XIII NATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL

/slivEN, MAY 9-11, 2011/

Under the aegis of the Minister of Culture Mr. Vezhdi Rashidov

 First day /9.05.2011/

Sliven hosted the only one in Bulgaria National Children's Book Festival for the thirteenth year in a row from 9 to 11 May 2011. The festival is organized by “Sava Dobroplodni” Regional Library – Sliven, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Municipality of Sliven, Regional Administration - Sliven, SABA, the largest children's publishing houses etc. Famous children's authors, illustrators, scientists, educators and librarians from Bulgaria and Italy, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, working on problems of children's literature and children's reading, and many children were guests of the festival.

The event was opened with a concert performance on May 9 from 10.00 in the festive decorated Lounge of "Stefan Kirov" Drama Theatre - Sliven. Children's vocal ensemble “Slaveyche” and “Ritamcheta”, young singers from the Club for young pop and rock artists “Rhythm” from the Children's Complex- Sliven, dance couples from dance sport club “Tuida” and the youngest ballet formation “Barbie” at the military garrison club – Sliven took part in the concert. The Hymn of the Festival /lyrics by Petya Alexandrova and music Haygashot Agasyan/ was played traditionally. Official start of the festival was given by Igor Chipev - Director of “Literary heritage” department at the Ministry of Culture.

A fun game with many prizes “Tell me your favorite poem” was held from 11.00 pm in the open stage bult on the main street near the old elm tree and the organized especially for the festival bazaar of books for children. The good mood of the audience was created by an actor-animator and children's vocal group “Karavel” from "G. Karavelov” secondary school – the town of Shivachevo. And as in any game, each participant brought a gift souvenir from the festival.

From 11.00 to 12.00 a.m. in the chamber hall of "Stefan Kirov" drama theatre in a Trubadour duel under the Blue stones "dueled" with poems the poets Petya Alexandrova and Nikolai Milchev. On stage Plamen Yordanov by the Club for young pop and rock artists „Rhythm” opened the game singing the “Song of the Musketeers”.

An exhibition - pictures of one of the most prominent contemporary Bulgarian illustrators - Clear Ghiuselev was opened in "Sirak Skitnik" art gallery in 11.30 a.m. The exhibition included 11 assembled and 67 separate panels, presenting the illustrations from the books "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carroll, “Pinocchio” by Carlo Collodi, “The Queen of Spades” by Pushkin, “Don Quixote” by Cervantes, "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens, fairytales by the Brothers Grimm, Oscar Wilde and John Ruskin; myths like Arthur and Excalibur and Orpheus and Eurydice; stories about the lives of personalities like Socrates or Michelangelo; tarot cards and more. The exhibition can be visited until 13 May.

 Yasen Gyuzelev was born in 1964 in Sofia. In 1983 he graduated from the Art High School and in 1990 – National Academy of Arts - Sofia. His art is characterized by brilliant technique, inspired by the Renaissance, the good schools of realism of the 19th century, from the pre-Rafaelites to the Succession. At the same time, his works are modern in their conception of design and point of view, in a game between light and dark. The characteristic play on perspective calls to mind the art of Escher.

 Book illustrations present almost entirely his creative searches. Through them he recreates the atmosphere of the era, emotions, layering of senses and meanings.

Yasen Gyuzelev works for publishing houses in Canada, England, Germany and Taiwan. He worked for various publishers and magazines in Milan, Turin and Florence in Italy.

He has received numerous awards and honors: “Bronze Lion” by the Association of Bulgarian Book for a unique edition (for "Alice in Wonderland”) / 2010 /; National Award "Hr. G. Danov” – for the best-illustrated book for 2010 (for "Alice in Wonderland”) / 2010 /; Silver Medal from the Association of Illustrators - New York, USA /2004/; Luchs, prize from Radio Bremen and Die Zeit - for "Don Quixote" /2003/; Award of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, USA /2002 2004/; Best Book by the independent publishers, USA /2002/; Diploma from “The Golden Pencil” - Belgrade, Serbia /2001/; Luchs, an award from Radio Bremen and Die Zeit – for "Alice in Wonderland” /2000/; Buchkunst foundation, Germany /1997/; '94 illustrators of the year award, Bologna, Italy /1994/ etc.

Along with the numerous events in the days of the National Children's Book Festival a round table dedicated to the children's books and children's reading was traditionally organized. The scientific forum this year was dedicated to children’s illustration. The round table discussion with international participation on theme "Development of children's illustration and its impact on children's reading” was held in the conference hall of the regional library. It was opened on May 9^th at 1.30 p.m. and continued on the next day too. With their reports and presentations in the forum took part associate professor Dr. Lachezar Georgiev /Veliko Tarnovo University/, Deshka Deneva /“P Slaveikov" regional library-Veliko Tarnovo/, associated professor Dr. Vihren Chernokozhev /Institute of literature-BAS/, associate professor Dr. Petar Stefanov /Veliko Tarnovo University/, associate professor Doctor Of Pedagogy Nelly Ivanova /Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”/, associate professor Regina Dalkalacheva /NAA – Sofia/, Dr. Radostina Neykova /National Academy “Krastyo Sarafov”/, Petya Alexandrova - poet, professor Suzana Barsoti /University of Cagliari-Italy/, Agnezh Balazs /Center for Knowledge-Pecs, Hungary/, Dusan Dzhurdzhev /Novi Sad, Serbia/, Mila Vasov /Nish, Serbia/, Shimo Esic /Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina/ and Sasha Lukovich-Vasilevich /Nish, Serbia/.

Within this year's National Festival of Children's Book two of the largest children's publishing houses - “Egmont Bulgaria” and “Hermes”- celebrated 20 years since their establishment.

“Hermes” Publishing celebrated its anniversary with several events. On the first day of the festival from 12.30 in the chamber hall of the "Stefan Kirov" drama theatre were presented editions of the series "Golden Feather" which has been published for 15 years. The series included books on the classics of Bulgarian children's literature, as well as works by famous contemporary Bulgarian authors. Their number is more than 60. There was a premiere of the latest book in the series - "The Parrot Bravo” by Georgi Konstantinov.

In the festival’s program were included many premieres of children's books and meetings with writers.

From 1.30 p.m. in the chamber hall of the theater was held the premiere of “The Hedgehog Cherry” by Kina Kadreva. Students of the second class of II elementary school "Hristo Botev"-Sliven took part with a dramatization of their favorite moments from the book.

From 2.30 p.m., again in the chamber hall of the theater, another premiere – of the books “Fairy tales, Fairy tales” and “Christmas Tales” by Vesela Flamburari was held.

On the first day of the festival by a gala concert was celebrated also the 55th anniversary of “Sava Dobroplodni” regional library. The concert was held from 5.00 p.m. in the Great Hall of "Stefan Kirov" drama theatre. By a kind of a virtual tour the most important moments in the history of the library, its achievements, realized major library and cultural projects were presented, well-deserved thanks to all librarians and staff working for its success were given too. In the program were included performances by vocal group "5 Seasons" with leader Stephane Diomov, the string quartet "Mystique"-Plovdiv, the prima ballerina of the Burgas Opera Galina Kalcheva and the ballet dancer Stoyan Fortunov and the young opera singer from Australia Mark Fowler.