On April 10, 2025, the 4th Children’s Book Festival was held with the joint organization of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Culture, and the “Azerbaijan Publishers Association” Public Union (ANAIB).

The festival began with the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan, followed by a moment of silence in memory of the martyrs who gave their lives for the homeland.

In his opening speech, Shamil Sadiq, the Chairman of ANAIB  welcomed the participants and spoke about the development of children’s publishing in Azerbaijan over the past four years. He emphasized the growing interest of publishers in the festival and expressed his delight at the active participation of children. He highlighted the role of books in shaping children's intelligence, broadening their worldview, and supporting their mental development.

Ms. Bahar Muradova, the Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs,  greeted the festival participants—especially the children—and wished them success. She recalled the rich history and proud past of the Azerbaijani people, stating: “Today, Azerbaijan is rising from its Victory, moving toward a brighter and more magnificent future. This future is growing today within our families, represented by our children who symbolize our hope for tomorrow. The children of Victory are preparing for new achievements.”

Speaking on the importance of festivals that promote reading and foster a love of books among children, B. Muradova praised the efforts made to ensure the continuity of such events and thanked the organizers. “When authors, publishers, and printing houses collaborate to hold these kinds of events, it makes a significant contribution to inter-agency cooperation. Through this, we establish strong connections between educational institutions, families, and society,” she added.

Calling books the closest and most valuable creation of humankind, B. Muradova emphasized that loyalty to books is also a reflection of loyalty to oneself and one's values. She addressed the importance of the content of children's books and the values and knowledge they convey. She stressed the need to ensure that these books are age-appropriate and psychologically suitable, especially considering that children’s exposure to information begins at an increasingly early age.

Ms. Elnara Akimova, Member of Parliament noted in her speech that book festivals have become a tradition in the country over the past ten years. She emphasized that reading should become a way of life for everyone, and festivals play a vital role in achieving this goal. She stated that the Children’s Book Festival, now in its fourth edition, aims to support children's development and education. “Through this festival, children interact with books, meet writers, and experience books as a form of entertainment.”

She also highlighted the recent trend of including age restrictions on book covers, emphasizing the importance of this age labeling.

Ms. Mehriban Valiyeva, the another Member of Parliament,  expressed her satisfaction with the continuity of the Children's Book Festival and noted that over the course of the four days, children would enjoy a joyful and engaging celebration centered around books. She pointed out that one of the most important aspects of the festival is the inclusion of book donation boxes, which help develop a book-buying culture among children by showing them they can purchase books even with a small amount of money.

M. Valiyeva appealed to parents, urging them to serve as role models by reading books at home. She emphasized the critical role of parents and such festivals in instilling a love for books in children, especially at a time when social media has become a dominant part of children’s lives.

The festival continued with musical performances by children.

It should be noted that the four-day festival will feature the sale of thousands of children’s books at discounted prices, presentations by renowned authors, book signing sessions, entertaining puppet shows, intellectual masterclasses, fun competitions, reading hours, and theatrical performances for children.