With the support of IBBY Italia, in 2012 the idea was born to build a first library aimed at local children and immigrants from Africa and the Middle East. It is, practically, to support and maintain a crisis library that welcomes refugees. To build this bridge with the migrant population, they have spent years creating a selection of illustrated books without words, which can be enjoyed without the need for the language to matter. These silent books have the ability to break down language and cultural barriers, as well as being an important visual literacy exercise.
This archive of silent books not only collects an important catalog of children’s books of the 21st century; it also crosses the borders between the academies, the publishing world and the reader. It humanizes the book as a potential meeting tool. It also generates new ideas, other models of action, such as “books on board”, which are portable books for use in emergency situations on rescue boats.
