During this intensive workshop, participants will discuss the elements that make up a book, explore and try various techniques of book illustration, and finally, design and make their own publication.

Just as a building is composed of certain elements—foundation, walls, roof, doors, windows, and rooms—which create a comfortable space for its inhabitants, a book also has structure, allowing the reader to effectively communicate with and ultimately enjoy it. A cover and dust jacket, endpaper and spine, font and illustrations—these are some units in the language of book-making language, making each publication authentic in its appearance and feel.

A children’s book, in artist Viktor Pivovarov’s opinion, “ideally… should be made so that one would love to put it under the pillow at night. It should externally and internally commensurate to oneself, fit one’s hand and soul. <…> it should be allowed to enter it. And secondly, having entered it, the space inside should be comfortable.”

The participants of the workshop will learn the entire book-making process, from beginning to end, and will create their own handmade, single-copy book. The designs could vary—but more importantly, one should really want to put the book under one’s pillow at bedtime. Literary content could also differ, from texts suggested by the instructor, to a favorite fairy tale, or even an original story written by the participant.