65 years of the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year Award

This important event, organized in partnership between BolognaFiere and the New York Times, is on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the award, which dates back to 1952. A special selection will present the works in retrospect. Among the names we will find Maurice Sendak, Ludwig Bemelmans, Tomi Ungerer, Peter Sis, Laurent de Brunhoff, Edward Gorey and others. In the album on our Facebook page you can find the list of over 600 titles, each with its own cover and one illustration, which we were able to collect especially for you.

Since the middle of the last century, every year an expert jury, which includes librarians, critics and illustrators, selects the ten best illustrated books. Parts of the winners' works are published in a special edition of The New York Times Book Review, dedicated entirely to children's books.

The "New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year" award is the only event among the leading awards in the United States that considers the artistic qualities of books independently of the text. Unlike other American competitions for children's literature, illustrators from all over the world are allowed to enter, and the only condition is that the book has been published in the United States.

“Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN’S BOOKS OF THE YEAR” as the event is announced, will allow those interested to trace the historical development of trends, tastes and standards in children's books over the past six decades. The conference will be led by Leonard Marcus, one of the leading researchers of the history of children's literature since the 1950s. Two round tables will be held during this time. One – “Editors and Art Directors” hosted by Steven Guarnaccia (USA) and animated by Deirdre McDermott (Walker, UK), Anne Schwartz (Schwartz and Wade/Random House, US), Neal Porter (Neal Porter Books at Macmillan Children’s Book Group and Holiday House, USA), Patricia Aldana (President, IBBY Foundation) and Béatrice Vincent (Albin Michel Jeunesse, F); the other will be dedicated to illustrators and will include Beatrice Alemagna, Suzy Lee, Laura Carlin, Paul O. Zelinsky, Sydney Smith and moderator Maria Russo, editor of the “Children’s Books” section of the New York Times.

The event will take place on Tuesday (27 March 2018) from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM in Sala Notturno, Service Centre, Wing D, BolognaFiere