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Cultural Connection Between Iran, Russia, and Turkey: How Do Children Read Books?
1404/02/19-16:32
On the second day of the 36th Tehran International Book Fair, a panel titled “Children Who Read Without Borders: How Do Children Read?” was held, during which authors and publishers from Russia and Turkey exchanged ideas about children’s and young adult literature.
According to the Public Relations Office of the 36th Tehran International Book Fair, the panel introducing Russian and Turkish authors in the field of children and young adult literature was held this morning, the 18th of Ordibehesht 1404 (May 7, 2025), coinciding with the second day of the fair.
Helga Pataki, a Russian author and publisher of children’s and youth literature, expressed her happiness at participating in the fair, saying:
“Russian and Persian literature are very close to each other and both play a significant role in world literature. Therefore, it's essential that our nations strengthen their bonds through literature.”
She went on to say that her publishing house in Russia is one of the largest in the country and has published over 300 book titles so far.
She stated that the main reason for attending the Tehran International Book Fair was to learn more about Iran’s book publishing traditions.
She added that in recent years, a new educational system in Russia has emphasized the importance of storytelling for children and adolescents.
In this system, specific class sessions are dedicated to understanding and retelling stories from images or oral storytelling, and students are tested on it. If they fail, they cannot proceed to the next levels.
Next, Melike Guniz, a publisher and editorial director from Turkey, said:
“As children’s authors and publishers, we find each other wherever we are in the world, because we share the same understanding and perspective. It makes it easy for us to connect.”
She emphasized that the culture of reading has always existed in Turkey.
Explaining the book selection process, she noted:
“After consulting with publishing managers, we consider what impression the book will leave on the child’s mind. The adventure begins in the author’s mind and reaches the child’s mind.”
Guniz added: “From the beginning of a project, we think about which author can best apply various storytelling techniques.”
She also mentioned that their books in Turkey have been translated into more than 27 world languages.
Arash Tanhaei, an author, art designer, and editor-in-chief of Angah magazine and Fil publishing, also spoke at the panel:
“As a child, I got to know painting through Michelangelo and Van Gogh, and from the books I read, I became interested in pursuing painting and graphic design. But I never came across Kamal-al-molk or Reza Abbasi because, in my childhood, there were no books introducing Iranian artists and their works.”
Tanhaei continued:
“The three countries present—Turkey, Russia, and Iran—have little information about one another. Our teenagers may know global tennis champions, but they’re unfamiliar with badminton champions, especially from Asia. The reason is clear: those famous figures are from the West.”
He added that many books worldwide focus on Western figures:
“Out of books introducing prominent figures, 45 are American, 17 British, 5 German, 4 French, and very few from other countries. In fact, many nations have no representation at all.”
He explained that one of the goals of Fil Publishing is to introduce Iranian figures first to Iranian children, and then to children around the world, as a cultural mission.
Figures like Abbas Kiarostami, Sohrab Sepehri, and Maryam Mirzakhani are among them.
They also plan to introduce other prominent figures, such as Yunus Emre (Turkish poet and mystic), Evliya Çelebi (Turkish traveler and explorer), Wisława Szymborska (Polish writer and poet), and renowned personalities from the Arab world and other nations.
He emphasized that the people selected for these books are often those about whom few films or animations have been made.
The 36th Tehran International Book Fair is being held from May 6 to May 16, 2025, at Imam Khomeini Mosalla under the slogan “Let’s Read for Iran.”
Alongside the in-person exhibition, the virtual section is also active at book.icfi.ir, allowing visitors to buy books online.
