Belarusian publishers Nadia Kandrusevich (Koska) and Dmitri Strotsev (Hochroth Minsk) were jointly awarded the 2025 International Publishers Association's Prix Voltaire at a ceremony during the World Expression Forum in Lillehammer, Norway. The publishers, exiled in Poland and Germany, respectively, were recognized for their commitment to publishing despite threats, harassment, and ultimately having to flee Belarus.
"The freedom to publish is challenged everywhere," said Kristenn Einarsson, chair of the IPA's Freedom to Publish Committee. "We received a worrying number of nominations this year. Their stories are sometimes unknown outside of their countries or regions, but their bravery is no less great. That our laureates must continue publishing in exile as a consequence of their commitment to the freedom to publish deserves our respect and recognition."
In a statement, Kandrusevich, who was unable to attend the ceremony, said, in part: "This recognition affirms not only the importance of publishing and translating books for children but the belief in the quiet power of words to shape minds, to open hearts, and to build bridges across languages, cultures, and generations. The belief that even the smallest readers deserve stories that speak truth, nurture imagination, and offer a mirror--or a window--into the world. This award belongs to all the translators, publishers, and writers who keep working despite all circumstances. To all the children who read or listen to bedtime stories and to all the parents who believe in the power of a good book."
Accepting the award at the ceremony, Strotsev, who delivered his speech in Belarusian, said: "In March 2022, I left for the West with one small suitcase. I was fleeing political persecution, but I was also preparing for a new mission--to use 30 years of publishing experience to create a free Belarusian publishing house in exile. Today, about 30 Belarusian publishing houses have re-emerged or restored their work in exile, and we are all closely connected. We have a publishing community."
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In Bulgaria, the Orange bookstore chain and UNICEF have renewed their partnership to improve the lives of children by working together to increase the literacy of children with an educational initiative under the motto, "Literacy is a superpower." For the past 12 years, Orange has been supporting UNICEF's causes for children.
The collaboration between UNICEF and Orange aims to promote reading from an early age, provide better access to quality children's literature, increase children's reading motivation, and develop their critical thinking, analysis and information processing skills. In addition, the program envisages increasing the capacity of adults to support the reading process and increase literacy.
According to PISA (Program for International Student Assessment for 2022), 53% of ninth-graders in Bulgaria do not have basic reading skills. In 2024, about 8.5% of fourth-graders had a poor result in the national external assessment in Bulgarian.
"Every child has the right to quality education," said Christina de Bruin, UNICEF representative in Bulgaria. "Literacy is the key that unlocks a world of opportunities for every child. It's not just the ability to read and write--it's the foundation of self-confidence, critical thinking, and the ability to dream."
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Congratulations to Bolen Books, Victoria, B.C., Canada, which is celebrating its 50th birthday with a "Back to the '70s" pop-up store at the bookseller's original 1975 location. Quill & Quire reported that in addition to a window display featuring a poster of Peter Benchley's Jaws, the bookshop features "a disco reading corner complete with an orange shag rug and glitter balls. The shelves are stocked only with books that would have been available in the 1970s. And the large black-and-white photo mounted behind the cash desk is a glamorous shot of Bolen Books founders Mel and Patrick Bolen." --Robert Gray