The 18th International Children’s and Youth Book Fair is taking place at the International Exhibitions Center “Moldexpo” on April 3-6. The event brought together over 150 publishing houses from nine countries.

Contacted by IPN, director of the National Children’s Library “Ion Creanga” Claudia Balaban said the visitors will be able to familiarize themselves with books issued by publishing houses from the country and abroad, to take part in discussions and meetings with writers, workshops, contests, and in professional meetings and to buy books at lower prices.

At this year’s event, Nicolae Dabija’s book “Slivers of Sky” will be offered gratis to the first 15,000 children visiting the fair. Under the regulations, the surprise-book is signed by the author who won the Book of the Year Prize in the previous fair. Claudia Balaban said this tradition, which is unique in the European area, appeared in the second fair.

As part of the conference “Romanian Book – a priority and conscience”, held within the fair at the Municipal Library “B. P. Hasdeu”, the public libraries of Moldova will receive a donation of 2,000 copies from the collection “Ion Creanga” Library, issued at the Iasi publishing house “Princeps Multimedia”.

The International Children’s and Youth Book Fair was launched in April 1997. Its goal is to support the printing and distribution of books for children and youth, to promote the book to a high artistic level and to support those who contribute to creating and publishing children’s books.