Down by the River

The river in current picture books around the world

All over the world, rivers shape the landscape they cross. From their source to their mouth, the Amazon, Danube, Mekong, Mississippi, Murray and Nile structure continents, mark borders between countries, feature in many myths and legends, and serve as a metaphor for the course of life. Animals and plants make their home along and in rivers. People bathe and swim in them, camp on their banks, go on boat trips, fish and listen to their sound. They live with the river and in turn shape it: the river becomes a transport route, a way to school, a place for floating markets, and its water power makes it a source of energy. In return, humans dam the river, straighten it, build over it, pollute it and threaten the natural balance of the river and its inhabitants.

The exhibition shows the great diversity of the topic “river” through illustrations from current international picture book production. It ranges from topographical and natural history depictions that trace specific courses of rivers and their flora and fauna, to illustrations that show the river as a magnificent natural experience or deal with environmental aspects and the use of the river by humans, to the river as a symbol of the journey of life.

Content of the exhibition:
Introduction panel, 41 picture panel, 32 international picture books, additional material. Further details upon request

Language(s):
Picture books in diverse languages, introduction available in German. Translations upon request


Next venues:
2 November 2026 - 7 January 2027:
Biosphere Centre “House of the Black Mountains” / Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Wildflecken-
Oberbach, Germany

12 January - 25 February 2027:
Biosphere Centre „The House of the Lange Rhön“ / Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Oberelsbach, Germany

Further dates in planning!


Illustrations:
Copyright © 2019 by Elisha Cooper, from “River” (detail)
© Sara Lundberg, 2024, from “Ingen utom jag” ("Nobody but me")
Lê Nguyễn Bảo Ngọc © 2021 Room to Read, all rights reserved
© Marc Martin, from “A River”