The Next Chapter Café

This session will explore how Qatar Reads, an initiative of Qatar National Library, is transforming reading habits among children and families in Qatar. Using the Family Reading Program as a case study, we will examine how program design using RBM methods and localisation can foster a love for reading among children and stronger family cohesion. The program methodology includes engaging activities, and storytelling to create a lasting impact on young readers and drive social change through reading. Additionally, the discussion will highlight the program’s role in increasing children's reading in Arabic and how content is tailored to preserve local culture and heritage.

La bibliografia, promossa da Regione Toscana e dal Centro regionale servizi per le biblioteche toscane che ha sede nella biblioteca Tiziano Terzani di Campi Bisenzio, risponde a un’esigenza diffusa e fortemente sentita da bibliotecari, insegnanti e operatori interessati alla lettura giovanile: quella di poter usufruire di una finestra panoramica - costruita con criteri ispirati a scelte qualitative - sui libri in commercio per infanzia, adolescenza e YA (young adults). Giunta alla sua diciassettesima edizione, verrà presentata con riferimento ad alcuni titoli significativi.

Set up in 2016, the Klaus Flugge Prize is ten years old. The prize is awarded annually to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s book illustration and is the only UK prize to recognise a published picture book by a debut illustrator. It honours venerable publisher Klaus Flugge, a supremely influential figure in picture books and founder of publishing house Andersen Press. On its tenth birthday, co-founder Julia Eccleshare will celebrate the award’s achievement in highlighting new picture book illustration and initiating conversations around the art form. She will be joined by long-time supporter of the award, Pam Dix, who will lead a discussion with illustrators Mariajo Ilustrajo, 2023 Klaus Flugge Prize winner with Flooded, and Petr Horáček, 2024 Klaus Flugge Prize judge, about contemporary children’s picture book illustration and future challenges and opportunities for new illustrators.

Tante storie surreali e divertentissime per ridere insieme alla famiglia più buffa del mondo, e per buttare – appunto – un occhio sui giochi che si possono fare con i modi di dire e la nostra lingua. Un inno d'amore alle parole e alla letteratura da due degli scrittori più amati e più divertenti di questi anni.

The event will include readings from Tamer’s latest publication I Will not Write Poetry and Other Texts, which is the third book in the Children of the Sea and Groves series. The series captures the experiences of Palestinian children during times of war. It began with Children of the Sea Memoirs in 2014, followed by What Becomes of Eid? in 2022, and today we present readings from the third book, I Will Not Write Poetry and Other Texts in 2025. These texts were written by children in Gaza during the first half of 2024. We are presenting a reading of selected texts today, in 2025, after the war has ended, as a living testament to the genocide and as a message to the world that politics, journalism, or war cannot convey.

This energetic session will feature a panel of contemporary writers and illustrators as they delve into the world of writing children's books. Explore trends, tackle challenges, and uncover opportunities. It will also highlight how creative minds collaborate to craft captivating stories and provide insights on breaking into this competitive landscape. Hosted by Julia Eccleshare, this session is a must-see event for all publishers and artists wishing to engage in a creative exchange of ideas.

Japan is one of the picture book kingdoms where books for babies reign. Every year, more than 200 - 300 new titles are published. We will trace the history of baby books in Japan starting from the million sellers published in the 60s up to some of the recent experimental titles, and analyze their unique representations that continue to fascinate both babies and adults.

In this wide-ranging conversation, museum professions from three continents will offer an inside look at three innovative museums - the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the Itabashi Art Museum, and the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration - where children's book art takes center stage.

The last several years have seen resurgence in publication of nonfiction for younger readers, fueled by innovation in design, art, and narrative approaches. The interest young people are showing in pressing issues, such as climate change, as well as the flood of false and misleading information, gives new life and urgency to books encouraging readers to question received knowledge. Yet, nonfiction remains the elusive child in the family of children’s literature; we barely hear discussions around nonfiction and nonfiction creators in both academic spaces and major awards events. Through this panel, we would like to dig into the reasons behind this (mis)treatment. Why do the genre and its creators remain in the shadows? Why is nonfiction so rarely associated with the pleasure of reading?

Children's Literature Laureates from seven countries in conversation

Militanza, libertà, rigore, leggerezza. Dalle parole dei romanzi alla sua lectio magistralis Liberi tutti del 2024, un dialogo a due voci per ricordare una grande scrittrice, prima socia onoraria Icwa.

A special event with two acclaimed picture book author-illustrators: Rocio Bonilla and Erika De Pieri. Together, they will explore how their stories transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, fostering connections that go beyond prejudice and conflict. A journey to discover how their books preserve the essence and innocence of childhood, allowing young readers to travel the world through the magic of storytelling.

For over 20 years Mo Willems has been a leading force in children's publishing, authoring more than 70 books to date—50 of which have become New York Times bestsellers. His work continues to inspire generations of writers and illustrators worldwide. In this lively discussion with his longtime editor, Tracey Keevan, Mo will share insights from his upcoming book, Words and Pictures by Mo Willems, offering a personal look at his creative journey, career milestones, and secrets behind his successful work. Known for his engaging and spontaneous speaking style, attendees will get a unique glimpse into Mo’s creative process and storytelling philosophy.

How to reinterpret a classic? Creating a new aesthetic, a new imagery, means being able to see a classic through the eyes of one's own history, experience and personality. The search for a resonance between oneself and the words and main concepts of the story creates new and unexpected paths, gives new life to a story and helps us connecting to the world and to ourselves.