International Book Saloon for Children and Youth inaugurated in Moldovan capital

Chisinau, 11 April /MOLDPRES/ - The 23rd issue of the International Book Saloon for Children and Youth, due in Moldova on 11-14 April, was inaugurated at the Chisinau-based Moldexpo Exhibition Centre today. One hundred publishing houses and book distributors from eight countries: Moldova, Romania, China, France, Germany, Poland, Turkey and Ukraine, participate in the 2019 issue of the event.   

Contacted by MOLDPRES, the state general secretary at the Education, Culture and Research Ministry, Igor Sarov, has said that the International Book Saloon for Children and Youth was one of the principal events of the year in the Bessarabian cultural picture dedicated especially to books. “This is one of the two events: one in spring (International Book Saloon for Children and Youth) and another one in autumn – Bookfest, which has already become a tradition for Moldova. This year, we have participants from eight countries; the interest of sponsors and of those who are by the side of the traditional organizers has been extended. I am happy with the presence here of culture people of merit, of writers and editors, as well as of readers. I invite everybody to buy good books, which are to make children happy,” the official said.     

For his part, the head of the Moldovan Writers’ Union, Arcadie Suceveanu, said that one of the significances of the Saloon was the union of the Romanian spirituality. “More far-reaching cultural actions will take place within the Saloon. In fact, the Saloon has become a cultural symbol of Chisinau long ago,” Arcadie Suceveanu stressed.  

In the context, the director of the Ion Creanga National Library for Children, chief of Moldova’s national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Eugenia Bejan said that the saloon offered diverse possibilities to visitors to know more publishing houses of Moldova and from abroad, to learn about new important book titles, to participate in discussions and meetings with readers, in creation workshops, contests, professional meetings, in order to buy books at low prices.  

”During the Saloon, about 60 book titles will be launched. The launches will take place in the Pavilion 3 of Moldexpo, at the Prometeu-Prim lyceum, National Library of Moldova, Chisinau-based B.P. Hasdeu Municipal Library. Besides the stands of publishing houses and book distributors, people will be able to visit an exhibition titled, Library – Bridge of Access to Knowledge, dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Ion Creanga National Library for Children and an art exhibition titled, Rainbow of Childhood, of children from the ARTICO Republican Centre for Children and Youth,” Eugenia Bejan noted. 

A writer from Iasi, Romania, Daniel Corbu said that he was visiting the Saloon for the 14th time. Corbu said that, this time, he had brought all poetry by poet Mihai Eminescu, as well as books signed by writers Grigore Vieru, Iulian Filip, Valeriu Matei, Aurelian Silvestru, Ianos Turcanu and other contemporary Bessarabian writers. In the context, the director of the Chisinau-based Mihai Eminescu Romanian Cultural Institute, Valeriu Matei, said that the institution he leads was financially backing, for the seventh year in a row, more publishing houses from Romania, which attend the event. Matei added that the Institute would award the three principal prizes of the Saloon.     

After the Saloon’s inauguration, a special event took place within a programme titled, Listen to My Favourite Story. U.S. Ambassador to Moldova Dereck J. Hogan read to children a story by Dr Seuss, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, and discussed with them the role of this book in his life.   

The event was organized by the national section of Moldova at the International Board on Books for Young People, Education, Culture and Research Ministry, Ion Creanga National Library for Children, Editors’ Union of Moldova, Moldovan Writers’ Union, Chisinau city hall, Moldova’s National Commission for UNESCO and other culture institutions. The Saloon will end with the awarding of prizes on 14 April.