Small Italian publishers VerbaVolant and Les cerises innovate with experimental children's books

Italian independent publishers VerbaVolant and Les cerises are producing innovative children's books that challenge conventional formats. VerbaVolant, based in Siracusa's Borgata district, creates 'Libri da parati' — books that unfold into 70x100 cm posters, with typography that grows larger as pages expand. Les cerises, founded by Angelika Burtscher, Agnese and Cecilia Canziani, and Daniele Lupo, commissions silent books from artists, designers, architects, and illustrators who have never made a children's book before. Their titles include 'Storie di una balena' (2015) by Emanuele Olivieri, 'Psssst Psssst' (2016) by Chiara Camoni, and 'New York City Babe' (2017) by Antonio Rovaldi. The article argues that small publishers offer creative freedom that larger houses lack, despite Italy's low book-reading rates and poor distribution.