The World Through Picture Books

The aim of The World Through Picture Books programme is to create an annotated list of picture books from around the world, recommended by librarians. The programme is led by IFLA Libraries for Children and Young Adults Section. ILA is the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. 

The publication of the World Through Picture Books was first published in 2012. The first edition of favourite books from 30 countries. The 2012 first edition was replaced by an expanded second edition in 2015. The pandemic created challenges for the participation of many countries and the new third has just been released. The third edition features the lists of the favourite picture books from 57 countries, in 37 languages and includes 530 books. It is a wonderful achievement by all involved and a list well worth exploring.  Here is a link to the new catalogue.

Aims of the Programme

To create selections of picture books from around the world that have been recommended by librarians and which can then be used:

• As a way of celebrating and promoting the languages, cultures, and quality of children’ publishing around the world.
• By countries wishing to purchase books from other countries and looking for ‘favourite’ titles

Criteria for Book Selection

Each country was asked to submit ten picture book titles that:

• Are suitable for ages 0-18.
• Include books that have stood the test of time and are, or may become a ‘classic,’ representing excellence in publishing by the country submitting them.
• Have been published in the country of representation.
• Are in the original language of publication.
• Are of good quality, a high standard of publishing and are excellent for reading aloud to and with children.
• Have text and illustrations that complement each other, although wordless books are not excluded.
• Reflect a positive message.
• Are still in print and able to be purchased

Take a look at the catalogue for ideas about how to use the travelling exhibition. There is no charge to borrow these collections but each country wishing to borrow them will be responsible for costs of

transportation, insurance, and security.

Here are some of the featured texts in English and nearly all of them are titles I have talked about here on this blog so you can just pop any title in my search bar if it sounds interesting.

Australia

• Window by Jeannie Baker
• Why I love Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft
• Animalia by Graeme Base
• Bear and Rat by Chris Cheng illustrated by Steven Michael King
• My Two Blankets by Irena Kobold illustrated by Freya Blackwood
• Are we there yet? by Alison Lester
• The Rabbits by John Marsden illustrated by Shaun Tan
• Ella and the Ocean by Lian Tanner illustrated by Jonathan Bentley
• Sorry Day by Coral Vass illustrated by Dub Leffler
• Mr Huff by Anna Walker

Canada (a selection)

• On the Trapline illustrated by Julie Flett
• Town is by Sea illustrated by Sydney Smith
• When I found grandma illustrated by Qin Leng
• Up the Mountain Path by Marianne Dubuc
• The Great Antonio by Elise Gravel

New Zealand (a selection)

• Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd
• A Lion in the Meadow by Margaret Mahy

United Kingdom (a selection)

• The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
• Luna loves library day by Joseph Coelho
• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson illustrated by Axel Sheffler
• The Tiger who came to tea by Judith Kerr
• Elmer by David McKee
• My name is not Refugee by Kate Milner
• We're going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
• You're snug with me by Chitra Soundar illustrated by Poonam Mistry

United States (a selection)

• The day you began by Jacqueline Woodson illustrated by Rafael López
• Last stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña illustrated by Christian Robinson
• Thank you, Omu! by Oge Mora
• We all play by Julie Flett
• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen illustrated by John Schoenherr

I was so pleased to see The Ribbon from France - a book I saw at an exhibition of Silent books here in Sydney a few years ago.

 Each page interacts with a yellow ribbon attached to the cover. The images and the ribbon complement each other in a meaningful way. In this scheme, the ribbon turns out to be the tongue of a snake, the tea

dripping from the teapot, or the sawed-off bar of a prison cell suggesting an escape.

The French list also includes On a Magical do Nothing Day by Beatrice Alemagna

The list from Germany includes Two for me One for You by Jörg Mühle

The Italian list includes Professional Crocodile illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio

The list from Korea includes Waiting for Mama illustrated by Dong Sung Kim and Wave by Suzy Lee

Netherlands (hooray) Frog is Frog by Max Velthuijs

Slovenia Every little Kindness by Marta Bartolj 

One of my favourite illustrators from Ukraine Kost Lavro has a book on the list too.