Bologna Children’s Book Fair partnered with IBBY Italia and Accademia Drosselmeier in preparing for the 39th International IBBY- International Board on Books for Young People Congress, entitled “JOIN THE REVOLUTION! Giving Every Child Good Books”. To mark the occasion, an international contest was launched inviting illustrators, graphic designers and creatives to submit a poster encapsulating the theme of the Congress.
Curated by Ibby Italia, the Congress took place in Trieste from 30 August to 1 September 2024. All 82 National IBBY Sections in the world attended, along with scholars, reading promoters, teachers, librarians, and publishers to look at the event’s major theme: reviving interest in the promotion of reading worldwide.
Italian artist Alessandro Sanna illustrated the inaugural poster for the International IBBY Congress. The poster promoted the event worldwide for over two years and attracted attention from the global community.
Italian artist Lucio Schiavon designed the poster for this contest.
The winning posters of the contest were a collective international celebration of the right of all the world’s children to access quality books. The winning poster is by Emma Lidia Squillari.
"With their close association to children’s books, we know of posters’ vital role in communication. They have been widely used at IBBY congresses and events like the historic Children’s Book Week and the more recent Every Child a Reader.
A powerful medium, posters have been used for propaganda, and as expressions of freedom or critique. They are also a highly important communication channel for the promotion of reading. Over the next two years, in the run-up to the next Congress in Ottawa, these posters will be available for schools, libraries, and bookstores to value and display them on their walls, extending Ibby’s message to a broader community." (Grazia Gotti, Accademia Drosselmeier - Elena Pasoli, Bologna Children’s Book Fair)
To distribute one or more posters, IBBY national offices should request a high-resolution PDF by email from IbbyItalia@gmail.com.