The IV. Cappadocia International Children's Book Festival, hosted by our university and organized in collaboration with the German Institute, the French Cultural Center, the Embassy of France, and the Embassy of Finland, has begun, introducing thousands of children to the magical world of books. The festival, which will run from May 8-10, 2025, at our Ürgüp Factory Campus, will instill a love of books in children in the region and contribute to their cultural development.

This year, organized with the theme "Turn the Pages, Discover the Worlds," the festival brought together children's book authors, illustrators, academics, thinkers, and artists in Cappadocia. Children had the opportunity to meet the authors and illustrators, hear the stories behind the books, and participate in interactive activities.

Vice Rector Prof. Dr. İlhan Öztürk:

Öztürk stated that as Cappadocia University (KÜN), we are proud to support national and international activities, emphasizing that the Children's Book Festival is one of our most important events that has earned its "international" status. Öztürk, emphasizing that children deserve the best of everything, said, “One of the best things we can do for them is to introduce them to books, expand their imaginations, broaden their perspectives, embellish their dreams, and perhaps even add new doors and avenues to their dreams. It's clear that the IV. Cappadocia International Children's Book Festival will contribute to this.”

Dr. Rukiye Yalap, Director of our School of Health Sciences, said:

Dr. Rukiye Yalap began her speech by expressing her gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to the festival for their support, expressing her joy at gathering around books and authors that develop children's imaginations, nurture their creativity, and encourage critical thinking. Yalap concluded his remarks by saying, “Children's books are not just stories; they are one of the most powerful ways to understand different cultures, build empathy, and discover the world and ourselves. We hope that our festival will increase our children's interest in books and reading, open new horizons, and contribute to intercultural dialogue. Let us all never give up reading, creating, and sharing for a brighter, more hopeful future. I wish our festival a successful and productive one.”

Dr. Anne Schönhagen, Director of the German Institute in Izmir, stated:

Expressing their pleasure at being at the festival as the German Cultural Center, Dr. Anne Schönhagen informed the participants about the work being carried out on the Kinder Children's University project. Schönhagen said, “Our Kinder Children's University project is extremely important for fostering children's development and curiosity. I am also pleased to introduce our ‘Cheese to the Moon – Story Reading and Rocket Making’ workshop, to be given by Gundi Herget today. We also invite our children to a creative storytelling workshop afterwards. Thank you very much for this opportunity and I wish everyone a wonderful day.”

Fabien Flori, Deputy Director General of the French Institute for Turkey

Fabien Flori, Deputy Director General of the French Institute for Turkey, began his remarks by emphasizing the importance of the theme of peace. Regarding an event he attended at Hacettepe University, he said, “This week, at an event I attended at Hacettepe University, university students and French artists painted a child's portrait. In the painting, the child lay on the ground, hugging his mother, and pointed to the sky. The message conveyed by the students and artists was that when we feel safe and protected, we think about exploring the world differently because we forget our problems and become curious.” Flori emphasized his pleasure at collaborating and being invited to the festival and concluded by stating that they would like to gather for the fifth edition of the festival.

The program, which includes art and science workshops, creative reading activities, and hands-on activities, not only helps children develop a reading habit but also fosters a democratic consciousness and a culture of peace. The festival offered a significant opportunity, especially for children with limited access to books.

Led by our university and supported by regional institutions, NGOs, and volunteers, the festival previously attracted significant attention in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Continuing with strong participation this year, the event contributes to the development of cultural and educational life in the Cappadocia region.

The festival will be open to all children, families, and book lovers until May 10, 2025.