The White
Ravens 2026
216 books. 46 languages. 62 countries and territories. An annual map of international children’s literature.
Published by the International Youth Library in Munich, The White Ravens brings together remarkable new books for children and young adults from different languages, countries and publishing cultures.
Independent reference page by Daniel Kondo. The official source for The White Ravens is the International Youth Library in Munich.
An international catalogue of remarkable books.
The 2026 catalogue brings together notable children’s and young adult books from across the world.
OCT
The White Ravens arrives in Frankfurt.
The International Youth Library will present The White Ravens 2026 at the Frankfurt Book Fair on Wednesday, 7 October.
Four books from Brazil in The White Ravens 2026.
Four Brazilian books were selected for The White Ravens 2026, the annual international children’s and youth literature catalogue of the International Youth Library in Munich.
A view of children’s literature across languages and borders.
The White Ravens is an annual recommendation catalogue published by the International Youth Library in Munich.
Its specialists examine recent children’s and young adult books from around the world. The selection draws attention to literary and visual quality, relevant themes and distinctive approaches to storytelling and book design.
What makes a White Ravens book?
Literary quality
Distinctive writing, voice and narrative construction.
Visual language
Illustration and pictorial qualities play a central role in the reading of picturebooks.
Form & invention
Narrative ideas, subject matter and approaches to design can distinguish a book within the international selection.
Two books.
Thirteen years apart.
Psssssssssssssiu! was selected in 2013. In 2026, Refloresta, by Gilberto Gil and Daniel Kondo, entered The White Ravens.
Psssssssssssssiu!
Silvana Tavano · Daniel Kondo
The White Ravens 2013
Refloresta
Created from Gilberto Gil’s song about the destruction and regeneration of the rainforest, Refloresta unfolds through rhythm, sequence, colour and the movement of the page.
The White Ravens catalogue draws particular attention to the intensity of the images and to the chromatic tension between the living forest and its destruction.
Colour carries the drama.
The White Ravens catalogue describes the images as powerful, intensive and luminous, at moments deliberately alarming. Greens and blues hold the living forest; reds, yellows and oranges enter with fire, machines and destruction.
The White Ravens 2026 · International Youth Library“powerful pictures done in intensive, luminous and at times alarming colours.”
What the catalogue highlights about Refloresta.
The catalogue recalls that Gilberto Gil wrote the song at Sebastião Salgado’s request, addressing the destruction of the rainforest and the need to reforest the region so that animals, plants and people have a chance for survival.
It describes the samba as lively and dynamic, carrying a forceful appeal against chainsaws, fire and the continued destruction of the forest.
Daniel Kondo’s visual interpretation is singled out for its intensity and luminosity. The catalogue points to the bold, woodcut-like illustrations and to details including an indigenous face, an endangered beetle and tree rings.
It also highlights the movement between greens and blues in the surviving forest and the reds, yellows and oranges associated with fire and machinery.
International Youth Library · Munich
Refloresta, beyond Brazil.
The original Brazilian edition was published by Elo Editora in 2025. A Portuguese edition followed with Orfeu Negro in 2026. Translation rights remain available in selected territories.
Publishing information →The White Ravens · FAQ
What is The White Ravens? +
The White Ravens is an annual international recommendation catalogue of children’s and young adult literature published by the International Youth Library in Munich.
How many books are in The White Ravens 2026? +
The 2026 catalogue contains 216 selected books in 46 languages from 62 countries and territories.
How many Brazilian books were selected in 2026? +
Four books from Brazil appear in the 2026 catalogue, including Refloresta.
Is The White Ravens an award? +
The White Ravens is an annual international recommendation list and catalogue. The selected books are presented together without a ranking or single winner.
Which Daniel Kondo books were selected? +
Psssssssssssssiu! was selected in 2013. Refloresta, by Gilberto Gil and Daniel Kondo, was selected in 2026.
Who is Jochen Weber [JW]? +
Jochen Weber is Head of Language Sections and responsible for the Ibero-American Section at the International Youth Library in Munich. The initials [JW] identify his catalogue entry for Refloresta in The White Ravens 2026.
Are international rights for Refloresta available? +
Translation and publishing rights are available in selected languages and territories.
Publishing information →Where will The White Ravens 2026 be presented in Frankfurt? +
The International Youth Library will present selected titles from The White Ravens 2026 at the Frankfurt Book Fair on 7 October 2026 at 09:30, at the Dialogue Stage, Foyer 4.0. The International Youth Library stand is in Hall 4.0 / F96.
Official Frankfurt information ↗Official references.
Independent informational page. The White Ravens and the International Youth Library are independent from Kondo Estudio. Official information should be verified with the International Youth Library.
Refloresta
Selected for The White Ravens 2026.
Translation rights available in selected languages
and territories.