Iranian book among IYL’s top works

‘The Coach’, a book written by Iranian writer Farideh Khalatbari, has been registered as one of the five top books on the list of the International Youth Library (IYL).

“The IYL is the largest library for international children’s and youth literature in the world. For the first time, since its establishment in 1949, the library has selected an Iranian book among its five top works,” Khalatbari said.

The IYL was established in 1949, four years after the Second World War with the efforts of Jella Lepman, a German humanitarian.

Each year the IYL, in Munich, Germany, selects newly published books from across the world that it considers to be especially noteworthy. This list of books is compiled into the annual White Ravens Catalogue, which is introduced each year at the Bologna (Italy) Children’s Book Fair.

“Finally five top books are selected. This is the first time that a book from Iran has made its way to the top five works,” the writer noted.

The White Raven label is given to books that deserve worldwide attention because of their universal themes and/or their exceptional and often innovative artistic and literary style and design.

‘The Coach’ is written by Iranian writer Farideh Khalatbari and illustrated by Zila Hodaei.