XV NATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL
/ SLIVEN, MAY 7-9, 2013/
First day
Sliven hosted the only one in Bulgaria National Children's Book Festival for the fifteenth year in a row from 7 to 9 May 2013. The festival is organized by "Sava Dobroplodni" Regional Library – Sliven, supported by Ministry of Culture, Municipality Sliven, Regional Administration - Sliven, the largest children's publishing houses etc. Famous children's authors, illustrators, scientists, educators and librarians from Bulgaria and from Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina working on the problems of children's literature and children's reading, and many children were guests of the festival.
The event was opened with a concert on May 7th at 10.00 a.m. in the decorated lobby of "Stefan Kirov" Drama Theatre - Sliven. Musicians from the violin ensemble "Anima" at National School of Music and Performing Arts "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov" - Burgas, children's choirs "Slaveytche" - Sliven, children's vocal ensembles "Rhythm" at the Children's Complex - Sliven, "Yan Bibian" at IInd elementary school "Hristo Botev" -Aitos, vocal workshop "Malechko Palechko" at Kindergarten "Prolet"- Aitos, dancers from ballet troupe "Barbie" at the Military Club - Sliven and the ballet troupe at the National School of Music and Performing Arts "Prof . Pancho Vladigerov"-Burgas 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.
At the open stage, built near the old elm and organized especially for the festival bazaar of children's books, started a fun game with prizes "Tell me your favorite poem" from 11.00 a.m. The young actors Natalie Gevrenova, Hristo Simeonov and performers from children’s choir "Yan Bibian" entertained the audience. And as it happens in games, each participant brought a souvenir from the festival.
An exhibition of illustrations of the artists Ralitza Manuilova, Spas Spasov, Oleg Topalov, Yasen Gyuzelev and Peter Stanimirov – winner of the National Award "Konstantin Konstantinov” in category" Illustrator" was opened in 11:30 a.m. in the Art Gallery "D. Dobrovich" on "Tsar Osvoboditel" boulevard.
Along with the many events in the days of the National Children's Book Festival a roundtable on the problems of children's books and children's reading was traditionally organized. This year's festival scientific forum with international participation was on theme "The festival – children, books, reading. Fifteen years National Children's Book Festival”. The round table discussion started on May 7th in 1.30 p.m. in the hall for events of the regional library and continued on the next day. Their reports and presentations on the forum read Petya Alexandrova, Vesela Flamburari, Mira Tasich, Nebojsa Vasich (Nish, Serbia), Shimo Ešić (Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina), Mila Vasov (Nish, Serbia), Ass. Prof. Dr. Dobrinka Stoykova, Jozsef Keresturi (Pécs, Hungary), Lily Spasova, Bozhana Apostolova, Ass. Prof. Vihren Chernokozhev, Ass. Prof. Dr. Radostina Neykova and Rositsa Chernokozheva.
The festival's program included premieres of many children's books, meetings with writers and puppet shows.
From 11.30 to 12.30 a.m. in the chamber hall of Drama Theatre "Stefan Kirov" in a "Troubadour duel under the Blue Stones" in a literary duel met the writers Petya Alexandrova and Vesela Flamburari.
From 1.30 p.m. in the chamber hall of Drama Theatre "Stefan Kirov" was presented the book "The Little dragon Polly" by Ekaterina Yosifova.
At 2.30 p.m. again in the chamber hall started the premiere of the books "Hello, Rada" and "Goodnight, Rada!" from the series "Secrets and magic on" 13 Rosemary Street" by Nelly Margaritova.
From 3.30 p.m. started the presentation of the series "Pokrivche - Bulgarian masters of speech" of "PAN" publishing house and the premiere of "Embroidered bag" by Shimon Ešić.
In 5.30 p.m. in "May" hall an exhibition "Theatre puppets of favorite literary heroes" was opened and a ceremony for rewarding the winners and participants in the II National Competition for making theater puppets of their favorite literary characters - Sliven, 2013 was held. The competition included 357 children and adolescents all over the country. They made 307 dolls and 27 of them won prizes. The winners were published on the Internet site of the festival http://childbookfest.iradeum.com.
A fun game with prizes "Please, tell me a story!" started in 5.00 p.m. on the open stage on "Tsar Osvoboditel" boulevard next to the book bazaar. Young singers from the Club for young pop and rock artists "Rhythm" at Children Complex-Sliven, dancers from Dance Sport Club "Sliven” entertained the audience. A workshop "Draw a carnival mask" with moderators students National High School of Arts "Dimitar Dobrovich" - Sliven was organized.
At 7.30 p.m. on a large open stage in front of Sliven Municipality started the concert "In a magical starry night" - dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the National Children's Book Festival. Vocal instrumental group "The Five Seasons", ballet "Avangard", Dimana Vesislavova, Dobrin Stoyanov and SlaveyaTsaneva from the Club for young pop and rock artists "Rhythm" – Sliven took part in the concert. Host of the concert was the actor Dimitar Kostadinov.
