National Childrens's Book Festival
The National Children’s Book Festival has been held annually in May since 1999. The creator of the National Children's Book festival is Rositsa Petrova-Vasileva. It is organized by “Sava Dobroplodni” Regional Library – Sliven with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sliven municipality, Regional administration – Sliven, the Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, Bulgarian Book Association, largest children’s books publishing companies, etc.
The National Children’s Book Festival is a unique event in Bulgaria’s culture life. It is the only forum in Bulgaria which gives an opportunity to all Bulgarian and foreign participants in the process of creating and distributing children’s books – writers, publishers, illustrators, book distributors, teachers, psychologists, library specialists, etc., to meet each other and to discuss the present state and future state of children’s books publishing, to outline new directions and forms for increasing children’s interest in books and reading, coming into a competition with the new multimedia products.
The National Children's Book Festival is the natural place for the expression of potential of all young talents that through words, drawings, and the magic of songs and beauty of dance made their first messages as artists.
The program of the festival every year includes: book bazaars, promotions of writers and publishing companies, literary duels and competitions, discussions on problems of books for children, exhibitions, performances, concerts, carnival processions, etc. National children's literary contests and drawing competitions on various topics have been held annually, during the days of the National Children's Book Festival. Collections of award-winning works have been issued. National children's painting plain air has been also held in the days of the festival since 2007. It gathers together in Sliven best young artists from all over the country.
A National Award "Konstantin Konstantinov" for contributions to children's book publishing in four categories: lifetime achievement award and awards for publishing company, writer and illustrator has been awarded within the Festival’s days since 2004. Co-founders of the award were the Ministry of Culture, "Sava Dobroplodni" Regional Library - Sliven, Municipality Sliven and Rotary Club - Sliven. The prize has been awarded annually within the days of the National Children's Book Festival, for a contribution to children's book publishing in the previous year. It includes a small sculpture, a diploma and money and it is awarded in four categories: lifetime achievement award and awards for publishing company, writer and illustrator. The first winner of the award was the poet Valery Petrov, and the first winning publishing company was "FIUT" publishing company. Winners in category “Lifetime Achievement” were many famous Bulgarian artists like: Leda Mileva, Georgi Konstantinov, Marko Ganchev, Ivan Tsanev, Katya Vodenicharova, Kina Kadreva, Lilyana Stefanova, Georgi Mishev. In category "Writer" award winners were: Victor Samuilov, Sevda Sevan, Petya Alexandrova, Pancho Pantchev, Maya Dalgacheva, Yulia Spiridonova - Yulka, Vesela Flamburari, Angelina Zhekova, Bozhana Apostolova. In category "Publishing company" winners were the following publishing companies: Fjut, Hermes, Janet -45, Pan, Zlatnoto pate, Egmont – Bulgaria and Damyan Yakov. In category "Illustrator" award winners were: Spas Spasov, Ralitsa Manuilova, Oleg Topalov, Yasen Gyuzelev, Petar Stanimirov and Boris Stoilov.
Since 2002 the organizators of the National Children's Book Festival work in partnerships with children's festival from Serbia, Italy, Germany, Russia, Bosna and Herzigovina, Montenegro and others. Since 2006 joint projects are made with the theatrical foundation "Aida" /Verona, Italy/.
The National Children's Book Festival has been a member of the Association of Balkan Festivals of Children's Literature since 2008.
For the organization and realization of the National Children's Book Festival "Sava Dobroplodni" Regional Library - Sliven has been awarded many prestigious national and international literary awards.