Slovenia as Guest of Honour at the 2023 Frankfurt Book Fair
The 75th Frankfurt Book Fair starts on 18 October 2023! In the scope of the Frankfurt Book Fair Guest of Honour programme dedicated to Slovenia, many interesting events, exhibitions and workshops will take place. IBBY congratulates its Slovenian National Section on their active role as collaborator in many of the events!
To help you plan your own personal programme, we have selected some highlights for you:
- Exhibition: Slovenian Illustration – An Unexpected Abundance
The exhibition will highlight works by ten award-winning authors, supplemented by the works of 32 authors from a broader selection, and is accompanied by a catalogue of 66 authors that showcases the creative vitality and the variety of creative styles of contemporary Slovenian illustration.
- Panel: How to Recognise and Promote the Best Contemporary Children's Literature?
18 October 2023, 15:00 - 15:45, at the Guest of Honour Pavilion Slovenia – Srečko Kosovel Stage
This session will discuss how to help parents and children navigate the huge sea of new books published yearly for children. The panel will count with the participation of well-known IBBY members, including Doris Breitmoser (IBBY Vice-President) and Liz Page (President of the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury) as participants, and Tina Bilban (member of the IBBY EC and President of IBBY Slovenia) as moderator.
- Panel: From a Curious Brood to a Buzzing Hive of Readers: The Magic Touch of Reading Promoters
18 October 2023, 12:00, at the Guest of Honour Pavilion Slovenia – Srečko Kosovel Stage
The panel will discuss the role of reading promotors in the contemporary media landscape by exploring national reading campaigns and the role of children's literature laureates in such campaigns.
- Workshop: Why? / Warum? – Reading and painting workshop for children with breakfast for parents
21 October 2023, 11:00 - 14:00, at the Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm
In this workshop, renowned Slovenian author and illustrator Lila Prap invites young and old on an exciting journey into the world of her popular Why? picture book series. After a storytelling session in which Lila Prap reads from her book, children can be inspired by her whimsical illustrations and take up their own pencils while adults enjoy a breakfast.
- Reading and workshop: Robbie the Lion
14 October 2023, 11:00, at the Struwwelpeter-Museum
Reading and workshop with the Slovenian author and illustrator Manica Musil for her picture book Robbie, the Lion for children over 4.
- Reading: There Lives a Girl Near Us
21 October 2023, 11:00, at the Struwwelpeter-Museum
Storytelling for children over 4 years old with Ida Mlakar.
- Reading and workshop: Adam and His Tuba
22 October 2023, 11:00, at the Struwwelpeter-Museum
Žiga X Gombač, Slovenian author, reads from his new picture book, and illustrator Maja Kastelic will show how you can craft your own tuba.
The Frankfurt Book Fair Guest of Honour programme dedicated to Slovenia will also enhance the Ljubljana Manifesto message with a two-day professional programme, in which experts from around the world will discuss the attention crisis, the spread of English reading in continental Europe, writing and AI, and innovativeness in markets with small returns.