On Tuesday, 16 December 2025, the Cultural Association of Children’s and Youth Book Publishers (CACBP) hosted a specialized professional meeting for a visiting delegation from the Republic of Tajikistan. The full-day program welcomed the delegation with a series of theoretical workshops led by a diverse group of experts, including a university scholar, publishers, illustrators, a literary agency, and members of the editorial team of the Encyclopedia of the Children’s Book Council of Iran.
The program explored the deep cultural and linguistic connections between Iran and Tajikistan, while also offering a comprehensive introduction to Iran’s children’s publishing ecosystem. Particular attention was given to the universal visual language of illustration and its unique power to communicate meaning and emotion across borders—an area that sparked strong interest among the Tajik participants.
As the Tajik delegation had expressed prior interest in Iran’s work on children’s encyclopedias, the program also included a dedicated side session on encyclopedia writing for children and young adults. Members of the Children’s Book Council of Iran’s encyclopedia editorial team shared their experiences of editorial processes, content development, and age-appropriate knowledge design. The discussion was further enriched by the participation of the Director of Mehrab-e Qalam Publishing House, who addressed the technical and production-related aspects of creating encyclopedias for young readers. This session offered valuable insight into the highly specialized nature of knowledge production for children and encouraged deeper professional exchange between the two countries.
The final session of the day was presented by Maryam Ronagh, Managing Director of Saba Agency, and focused on navigating the international publishing landscape. The first segment introduced participants to the global publishing ecosystem, covering different types of publishing entities, organizational structures, and book distribution systems, with particular reference to North America. The second segment explored practical strategies for entering international markets and positioning Tajik works for foreign publishers. The session concluded with an introduction to the Tehran Publishing Fellowship Program and Iran’s Grant Scheme, both of which support the translation and international publication of Iranian books.
More than a one-day professional exchange, this specialized meeting marked the beginning of a pathway toward sustainable collaboration between Iranian and Tajik professionals in children’s and young adult literature. Grounded in a shared language and strengthened by professional dialogue, such initiatives have the potential to enhance cultural diplomacy and bring the children and young people of both countries closer together—one book, one image, and one story at a time.
