silent books. From the world to Lampedusa and back

The Italian section of IBBY is pleased to announce the launch of the international project called Silent Books. From the World to Lampedusa and Back, implemented in cooperation with Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome.
The project, planned and strongly supported by the members of the IBBY Rome branch of IBBY Italy, aims at highlighting the importance of the illustrated silent books as powerful tools to cross linguistic, geographic and cultural boundaries. After putting together a collection of the best illustrated silent books that have been published around the world, the project will go hand-in-hand with a biennial travelling exhibition that will promote the selected books and the formation of a public library in Lampedusa, an island in the Mediterranean that accepts thousands of immigrants every year, including many children.

Activities
> the creation of a library for children on the island of Lampedusa, as a way of helping and supporting both the island's own children and the children arriving at the Centre for First Aid and Reception
> the creation of a two-year international selection of silent books based on the proposals submitted by the IBBY national sections. The selection and collection of silent books from all over the world aims at creating a travelling documentary exhibition divided into two broad sections (Historical collection and New titles). A jury of experts will select the books from the submissions received by IBBY National Sections. For more information and application forms, please contact IBBY Italia at: ibbyitalia@gmail.com
> the creation of a historic archive of silent books that will be hosted in the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome and will be open to teachers, as well as to researchers, scholars and general public

Steps
> the project will be launched at Salon du Livre de Montreuil (France) friday, November the 30th, 2012 at 3 pm
> the project will be presented in Rome at Più Libri - Più liberi Fair, Friday, December the 7th, 2012 at 4 pm
> the international bibliographical selection will be presented in March 2013, during the Bologna Children's Books Fair (25 - 28 March 2013)
> the travelling exhibition will be inaugurated in May 2013 at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome
> IBBY Camp Lampedusa 1st edition, 22nd-29th June 2013
> IBBY Camp Lampedusa 2nd edition,15th-22nd November 2013