Iran Children’s Books Have Roots in Folklore

A session on children and young adults’ literature in Iran was held on the sidelines of the 25th New Delhi World Book Fair in the Indian capital on January 12.

Well-known Iranian author of children’s books Mostafa Rahmandoust, who was the chief guest at Iran’s pavilion, hosted the event speaking about the status of children’s books in Iran for the audiences who were mostly students and enthusiasts of Persian language and literature, ISNA reported.

“Children and young adult literature are of high importance for those interested in learning Persian language since they are rooted in folk and popular literature of the country,” Rahmandoust asserted.

Also a poet and translator, Rahmandoust, 66, pointed to the increasing number of books and magazines for children as well as writers.

“There were only 10 children’s poets 40 years ago. Now there are 400. Besides, 41 children’s magazines are currently published in Iran.”

He introduced the website of Iran Children National Library, part of the National Library and Archives of Iran. “Over 15,000 book titles in literature for children and young adults have been uploaded on the website so that researchers and scholars outside the country can access the resources.”

Introducing a number of his works, he said he has published nearly 300 books which have sold over 8 million copies.

 340 Titles Presented

Iran Cultural Fairs Institute (ICFI) based in Tehran, and Iran Cultural House in New Delhi, have presented over 340 book titles in the fields of art, Iranology, calligraphy and classic literature, as well as 160 titles regarding contemporary literature, at the book fair.

A brochure in English titled ‘Overview of the Publishing Industry in Iran’, which contains information about Iran’s literary agencies, publishing associations and organizations, both in the country and abroad, have been introduced by the ICFI.

Other Iranian writers of children and young adult stories have also been introduced to foreign readers in a catalogue available at the pavilion.

This year, the fair is focused on writings on and by women, amid an impressive ambience, decked with hoardings and posters of women scholars and writers.

Seminars and discussions, literary programs and cultural performances are also held on the sidelines.

Although the fair does not have a guest country this year, the international section has foreign publishers from 20 countries including Iran, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Nepal, Poland, Japan and Spain among others.

Organized by the Indian National Book Trust, nearly 800 publishers from across the country and abroad are participating in the event which concludes on January 15.