world_pictures

Books from
Slovenia
Contact: Darja Lavrenčič Vrabec – darja.lavrencic-vrabec@mklj.s
Tilka Jamnik – tilka.jamnik@mklj.si
A shortlist of the ten most outstanding picture books from Slovenia has been
drawn up by the staff of Ljubljana City Library (LCL), Pionirska – the Centre
for Youth Literature and Librarianship and the Slovenian Section of the IBBY.
The entries included in the shortlist have been carefully selected by experts
in the field of youth literature and youth librarianship, tutors of reading and
promoters of youth literature nationwide. It includes ten of the most original
and timeless classics of this genre. Compiling the shortlist according to the
highest professional standards proved to be a challenging and responsible
task indeed. One of our guiding principles was to include one entry only for
each author (a writer, an illustrator) so that the list includes a picture book
that is most representative of their entire body of work and is significant
within the system of Slovenian youth literature. It was our aim to present
picture books that have gained a timeless eminence and popularity and many
have been incorporated in the Slovenian hall of fame of folk-like tales and
literary characters. The shortlisted picture books never cease to enrich and
brighten the early years of Slovenian children, and have been an indispensable
component of the childhood years of many generations. This makes them a
vital part of Slovenian cultural and literary heritage passed from generation
to generation. Every single one of them is a world unto itself and together
they present a wide and diverse range of textual and visual styles and designs.
The present selection includes the best of Slovenian picture books from the
early 1900s (starting with The Bubbles by Oton Župančič) to the late 1970s. It is
a pleasure to be part of this important international project which will place
Slovenian picture books on the world map and also promote the best-quality
Slovenian picture books. All of the shortlisted entries have won the Golden
Pear token of recognition presented by the Ljubljana City Library, Pionirska.
They carry many positive and life-affirming messages to make this world a
better place. In terms of quality, they have been produced according to the
highest standards of the Slovenian printing and publishing trade. Their textual
and visual components supplement each other; and their rich interplay
invariably succeeds in boosting the imagination and creativity of young
readers. They are suitable for reading aloud in the context of a family (with an
adult reading aloud), as well as for children in the early stages of their reading
skills acquisition to read for themselves. In terms of age groups, they are
aimed at pre-school children and at primary school children up to the age of 11.
The short outlines presented below have been drawn up by the board
members of the Guide for Reading High-quality Books for Young Readers, which is
compiled nationwide by the Ljubljana City Library (LCL), Pionirska, The Guide
acts an overview and a detailed assessment of books for children and young
readers published in Slovenia during one year.
the world through picture books • books from slovenia • 170