XIV NATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL
/ SLIVEN, MAY 9-11, 2012/
First day
Sliven hosted the only one in Bulgaria National Children's Book Festival for the fourteenth year in a row from 9 to 11 May 2012. The festival is organized by “Sava Dobroplodni” Regional Library – Sliven, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Municipality of Sliven, Regional Administration - Sliven, the largest children's publishing houses etc. Famous children's authors, illustrators, scientists, educators and librarians from Bulgaria and Italy, Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ukraine, working on problems of children's literature and children's reading, and many children were guests of the festival. Among the guests were: Richard Damstra - cultural attaché at the Embassy of the USA - Sofia, Rossen Ivanov - Chairman of the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, parliamentarians, representatives of the Ministry of Culture, and sponsors.
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 ensembles “Sea sands” from Burgas, “Slaveyche” and “Ritamcheta”, dancers from dance sport club „Sliven”, the ballet formation “Barbie” at the military garrison club – Sliven and majorettes from „Seliminski silhouettes” took part in the concert. The Hymn of the Festival /lyrics by Petya Alexandrova and music by Haygashot Agasyan/ was performed traditionally. The Festival was officially opened by Eng. Kolyo Milev – Mayor of Sliven Municipality and a chairman of the Organizing committee of the Festival.
A fun game with many prizes “Tell me your favorite poem!” was held from 11.30 a.m. in the open stage built on the main street near the old elm tree and the organized especially for the festival bazaar of books for children. An actor-animator and children's vocal group “Sea Sands” from Burgas entertained the audience. And as in any game, each participant received a gift –a small souvenir from the festival. The newest books of the publishing houses “Fiut”, “Pan”, “Egmont Bulgaria”,” Posoki”, “Damyan Yakov”, “Persei” , “Zahari Stoyanov”, “Janet 45”, and “Pan theater” were presented on the book bazaar and great discounts were offered to the buyers.
Along with the numerous events in the days of the National Children's Book Festival a round table discussing matters concerning children's books and children's reading was traditionally organized. The scientific forum with international participation this year interpreted the theme “Taboos in children’s literature”. It was opened by the governor Mr. Marin Kavrakov on May 9th in 1.30 p.m. in the regional library’s Conference Hall and continued on the next day too. With their reports and presentations in the forum took part associate professor Dr Petar Stefanov /Veliko Tarnovo University/, associated professor Dr. Vihren Chernokozhev /Institute of literature-BAS/, Rózsa Villányi / Csorba Győző City library of Pecs, Hungary/, Shimo Esic /Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina/, associate professor Dr. Mladen Enchev / University of Shumen Episkop Konstantin Preslavski/, Teaching assistant, Dr. Radostina Neykova / NATFA „Krastyo Sarafov”/, Mila Vasov /Nish, Serbia/, Vesela Flamburari, Dushan Dzhurdzhev /Novi Sad, Serbia/, professor Susanna Barsotti /Cagliari, Italy/, Mira Tasich / Nish, Serbia /, Rositsa Chernokozheva / Institute of literature-BAS/, professor Doctor Of Pedagogy Nelly Ivanova /Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”/, and Mladen Sarbinovski /Skopje, Macedonia/.
Many premieres of children's books and meetings with writers and puppet performances were included in the festival’s program.
The premiere of Vesela Flamburari’s book „A Night in May with the fairy - Kandilka” was held in 11.30 a.m. in the chamber hall of “Stefan Kirov” Drama Theater.
The poetesses Lilyana Stefanova and Angelina Zhekova held “A troubadour sword-play at the foot of the Blue Stones” reading their poems from 1.30 to 2.30 p.m. in the chamber hall of the theatre.
There was another premiere of Victor Samuilov’s book “Across Nine Pools in the Tenth” in 2.30 p.m. in the chamber hall in which second-graders from II primary school “Hristo Botev” - Sliven took part.
From 3.30 p.m. again in the chamber hall there was a premiere of Petya Alexandrova’s book “A Little Child who lost His Key”.
The exhibition “Svetoslav Milev – sculptures” was opened in 4:30 p.m. in “Sava Dobroplodni” regional library. There were more than 30 sculptures arranged in the project “The Faith”. The project is a plastic interpretation of the Holly Bible, made by stone and metal. It is homage by the artist to God and his honor to the past, a bitter reflection of the present, enlightenment and hope for the future.
The exhibition “Theatre puppets of favorite literary characters” was opened in 5:00 p.m. in “May” Hall. The winners in the First National Competition for making theater puppets were awarded during the event. The prizes of the winners in the competition were handed in by the Mayor of Sliven Eng. Kolyo Milev.
A fun games with prizes “Tell me your favorite poem!” was organized for children on the open stage on “Tsar Osvoboditel” boulevard in 5:30 p.m.
The young singers from the Club for young pop and rock artists “Rhythm” - Sliven sang their newest songs to entertain the audience.
