The inaugural Taiwan International Children and Youth Book Fair will be staged Sept. 18-21 in Taichung City to promote reading among the country’s younger generations, according to the Ministry of Culture.
During a press event Aug. 19 in the central Taiwan city, Deputy MOC Minister Lee Ching-hwi said the event is inspired by the success of similar events in Italy, South Korea and the Czech Republic. It is planned to take place at a different location every year.
The annual Taipei International Book Exhibition is one of the most important cultural events in Taiwan, and staging a touring book fair is expected to help promote reading in cities throughout the country, Lee said, adding that Taichung is the perfect choice to kick off the event as it is also the location of the planned National Taiwan Museum of Comics.
Themed “Crossing Cities, Reading Without Borders,” the exhibition will feature a theme city pavilion to showcase work by the Taichung City Government to encourage reading. There will also be dedicated children’s, civic engagement, comics, illustrated and literary sections, as well as the Italy pavilion from the 2025 TIBE.
The first edition of the book fair will also offer handicraft workshops, immersive and interactive exhibitions, reading events and sales promotions, as well as forums involving bookstore operators, event curators, illustration artists, publishers, translators and writers from Taiwan, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Ukraine and the U.K. to share their experiences with audiences. (SFC-E)
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