The 40th World Congress for the International Board on Books for Young People is but a few months away.

And for the first time since Canada founded a national chapter of the charitable organization in 1980, IBBY Canada will be the host for the IBBY World Congress, which runs from Aug. 6 to 9 in Ottawa.

The theme for the congress is “Listening to Each Other’s Voices,” and the event will comprise presentations, round tables, and six keynotes, three of which will be delivered by writers and illustrators from Canada. 

Sydney Smith will present “Sharing Stories: The Power of Picture Books to Transcend,” Khodi Dill’s keynote will be “Black Ink: Exploring the Power and Potential of Lit-Hop,” and David A. Robertson will deliver “Representation Matters.” 

Delegates from around the world will not only be able to attend the more than 30 presentations, but also the unveiling of the first IBBY-UNESCO Collection of Remarkable Books in Indigenous and Endangered Languages. The collection, a project of IBBY, was assembled through an international call for children’s books being published in this space.

Two Canadian-originated exhibitions will also be unveiled. The first is an exhibition of all 175 books in From Sea to Sea to Sea: Celebrating Indigenous Picture Books, an expanding collection first launched by IBBY Canada in 2016, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The second is Reading with Pride: Stories for Everyone, a collection of 2SLGBTQI+ children’s picture books collected by Senator Kristopher Wells, and expanded through a call to Canadian publishers. Canadian and international titles comprise the more than 300 titles in the collection, which also includes books written in languages other than English.

“Congress will be bringing together what we believe is the largest single collection of 2SLGBTQI+ picture books ever assembled, creating an exhibition of hope and possibility that celebrates identity, diversity, and love,” Patti McIntosh, president of IBBY Canada, tells Q&Q. 

“Because 2SLGBTQI+ children’s picture books are among the most frequently targeted, banned, and challenged books in schools and public libraries, this collection – and the platform of the 40th IBBY World Congress – brings vital visibility to the stories and experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ children, families, and communities at a time when hate and social division continue to rise,” McIntosh says.

The aim is to have the Reading with Pride exhibition tour nationally and internationally, as well as to form a permanent, accessible collection.

A workshop on tactile book making will also be on offer. “Putting Theory into Practise” will be led by Leigh Turina, former lead librarian of the IBBY Collection for Young People with Disabilities, and Denise Scott of the Toronto Public Library. The 90-minute workshop will allow participants to “explore the theory and practice behind tactile illustrations in books for people with disabilities before applying these concepts through the creation of their own tactile books using textured paper, fabric, and small objects.” Participants will also be given the opportunity to explore incredible examples of tactile books first-hand.

McIntosh says she’s “incredibly honoured” to be welcoming the children’s literature community of the world to Canada. 

“We’ve been thrilled by the response, with delegates from more than 60 countries planning to attend,” McIntosh says. “We look forward to bringing people together around the theme of ‘Listening to Each Other’s Voices’ – and can’t wait to get started.”