Newmag Summerfest 2025 Launches “Dream Book” Children’s Festival (Video, Photos)

Gohar Manukyan, Head of the “Yeraz” book series, and young reader Alex Aleksanyan from the Yeraz Book Club introduced “School of the Seven Galaxies”, written by Armenian fantasy author Ruslan Saghabalyan, who was present at the event.

Saghabalyan, who wrote the book in the 1980s—before the world knew of Harry Potter and Hogwarts—shared the origins of his intergalactic school story:

“I wrote this book back in the 80s. You’ll find it familiar, because it’s essentially a regular school taken to the extreme. I don’t really like the term ‘science fiction.’ My work is more of a fantasy, a dream turned upside down. It’s easier to write about real people, but fantasy is crucial for the future of civilized societies. Homer’s Odyssey is fantasy, too. Art is born from dreams.”

The second book presented, “Extinctopedia”, explores the stories of extinct and endangered animals. Mary Hovsepyan, Academic Director at Ayb School, spoke about the significance of biodiversity and conservation, showing children real video footage from the International Union for Conservation of Nature:

“Over the years, we've seen that the most dangerous animal in nature is man. People have hunted not just for food, but for feathers and fur. In the 20th century, we realized leopards were vanishing from our forests. This book is a call to love, respect, and protect the natural world.”

Among this year’s translations is “Hey Grandude!” by legendary musician Paul McCartney, now available in Armenian thanks to the Yeraz Book series. Gnel Nalbandyan, editor at Newmag, introduced the book: 

“McCartney wrote this magical adventure story for his grandchildren, showing the deep, imaginative bond between grandparents and grandchildren.”

Also featured was Latvian author Signe Viška’s “Kate Wanted to Be a Grandpa”, a touching story about the powerful relationship between generations. The fifth book, “The Poet and the Smell” by Lotte Vilma Vitinja, invites children to discover the world through scent—complete with a real fragrance hidden inside the pages. All three Latvian titles were translated by Naira Khachatryan.

“When I brought this book from Latvia, Gohar Manukyan immediately loved the idea, and we decided to bring it to Armenian readers. The book helps even the youngest children explore the world with their senses.”

Ofeli Dallakyan, Head of the Children’s Literature Department at the Avetik Isahakyan Library, emphasized the importance of such books:

“Children today have so many choices, but they need high-quality, visually engaging, and age-appropriate content. Illustrated books like these spark imagination and build a love for reading. I especially loved Kate Wanted to Be a Grandpa. Grandparents are warm, comforting figures, and this book beautifully captures that emotional connection.”

The festival also featured a rich cultural program. One of the highlights was a performance by Hayk Danoyan, a fourth-grade violinist from the Tchaikovsky Music School. Already a laureate of international competitions, Hayk performed classical pieces with impressive virtuosity.

The “New Identity” fashion club from Ayb School’s project-based learning program presented their Wishup collection, inspired by the Armenian cultural symbol of the dragon.

Gayane Manukyan, the club’s mentor, shared the story behind the concept:

“The dragon is one of Armenia’s forgotten yet powerful cultural symbols. Fashion is a flexible medium to engage the younger generation with heritage.”

Nare Harutyunyan, one of the students, added:

“We hope our capsule collection will one day grow into a sustainable business. We’ve gained knowledge in design, modeling, and entrepreneurship.”

Another Ayb School group, the Rockestra band, performed a cover of The Beatles’ “Hey Jude”, the inspiration behind Paul McCartney’s children’s book title “Hey Grandude!”

The children also enjoyed educational games and sweet treats at the pavilion of Dobry, the general sponsor of the children’s section. The brand created a fun, colorful, and engaging space full of surprises and giveaways.

The festival concluded with an interactive theatrical performance organized by Yeraz Park, allowing children to step into the story and become part of the magical world they had read about.