IBBY-Yamada 2013: Venezuela

The course “How to create picture books” was organized by Banco del Libro in order to encourage the domestic production of quality children’s books in Venezuela. The course was directed at writers and illustrators and contained a both a theoretical part on children’s picture books in general and a practical part on the creation of picture books.

The theoretical sessions looked at innovative picture books produced in different countries and contrasted their themes, techniques and styles. They also examined the implications of using “simple narratives” to discuss complex issues.

Led by well-known Colombian writer-illustrator team of Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng, the second part of the programme allowed participants to work on their own storyboards and submit them for review by their peers and the instructors. By the end of the programme each participant had at least two fully developed children’s picture book proposals.