100 Vietnamese Picture Books Exhibited to Mark 20 Years of Genre Development

An exhibition showcasing 100 Vietnamese picture books is highlighting two decades of the genre's growth in the country, from 2006 to 2026. The event, held at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street and the General Science Library, is a key part of Vietnam's inaugural Children's Picture Book Festival.

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The exhibition of picture books organized by Slowbooks is taking place at Ho Chi Minh City Book Street and the General Science Library.

Organizers established the festival because they recognized a need for a shared space where stakeholders in Vietnam's picture book ecosystem could meet, interact, and exchange expertise. The initiative aims to build a sustainable platform connecting authors, illustrators, publishers, and the reading public. Beyond providing a healthy space for children's literature, the festival also seeks to promote Vietnamese cultural narratives through picture books and introduce international works to local readers.

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The exhibition is to allow the public to look back at the 20-year development journey (from 2006-2026) of domestic picture books, honoring works that have accompanied many generations of Vietnamese children.

The festival features a wide array of activities. Alongside the exhibition of 100 prominent Vietnamese picture books from the past 20 years, attendees can participate in a picture book fair. Creative interaction sessions, including workshops and interactive reading sessions, offer opportunities to engage with authors and illustrators.

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The Picture Book Festival is being held because publishers realized that the picture book ecosystem in Vietnam still lacks a common space for parties to meet, interact, and exchange expertise.

In-depth discussions are planned for publishing professionals, educators, and parents, focusing on picture books and children's publishing. These sessions will cover topics such as the power of visual storytelling, the development trajectory of Vietnamese children's picture books over the last two decades, the translation of picture books, and approaches to accessing them. The festival also includes a program of picture book dramatization for the deaf community.

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Not only creating a healthy book playground for children, but the organizers also want to spread picture books rich in Vietnamese culture and introduce international works to domestic readers.