Since 1967, the Bologna Children's Book Fair has been the most prominent international illustration and children's book event. Recently, the event was held live for the first time in two years, between March 21 and 24. The Illustrators Exhibition, in particular, attracted 3873 participants from 92 countries, and 78 illustrators from 29 countries were selected as finalists.
One of the finalists is Yi-Wen Huang (黃一文, also written as 黃薏文) from Taiwan, who was also a winner of the Kaohsiung Public Library (KPL) Picture Books Sprouting Awards. In addition to the Bologna Children's Book Fair, her artworks will also be displayed in Japan, Korea, and China during a scheduled two-year tour.
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair has always held a high-standing reputation within the art community. Taiwan, in turn, has made a mark in the event thanks to talented illustrators such as Yi-Wen Huang and Chang Hsiao-chi (張筱琦). Both artists previously attained the KPL Picture Books Sprouting Awards, which is part of a program meant to support and cultivate the talents of artistic individuals.
Huang’s submission to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair came in the form of her picture book. The book, titled Secret in the Zoo, had previously won her the First KPL Picture Books Sprouting Awards back in 2020. The Picture Books Sprouting Awards program also helped Huang publish her picture book in October 2021. With brilliant colors, collage-styled artwork, and creative lining, Secret in the Zoo follows a little boy as he journeys through a magical, fantastical zoo.
Chang Hsiao-chi, a picture book author, is another recipient of the 2020 KPL Picture Books Sprouting Awards. She participated in the Bologna Children's Book Fair twice in 2020 and 2021. Both times, Chang Hsiao-chi emerged as a finalist with her picture book "Waiting and I Preferred Not to Open My Eyes." We can see that many emerging artists in Taiwan have brought plenty of new ideas to the picture book industry through their unique and refreshing styles.
The Kaohsiung Public Library also thanks Tien Wei / Hsiao Lu Publishing Company and Yuan-Liou Publishing Co., Ltd for their help in publishing the works created by the winners of the Picture Books Sprouting Award. Thanks to their efforts, these excellent picture books managed to enter an international platform.
"The Kaohsiung Public Library promotes the Picture Books Sprouting Support Program for picture book creators. The program provides every artist with a 200.000 NTD support fund to finish their original work without any worry. Aside from guaranteed publication, there’s also a maximum subsidy of 100.000 NTD for book purchase post-publication,” states Director Wen-Tsui Wang (王文翠) of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Kaohsiung City Government.
"Now, the works that this program supported in the past has received international acknowledgment. It makes me believe, more than ever before, that we must continue supporting creators. I look forward to seeing more original works from Taiwan leave their marks throughout the world."
Citizens may also take a look at the picture books of the Bologna Illustration Exhibition's finalists by heading to the Center for International Picture Books on the B1 floor of the Kaohsiung Main Public Library or any of the Kaohsiung Public Library branches throughout the city.
As part of an international exchange program, KPL has also sent three picture books – namely Secret in the Zoo, Will Arrive Anyway, and Let’s Play Together in the Mud – as gifts to nine libraries located in Japan. These libraries are the International Library of Children's Literature, such as Itabashi Bologna Children's Book Hall, Tokyo Children's Library, and Komatsu Picture Book Library for Children.
KPL has also planned another international book exchange with the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany. KPL hopes that these exchanges will work to introduce Taiwan's original picture books to more international readers.
The Bologna Children's Book Fair and Illustrators Exhibition held in Taiwan this year was centralized around the theme Beyond Books, Stories Ahead. Yi-Wen Huang and Chang Hsiao-chi both attended the event.
Aside from the Picture Books Sprouting Awards, KPL also holds other events, such as Picture Books Salon and Creating Picture Books Class, to encourage readers and spark their interest in the world of picture book creation.
"When it comes to picture book creation, KPL has always supported the idea of cultivating domestic talents to encourage more international growth. We'll be announcing the admission procedure for the second KPL Picture Books Sprouting Awards in June this year and will be open for artwork submission in August. Any reader interested in picture books definitely wouldn't want to miss it!" said Acting Director Yi-Cheng Lin (林奕成) of the Kaohsiung Public Library.
Yi-Wen Huang and Chang Hsiao-chi, winners of the KPL Picture Books Sprouting Awards, became finalists in the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition for two consecutive years.
Secret in the Zoo, Will Arrive Anyway, and Let’s Play Together in the Mud won the first KPL Picture Books Sprouting Awards. All three books have been successfully published in 2021 and bore excellent results post-publication.
Yi-Wen Huang showed her original picture book, Secret of the Zoo, during the Picture Books Sprouting Program Special Exhibition.
Original works from the KPL Picture Books Sprouting Awards were displayed in Sapporo Municipal Library in Japan.
WebSite:https://www.ksml.edu.tw/LibNews/Details.aspx?Parse..
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- Updated2022-04-06 PM 02:56:11