1st place for Anina Mengerová in the Well Designed Book competition

The book combines many approaches with an emphasis on authenticity and sensuality, linked through a collage-like method. The work mixes diary entries, memories, old sun-baked papers, photographs, collages and small objects and printed materials that Anina collected during her stays. Small, colourful paintings, most of them created on the spot, are the focus of the entire publication. The whole of this sometimes more or less colourful compilation is a reflection of the diversity of the place, which won me over.

Anina's theoretical work deals with the question of what is a children's book, the development of printing technologies for image and text books and travelogues. To what extent, then, is the colour and picture book only for children? The evolution of the author's work is influenced by the work of Miroslav Šašek, who created a series of travel books for children and masterfully captures the genius loci with his distinctive approach.

"Tel Aviv impressed me with its diversity. It's a relatively new city merged with the ancient port of Jaffa. Muslims, Jews, Christians and non-believers live here together. The streets are constantly bustling with merchants shouting, old trucks rumbling, cars honking and electric scooters, rickshaws, bicycles and other vehicles I can't even name. On the Sabbath the streets quieten down and the whole town rests, or goes to sunbathe by the sea or hide in the shade of palm trees and ficus trees. In summer the sun shines and in winter it rains as if the sky has burst. Everything is intense here. And I longed to reflect this hectic and charged world and convey it in the form of a book."

"A well designed book - let's start with children" is an international biennial cultural event that has been held in Katowice, Poland since 2008. It brings together a wide range of artists, promoters, publishers and lovers of beautiful books for young readers around the world. The whole event includes a competition for the best children's book design, a scientific conference dedicated to children's book design, numerous exhibitions, as well as workshops for students and children.

The aim is to draw attention to the needs of the youngest readers and to discuss a wide range of issues related to the creation of books for children. The "well designed book" enjoys great interest among a diverse audience and is considered by publishers and promoters of good books as one of the important factors that have influenced the development of the children's book market in Poland after 2000.