aug 2, Cape Town, South Africa

The 39th Annual SCBWI International Summer Conference~ Jul 30 – Aug 2, Los Angeles, CA, USA