This weekend will give you a chance to participate in the first-ever edition of the Children’s Book Fair, taking place at Tirana’s New Bazaar. Fourteen publishing houses dedicated entirely to children’s literature have come together to showcase all the new and classic titles that young ones can choose from. Books can be the best and most rewarding companions for children, accompanying them for the entire summer, so here’s what you can expect.
On site, heaps of curious younglings approach the book stands, which are also offering great sales.
“There are around 14 publishing houses that are participating in this book fair, including one from Kosovo. There are sales across all the book stands, which is why I extend my invitation to all those wishing to pick up a book for their children,” – said Anisa Ymeri, event organizer.
Publishers have also decided to include several titles dedicated specifically to parents, amongst all the children’s books.
“Some publishers have also made a smart choice, by including several recommendations for parents too,” – added Ymeri.
Sokol Demaku has traveled all the way from Sweden in order to be present in this book fair, because he is one of the only ones bringing Swedish children’s literature to the Albanian public.
“I have brought with me two books this time, that deal with the Roma minorities in Sweden, written by a Swedish Roma writer. They deal with a young 8-year-old Roma girl. By reading Swedish literature we could be able to arrive at its level and even outdo it,” says Sokol Demaku, translator.
Demaku draws a distinction between Albanian and Swedish literature in the following manner.
“Children’s books in Albania are very voluminous. My Swedish friends always tell me that they should reduce the page count in order to become more attractive and manageable by kids,” – he said.
Rejvi Dërvishi is 13 years old and is presenting his first adventure book in this fair.
“It is the adventure of a young boy that gets lost in an island, but there he is able to find his family,” – said Rejvi Dervishi, author of the book “Letters in an Island”.
Past relived experiences and personal reflections are what the artist, Irena Buzi, chose to portray in her series of works realized in the 2000s, which are centered around the human being and nature.
“Nature is the path of a human’s undoing, who after passing away turns into nature, and from the natural, the next station points toward the supernatural. The three of them are entwined in a closed cycle,” – says the artist.
For many artists, subject matters stem from real life events, but the ways chosen to translate them into art, remain a unique choice of each and every one of them. Even though Buzi is speaking of a timespan stretching from 1997-2000, the forms and the fragmentation of the different cycles makes her abstract works speak to the public in a uniquely relatable manner.
These works in acrylic, watercolor and mixed media will remain a testimony of the experiences and events lived in those years. The exhibition will be available for visitors at the MAD Gallery, in Tirana.
This weekend, you will also be able to enjoy yet another exhibition from renowned writer and lecturer of Economic and Social Sciences at the Mediterranean University, Mimoza Ahmeti, titled “Cathexis”, that revolves around the individual and the different ways we use to reform our cognitive and creative capabilities. The exhibition opened on June 23rd at the Kalo Gallery.
In addition, the city of Berat also known as ‘the city of the thousand windows’, will be hosting the National Festival of Children’s Theater from June 26th to July 1st.
And lastly, starting from Friday until Sunday, the beautiful southern city of Saranda will be hosting the Festival of Earth Songs, which will include opera and poetry performances, by artists from all across the nation. Don’t miss out on all this weekend has to offer!
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