by InTrieste
An exhibition honoring the pioneering children’s book advocate Jella Lepman will open in Trieste as a prelude to the 39th International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Congress. Titled “Jella Lepman. Let’s Start with the Children. Books as Bridges,” the exhibition will be held at the Generali Convention Center from August 30 to September 1.
The Municipality of Trieste, the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the Center for the Book and Reading (CEPELL) are co-organizers of the event. Notable attendees will include IBBY President Sylvia Vardell, IBBY Italy President Franco Fornaroli, and Elisabetta Lippolis, the Congress Organizing Committee Coordinator. The exhibition is curated by Silvana Sola, David Tolin, and Paola Vassalli, who have enlisted twenty illustrators—ten from Italy and ten from across the globe—to showcase the influential work of Lepman.
Jella Lepman, a key figure in children’s literature, is celebrated for her efforts to use books as a means of rebuilding cultural understanding after World War II. Her visionary approach positioned literature as a vital bridge connecting disparate cultures and fostering imagination.
“Trieste, with its historical significance as a border city known for its openness and dialogue, is the perfect setting for this tribute,” said a representative of the event organizers.
In addition to the exhibition, Locomoctavia Audiolibri, with support from the Goethe-Institut Rome, will present a reading of Erich Kästner’s “The Animal Conference” during the opening. This novel, inspired by Lepman’s ideas, was largely developed at the Jugendbibliothek in Munich, where Lepman first established her groundbreaking work.
The roster of participating artists includes Beatrice Alemagna, Anna and Elena Balbusso, Daniele Castellano, and Maurizio Quarello, among others. Their contributions will highlight various facets of Lepman’s legacy and the global impact of her work.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until September 8, with daily hours from 10 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 8 PM. Admission is free, offering an opportunity for visitors to engage with the enduring influence of Jella Lepman on children’s literature and cross-cultural understanding.
