In response to the waves of refugees from Africa and the Middle East arriving in the Italian island, Lampedusa, iBbY launched the project “Silent Books, from the world to Lampedusa and back” in 2012. The project involved creating the first library on Lampedusa to be used by local and immigrant children.
The second part required creating a collection of silent books (wordless picture books) that could be understood and enjoyed by children regardless of language. These books were collected from IBBY National Sections, over one hundred titles from over twenty countries. One set of books was deposited at the documentation and research archive in Rome (Palazzo della Esposizioni), another was delivered to the library in Lampedusa and a further set was part of a travelling exhibition.
​This exhibition has now reached the French village of Montolieu (not far from Carcassone) where it will be on view next week, Oct 7-9. A host of free events will accompany the exhibition, with talks from various artists as well as representatives of both iBbY France and UK; there will also be a presentation of the wordless books created by the children of Montolieu for the children living on the  Italian island: from Lampedusa... and back.

​Today 21 September is the International Day of Peace. And with that in mind and a fabulous illustration from Tove Jansson, here's iBbY international's timely call to action.

IBBY’S CALL-TO-ACTION
For sixty years the International Board on Books for Young People has followed the ideal that books build bridges between people. Books give us wings and can demolish the walls that are built on fear and intolerance.
This work is as important and relevant today as it was sixty years ago, particularly now when so many children around the world are facing enormous upheavals in their young lives. We are currently experiencing a global crisis and IBBY is unwavering in its support for those working for peace and understanding. We believe that every child has the right to read and we fully support the principles of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.
IBBY is committed to helping children in crisis, whether they are refugees in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania, North America or Latin America. IBBY looks for solutions. There are many IBBY projects, including the wordless Silent Books, book packs and introducing the library networks, which all work to alleviate the trauma that these young people are faced with. We also need to show children from different communities around the world how to welcome their new neighbours and how to live together in harmony. We firmly believe that stories and libraries can inspire this necessary accord. 
Today, we urge all professionals working in the field of children’s literature to join us take action and find solutions to help the children and young people who are caught up in this current turmoil.
35th IBBY World Congress,
Auckland, New Zealand
21 August 2016
​To find out more and get involved, head over to: www.ibby.org or email ibby@ibby.org ​

The Children's Books Ireland annual conference is taking place this weekend (17/18 September 2016) in the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin. This year’s theme, Better Together? Collaboration and Teamwork in Children’s Books looks at the pleasures and pains of working collaboratively. The terrific line-up includes: Oliver Jeffers & Sam Winston, JonArno Lawson & Sydney Smith, Katherine Woodfine, Katherine Rundell & Katherena Vermette in conversation with Cat Doyle, PJ Lynch & Ryan Tubridy, Pip Jones & Ella Okstad, Oisín, Erika & Kunak McGann, Máire Zepf, new Irish voices, Alan Cumyn and Manuela Savi. For booking tickets and more info, head over here. For the full programme, it's here.
​The iBbY Ireland committee will also be there in force on both days, so do come by and say hello!