The Silent Book Contest 2026
Since its beginning in 2013, the Silent Book Contest has been an important part of the world of silent books. It is led by Italian publisher Carthusia Edizioni, and stands out for many reasons, one of them being that the competition has two juries, one of experts and one of child readers. In this interview, coordinator Francesco Zamboni shares his thoughts and experiences on the development of both the contest and the silent book market.
Francesco Zamboni entered the publishing industry after extensive studies not only in book publishing, but also in literature and philosophy. The coordination of the Silent Book Contest is an important part of his work, and it has been quite a journey: - When we started the competition in 2014, we got 42 entries. Even though the winners were of high quality, the overall standard was more mediocre. This year, we received 285 entries from 50 different countries of the world, and the quality was so high that the jury had a very hard time selecting the 16 finalists.
At first, the Silent Book Contest grew little by little, getting a few more entries every year. In 2020, the first year of corona, there was a sudden surge of 100 extra entries. – Silent books were seen as difficult books to sell at that time, Zamboni says, both in the Italian and international market. Most children have no problems with reading images, but for adults, the lack of text can make them feel that they are missing something, like there is no “safe track” to follow when reading to their children. But it is the lack of words that is the resource of these books.
Zamboni uses an image of a suitcase as an example: - A picture of a suitcase can activate very different emotions for different people. If you have a privileged life, you might have money enough to have travelled a lot, so seeing a suitcase will bring happy memories. But if you are forced to migrate from your home, the suitcase will bring about a whole other set of feelings. The lack of words in these books makes room for the reader’s experience, the reader can put themselves, their education, past, traumas or fond memories in the pictures. With time, readers have realized this potential.
"The lack of words in these books makes room for the reader’s experience, the reader can put themselves, their education, past, their traumas or fond memories in the pictures. With time, readers have realized this potential."
Francesco Zamboni,
coordinator of the Silent book contest
For the publishing house Carthusia, silent books are now their leading series, the most important books for their sales. It took them several years of work, and the use of creative and unconventional methods, to get there. They have invested in doing training courses for booksellers, reading promoters, librarians and teachers, which has contributed greatly to the success and culture of the silent books. Zamboni explains that this has been necessary: without the courses it would have been difficult to change peoples understanding of these books.
Zamboni analyzes the entries from 2013 up until today: – We try to encourage a diversity of artistic styles and to actively search for that diversity when choosing finalists, he explains. Therefore, there is always a mixture of analogue and digital works in a multitude of different artistic styles represented. The last years, we have seen a rise of some topics, like ecology and identity. Books on war and conflict are, unfortunately, also always current. When asked if there are any themes he could wish for more of, he answers that he would like to see more colors and light: - The world is getting more pessimistic, and we can see that by the colors and shades of many entries getting darker. I could wish for a little more bright colors and mixes of colors.
When asked if he has a favourite from all the years of Silent book contests, Zamboni shares that there is one: - Not due to the quality, because this is so high in all the silent books we publish. But I grew up with Japanese comics, manga, and were therefore very happy to publish Il corragio nel vento di montagna by the famous comics illustrator Li Yao from China. It resonnates with the estethics I grew up with, and it is such a powerful story of having courage and overcoming fears.
The jury of literary experts had a challenging task choosing between 285 (!) entries from 50 different countries.
All 16 finalists, announced at the Bologna Fair, are of very hiqh quality.
Francesco Zamboni is himself an author, of the very popular fantasy series Il sommo incantatore. We ask if he has any plans of making a silent book. – I would love that, he smiles. I am not capable of doing any illustrations myself, but I would love to make a storyline and collaborate with an illustrator on a silent book.
One of the factors that make the Silent Book Contest so unique is that there are two juries, one of literary experts – which would be expected in any competition like this– but also one of children. Zamboni explains that the Junior Prize was started in 2020, and that there are now classrom juries from China, Taiwan, Japan, USA and Italy. – This way, we get two winners every year! And for Carthusia, this is so important. The books are meant for the children’s hands, so it’s only natural that we listen to their voices. Last year, the same book, Pettirosso by Mania Eghrarian, won with both jurys. That had never happened before. We therefore decided to also print the runner-up of the Children’s Jury, Mia mamma è un dinosauro by Riccardo Francaviglia and Margherita Sgarlata.
The Silent Book Contest has two Italian-based book fairs as partners: The Bologna Fair and the fair in Turin. The 16 finalists were announced in Bologna, with both an official seremony and a beautiful exhibition. Both the high quality and the diversity of artistic expressions of all finalists were really impressive. Now we all have to wait, with great suspense, for the grand announcement of the winner in Turin.
"The book are meant for the children's hands, so it's only natural that we listen to their voices"
Francesco Zamboni,
coordinator of the Silent book contest
The book "Il Pettirosso" won 1st price with both the adult and the Junior jury in 2025, the first time for this to occur.