Country of Focus: Thailand For its 12th edition, AFCC celebrates Thailand as Country of Focus (COF).
With its rich history of children’s literature dating back as far as the 18th century, Thailand’s kidlit and YA publishing markets are constantly evolving alongside its neighbours in the region. This year, AFCC celebrates Thailand as the Country of Focus in our continuing efforts to understand, engage and showcase the best of children’s book writers and illustrators from South-East Asia.
COUNTRY OF FOCUS SESSIONS 27 May (Thu) 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution in the ASEAN: Obstacles and Solutions PANEL
! Andrea Pasion-Flores, Gesarin Anek, Yani Kurniawan, Mindy Pang // Moderator: Sheikh Faisal Sheikh Mansor The ASEAN region boasts a combined population of approximately 649 million people and one-third of them are potential readers aged 19 or younger. However, children and young adult books by ASEAN writers are still inaccessible to their readers. What is the cause? Publishers and distributors from the region will talk about the present obstacles and positives they experience in distributing books in the region.
29 May (Sat) 9am – 10am
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PANEL
One City, One Book: Reading Initiatives in Thailand
! Thattaya Anussornrajakit, Akrapol Wattanasin // Moderator: Vasuree Pisutsinthop Adapted from a project first started by a Seattle-based librarian in 1988, “One Book, One City” has become a thriving reading initiative in Northern Thailand. The project evolved from a reading campaign into a content development programme that engages schools, state leaders and non-profits to develop their own children’s books for their reading initiatives. Discover more about this reading initiative and understand why it’s high time we win children from all over — one book and one city at a time.
