Congress 2021

Originally scheduled for 2020 and selected in 2015, the 37th IBBY World Congress faced unprecedented challenges, including geopolitical concerns, the global pandemic, and travel restrictions. Despite these obstacles, the IBBY Executive Committee and IBBY Russia (Raising Readers Association) persevered to deliver a historic hybrid event in September 2021. The Congress successfully united representatives from over 30 countries in person and dozens more online, celebrating Russian literary heritage while reaffirming IBBY’s mission to promote peace and access to books for all children.

Key Highlights & Proceedings

• Opening Ceremony: Held at the State Museum of Alexander Pushkin, the event featured welcomes from Vladimir Tolstoy (Cultural Advisor to the Russian President), Natalia Solzhenitsyna (President of the A.I. Solzhenitsyn Foundation), and Bodour Al Qasimi (IPA President). IBBY President Mingzhou Zhang delivered a pre-recorded message emphasizing resilience and adaptability in the face of global crises.
• Keynote Speakers & Plenaries: The program featured distinguished voices including Bart Moeyaert (Belgium), Zohreh Ghaeni (Iran), and Mempo Giardinelli (Argentina). A landmark roundtable brought together six Hans Christian Andersen Award winners: Jacqueline Woodson, Albertine, Roger Mello, David Almond, Cao Wenxuan, and Igor Oleynikov, discussing the role of literature in a changing world.
• Project Showcases: Sessions highlighted vital IBBY initiatives, including the Silent Books project, the IBBY Collection for Young People with Disabilities, and past winners of the IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award (Casa Cuna Cuenteros, Read With Me).
• Awards Ceremonies:
  • 2020 IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award: Presented to Casa Cuna Cuenteros (Argentina).
  • Inaugural IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award: Winners Marit Törnqvist (Netherlands/Sweden) and Zhu Yongxin (China) were honored, with Törnqvist attending in person.
  • 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Award: The gala evening at Dom Pashkov celebrated winners Jacqueline Woodson (Author) and Albertine (Illustrator), who joined virtually.
  • 2020 IBBY Honour List: The film presentation showcased 179 nominations from 60 sections.
• Exhibitions: The Russian State Children’s Library hosted extensive exhibitions, including the history of IBBY sections (Then and Now), works by Russian Andersen winners Tatjana Mavrina and Igor Oleynikov, and selections from the Silent Books and Honour List.

The Moscow Congress stood as a testament to the resilience of the global children’s literature community. By successfully executing a complex hybrid format across multiple time zones, IBBY demonstrated its capacity to adapt and connect despite physical barriers. The event not only showcased the richness of Russian culture and literature but also facilitated critical dialogues on inclusivity, censorship, and the future of reading promotion.

The Congress concluded with a vibrant closing ceremony featuring the "passing of the baton" to the 38th IBBY World Congress in Putrajaya, Malaysia (2022), symbolized by the Malaysian Ambassador and cultural performances ranging from children’s story characters to the Moscow Cossack Choir.

Acknowledgments 

IBBY extends its deepest gratitude to IBBY Russia/Raising Readers Association, the Scientific Committee, the organizing teams, and all volunteers whose dedication made this splendid and thought-provoking event possible during difficult times.