The pavilion for children’s books at the upcoming Taipei International Book Exhibition will have the theme of Thomas and Friends, a well-known British children’s television series, the organizers said yesterday.
The pavilion will have a giant inflatable castle featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, the series’ main character, the organizers said at a news conference.
“This will be the first time Thomas and Friends has been incorporated in an international book fair,” the organizers said.
Photo: Chen Yi-ching, Taipei Times
Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to play with toys inspired by the British cartoon and watch a series of related movies, the organizers added.
In addition to books from countries such as Belgium, the pavilion will showcase illustrated books by Taiwanese authors such as Jimmy Liao (幾米), director of the Taiwan Book Fair Foundation Huang Pao-ping (黃寶萍) said.
Now in its 21st year, the exhibition, one of Asia’s major book fairs, will run from Wednesday next week through Feb. 4 at the Taipei World Trade Center.
This year’s fair has received over 800 registrations by publishers, while 500 writers from home and abroad are also expected to attend.
Last year the fair attracted a record number of 600,000 visitors.
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