Reading Diversity. Translation into Italian of 25 titles for children to young adults and cooperation within the book chain to promote reading of high-quality literature from lesser-used languages

ongoing

READING DIVERSITY is a project for the translation into Italian, publication and distribution in Italy of 25 award-winning and critically acclaimed works of fiction for children and teenagers from different EU countries, and the dissemination and promotion of these titles, with an innovative and richly structured promotional plan involving all the five participants: children’s books publisher Camelozampa, Hamelin, association for the promotion of children’s literature, the festivals for children’s and YA literature Tuttestorie and Mare di Libri, the network of children’s bookshops Cleio. The project aims at increasing the circulation of European literature from lesser used languages (Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Greek, Norwegian, Swedish), promoting fair remuneration and visibility for translators. To reach new audiences, several dissemination activities are planned, including visits of authors at festivals of children's and YA literature of national relevance, conferences with authors and an exhibition during international Bologna Children's Book Fair, authors' and translators' tours in Italian bookshops and online meetings, training workshops for teachers, live and online, reading-aloud workshops for students, the creation of bibliographies, as well as press releases and social media promotion throughout the project. The project aims at creating an innovative form of cooperation between different actors of the bookchain and addresses the cross-cutting issues of inclusion and diversity, by facilitating access to the literary works to disadvantaged groups and offering diversity representation in the translated books, and of greening, by implementing production and promotion practices to minimise the activity impacts, and by promoting cultural education on topics like climate change and environmental conservation. The project can produce lasting impacts in terms of promotion of lesser used languages European children’s literature, also beyond the 25 translated books.