Tehran – Iran has selected 12 representative books of the country of illustrations (BIB) for the 30th anniversary of illustrations held at Bratislava Castle in Slovakia from October 3rd to January 10th, 2026.
The candidates were selected by a ju apprentice, including experts from the Institute of Intellectual Development for Children and Young Adults, the Iranian Illustrators’ Association of Children’s Books Council, the Iranian Illustrators’ Association, Kanoon announced.
“Daughter of Dar” was portrayed by Nusin Sadegian and written by Ahmad Akbarpur. “Bahram and Tale of Seven Domes,” depicted by Narges Mohammadi and written by Zahra Nematollahi. And “The Marvelous Zippy Whiz Cubs Academy” is a highlight of the list drawn by Ghazaleh Bigdelou and written by Payam Ebrahimi.
“Daughter of Dahl” is a folk tale that tells the story of a girl raised by a vulture known as Dahl. The story unfolds when the king’s son falls in love with her and hires an old lady to find a mysterious girl. However, the old lady deceives him, tying the true Darl’s daughter into the tree, and instead marries her own daughter to the prince.
I realized he was being fooled. The prince sets out to find a real girl. Meanwhile, a lion arrives and consumes Dahl’s daughter, from which two branches of branches bud from her blood. Eventually, the shepherd discovers the leads and plays them, but they only find them singing the story of the girl.
In “Bahram and the Tale of Seven Domes,” Nizami Ganjavi’s contemporary narration of “The Seven Portraits” by Fable mysteriously disappears as avid hunter King Bahram pursues his prey. After a long absence, he returns to find that his kingdom has changed, and his devoted princess assigns him an important mission. That is to protect endangered animals and maintain their habitat.
“The Marvelous Zippy Whiz Cubs Academy” is a vibrant story in a vibrant jungle where parents of various animals want to secure certificates for their children. But they all struggle to understand the true importance of these admirations. At Zippy Whiz Cub Academy, the principal implements a standard curriculum that encourages all students to acquire the same skills, regardless of their natural ability. This raises the question: can a fish really learn to fly, or can a turtle run quickly?
“The Unexpected Guest,” depicted by Maryam Tahmasbi and written by Ghazal Mousavi. “Dad is here,” written and illustrated by Mashid Lagemi. Also nominated are “Millou’s Heart” and “Imaginary Gardens” by Hoda Haddaddy.
The story of “an unexpected guest” is O. It unfolds on a normal day with a mysterious guest named o giving a seductive twist when it arrives.
“Dad is Here” is a heartfelt story centered around a little girl celebrating her birthday. While she was eagerly waiting for her guests, she and her mother feasted on a fun cake and prepared for a special day. When her mother reminds her, it is time to blow the candle, the girl takes a little time to close her eyes and recites her wish. At this moment, she reflects on her desire to reunite with her father, highlighting the emotional bond she cherishes with him.
Written by Reem Faruqi, “Milloo’s Mind” is an inspiring picture book biographies that tell the story of Maryam Faruqi, a pioneering education advocate and founder of Pakistan’s Happy Home School. As social norms often deter girls from attending school, the book illustrates Maryame’s unwavering commitment to education and empowerment. Through vivid illustrations and fascinating prose, it highlights the challenges she faced and the positive impact she had on the lives of countless students, capturing her resolve to create a safe and welcoming learning environment for girls.
Written by Rina Singh, Imagine A Garden is a collection of stories that celebrate the transformational power of courage, resilience and beauty. Through a series of poetic vignettes written in free poetry, the book shares the real life stories of seven amazing individuals from diverse corners of the world. Each story highlights that these people have had a positive impact on their communities in the face of adversity such as war, poverty, and violence.
“Sweet Salt” by Negar Oran, “It’s All Me,” “I See It,” and “I See It,” both depicted by Pedrum Caseruni.
Selected works will be included in the Bratislava Illustration Exhibition Catalog and will receive international evaluations at the final screening stage to determine the winner.
Additionally, Fatemeh (Parisa) Behabadi was chosen to participate in the symposium, while Melika Jamali was chosen for the illustration workshop.
It is held every two years under the auspices of UNESCO, and with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, and in cooperation with the International Committee on Books for Young People, this respected competition took place in Bratislava, Slovakia, and is considered one of the most important events in the world of illustration.
Each edition is called for publishers to collect the best works of Iranian illustrators and reach their peak in a national jury session featuring well-known figures on the ground.
Prizes for the illustration competition include a grand prize worth $3,000, five golden apples worth $1,500 each, and five special medals worth $1,000. Additionally, the first-place winner will have the opportunity to showcase their works independently at the next exhibition.
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