Món Llibre, a leading festival in children’s and young people’s literature in the city, marks its twentieth edition with a profound revamp to its format. From 23 to 25 May, the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), the Plaça de Joan Coromines and the Biblioteca Gabriel García Márquez will be the literary epicentre for children, young people and families, in a festival with new artistic leadership and a creative perspective, plus new topics.

The new joint directors for the festival, Anna Juan Cantavella and Piu Martínez, offer a specialised and committed vision with literary quality, visual literacy and reader meditation. In this new chapter, Món Llibre looks to consolidate itself as a space for discovery, experimentation and reflection relating to books, with activities that prompt critical thinking, creativity and active participation among children and young readers.

The festival will look to connect young children with reading through a stimulating and inclusive environments, where they can discover authors, illustrators, and publishing companies that fill the literary universe of readers of today and tomorrow.

Themed thread and an extra day

Starting with this edition, from now on each festival will be based around a theme. On this occasion the thread will be the relationship between literature and play. Highlights include the creation of a central play-based display area designed by the studio Milimbo (also responsible for this year’s graphic image), inviting youngsters to read while they play and play while they read. This installation is the starting point for an intense programme of activities, with literary and visual workshops, shows, routes, participatory installations and a professional meeting aimed at this sector.

Another significant change means the festival will last a day longer. The last few years have seen Món Llibre held on over a Saturday and Sunday, but the event will now include Friday afternoon, which will be devoted to activities for youngsters between the ages of 12 and 15.

Món Llibre aims to be a gateway to reading for children and young people, affirming the cultural and aesthetic value of contemporary literature for children and young people.

All activities at the festival are free. In addition, the MACBA and the CCB will be holding open days during the event and offering some special options. Visitors to Món Llibre will also find a stall (Mónllibreria) with the latest publications and others that never go out of fashion.

For full details on the programme go to the official festival website.