"Colorful Valentine" Author: [Italy] Chiara Mezzalama / [Iran] Reza Dalvand Publisher: Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House

2021 Bologna International Illustration Exhibition Annual Winners

Created by award-winning illustrators

To all those who are different and proud of it.

May we all be colorful

May the world be as colorful as it is

◎ Editor's Recommendation

☆ The award-winning writer wrote a moving work that conveys gender equality education and reflects on stereotypes

Is it strange that boys like bright colors and beautiful clothes? Do boys have to be good at playing football and have the habit of playing and fighting? Valentine's hobbies and sensitive and elegant characteristics are not shocking and subversive, so why is he laughed at by his friends and even feels out of place? Let this story open up a little corner for you to see and reflect on the invisible prejudices of "what xxx should be like" in life.

The writing of Chiara Mezzarama, winner of the Witch Award, is poetic, sour, light and heavy, full of metaphors and philosophy, and has a profound power to move people in its plainness.

☆ Radiate the darkest moment that everyone may face, and build yourself and a refuge in what you love

No one can perfectly fit in with the outside world's ideas and expectations. Everyone has the darkest moment of "not knowing how to deal with oneself because of being different from others". At this time, will you doubt yourself, deny yourself, or even change yourself rigidly? Let us see from Valentine that "different" does not mean "wrong". The more you recognize and accept yourself, and the more you bravely do what you love, the more you can find a refuge to face the storm, and the more you can overcome difficulties and face the world in your own way.

☆ Enter the story from three perspectives, become a friend who understands tolerance for differences, and a parent who gives strong support with love

In addition to following Valentine's perspective, readers can also put themselves in the shoes of Valentine's friends in the story and think about "Why is Valentine sad because of me?" "How should I treat friends who have different hobbies or personalities from me?" Cultivate empathy and perception, understand that sometimes you may hurt others even if you have no ill intentions, and learn to respect and tolerate the differences of others in a more gentle and friendly way.

Behind the obvious plot of Valentine's psychological changes, the illustrator also cleverly buried an important hidden plot that runs through the entire book - the consistent understanding and support of parents, thus inspiring readers: before hoping that children will become strong inside, they must first give them strong support with love and understanding.

☆ The winner of the Bologna Illustration Exhibition, the picture has an unforgettable emotional tension

BIB Award-nominated painter Reza Darwand boldly uses rich colors such as red, green, and black to keenly capture and present subtle emotional changes such as tension, anger, loneliness, and sadness; at the same time, in response to Valentine's love of sewing, he incorporates a large number of delicate fabrics and pattern elements. Each page of illustration is a poster full of artistic tension, bringing an unforgettable aesthetic enjoyment.

◎ Introduction

This is a story that conveys gender equality education and reflects on social stereotypes.

This is a story that encourages children to accept their own uniqueness and dare to be themselves.

This is a story that guides children to respect the differences of others and enhance empathy.

This is a story that inspires parents to be strong supporters of their children with love and understanding.

Valentine seems a little different

Not good at running or kicking a ball

Love to sew beautiful clothes

——The cracks in friendship and the scars in the heart

Can it also be sewn together like fabric?

◎ Media Recommendation

The story of Valentine, who is ridiculed for having different hobbies from his friends, but eventually finds refuge in what he loves, will be a great inspiration for readers who want to know how to build themselves and their lives. We love the colorful and colorful flowers in Valentine's world, and the curved silk threads that symbolize the complicated path he has walked - it is meaningful that the bridge that leads to the rest of Valentine's life on the last page is straight.

—— French media Culture Kids

The whole work is a good education on human equality and praise of human diversity. The cover also seems to convey: I hope everyone can have the courage to become a cowboy who controls his own life.

—— French media Ricochet Jeunes

This book offers ways to think rather than solutions, and its open ending allows each child to expand the story as they wish, or it can become a topic of class or family debate.

—— French media Littérature Enfantine

◎ Readers' comments

This picture book deals with the issue of "difference" in a subtle and poetic way, encouraging readers to be themselves and be proud of their uniqueness. Boys have the right to like sewing instead of just playing football, and everyone has the right to liberate themselves from the control of social stereotypes. The message conveyed is strong but not preachy.

——Kimysmile, a reader of French book review website Babelio

This is a thought-provoking work about self-acceptance, tolerance of others and breaking gender stereotypes. It also touches on the issue of bullying in school and in life.

——PetiteNoisette, a reader of French book review website Babelio

The setting that Valentine used sewing clothes to protect himself is clever and meaningful. Fabrics are complex, and the many choices made during the sewing process will affect the final appearance of them - isn't it the same for children? They are also made up of various fabrics full of personality, crooked threads when getting along with others, and the way of mending when dealing with problems.

——Mirontaine, a reader of French book review website Leslibraires

Author: Chiara Mezzalama

Winner of the "Witch Award", the highest recognition in French youth literature, writer, translator, and psychotherapist. Born in Rome in 1972, currently living in Paris. Author of "Colorful Valentine", "Inside and Outside the Garden", "I Will Take Care of You", etc., winner of the Saint-Exupéry Children's Literature Award, the Chrétien de Troyes Literature Award, etc.

Illustrator: Reza Dalvand

He is a nominee for the Bratislava International Illustration Biennale. Born in Iran in 1989, he is a member of the Iranian Illustrators Association. He has published 14 works and held exhibitions in many countries including the UK, Japan, South Korea, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine. He has won the Bologna International Illustration Exhibition's annual winning work, the Belgrade Golden Pen Award, the Oshima International Handmade Picture Book Award, and the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival Award.

Translator: Zhang Lu

Associate Professor of the French Department of Nanjing University, expert on Le Clézio studies, his representative translations include "Transformations" and "Dwelling in the Clouds".