The Outlook for Children’s Publishing Brightens with Synergy with Kanoon
Fathollah Foroughi, in an interview with an IRNA news agency reporter, highlighted the necessity of expanding cooperation between the Association of Children’s and Young Adult Book Publishers and the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kanoon). Regarding the long history of collaboration between these two cultural institutions, he stated: “Producing children’s books is a multifaceted activity. Authors, illustrators, translators, publishers, distributors, and booksellers are all links in a chain that must work together to make the final cultural product effective. Kanoon, both as a producer and distributor of this cultural product, can play a very important role in strengthening this chain.”
He continued by stating that the association’s cooperation with Kanoon has a history: “In past years, the Cultural Association of Children’s Book Publishers held sessions on the ‘global book market,’ in which Kanoon representatives also participated. Furthermore, in the first Tehran Children’s Book Fellowship (Nashriari) event at the book fair, a dedicated booth was allocated to Kanoon to introduce its works to foreign buyers. These interactions have been effective, but we expect them to increase in future years.”
Foroughi further referred to Kanoon’s capacities for supporting publishers, saying: “Kanoon, as a national asset, belongs to all children of Iran; moreover, publishers also possess valuable cultural capacities. Therefore, the interaction between these two sectors can help the growth of children’s book production, both culturally and economically. One way for this cooperation is to utilize data and needs assessments from Kanoon’s experts so that publishers can align their productions with the tastes and needs of today’s children.”
According to Foroughi, the support of the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults through purchasing books from private sector publishers is a good development.
He stated that Kanoon, by purchasing from private publishers, can both enrich its libraries and help boost the children’s publishing market. “Of course, these purchases must have a supportive aspect; meaning Kanoon should buy books with less discount than the market rate to maintain the incentive for production among publishers.”
The head of the board of directors of the Children’s Book Publishers Association also spoke about the current challenges in this field, adding: “Producing children’s books has become much more difficult than in the past. We hope that Kanoon officials and decision-making bodies will see publishers as partners, not rivals. Competitive attitudes between governmental bodies and the private sector are harmful. If a friendly approach replaces this, more fruitful results will be achieved.”
Foroughi emphasized that Kanoon can play an effective role in introducing Iranian children’s books to regional and global markets; he also said: “Kanoon has an international reputation and should use this credibility to expand the presence of Iranian children’s books in global markets. The association’s experience in the Tehran Children’s Book Fellowship demonstrated this capacity.”
He also warned about the state of the children’s publishing market, saying: “Unfortunately, the number of children’s book buyers has decreased in recent years, and this issue has directly affected the production process. Rising prices, reduced purchases, and books moving away from family budgets have created a chain of negative consequences that must be addressed.”
Foroughi also commented on the changing tastes of today’s children and publishers’ alignment with these changes: “Changing tastes is a natural phenomenon; just as we witness it in clothing, food, or cultural relations. Today’s children want different content, and active members of the production chain — writers, illustrators, publishers, and booksellers — must adapt to this change. Virtual media have become serious rivals to books, but the duty of publishing associations and institutions like Kanoon and the Ministry of Education is to safeguard the position of written media in a child’s life.”
