International Children's and Youth Literature

The International Youth and Children’s Literature (YCL) programme section feels a sense of duty to present lectures and narrations that provoke marvel, and readings and writings that animate. The aim is to open up children’s and young people’s cosmos of the imagination, and to show them the joys of the written word, conveying a rapture for reading, all in support of their linguistic and cultural socialisation. In collective readings, discussions and (self) testing, children and youths should further their reading competence and their ability to perform and train up their concentration. They should also learn to become more aware of both their self-perception and of how others see them, and to recognize texts as “quarries”, in which they can find stories, ideas, dreams, identifications and possibilities for action in their own lives.

During the annual international literaturfestival berlin, fifteen international authors and illustrators present their children’s and youth books, in the YCL branch of the programme. The literature presented appeals to many age groups and reflects on the lives of children and youths through different artistic perspectives. The programme aspires to present a representative literary cross-section of high quality children’s and youth literature from different continents and differing languages, from picture books, to children and youth books, to literature for young adults. 

The event list is designed for schoolchildren, who attend – as a class with their teachers – the readings, work shops and projects in theatres, schools and libraries events. Additionally, the festival offers the opportunity to meet many writers, participate in workshops and further events for children, teens and families to spend their leisure time.

>>> If you would like to learn more about ideas and concepts, author selection and curatorship, or events and cooperations of the International Youth and Children’s Literature programme, please refer to the following PDF document.