Kids Photobook Archive

Kids Photobook Archive is an independent collection of children’s photobooks developed by TAMBOURINE. The current selection features 20 publications from diverse origins, showcasing the main graphic and conceptual typologies of the genre, with examples dating from 1930 to 1980.

Photography has rarely found its place in children’s literature, occupying a far smaller space in a field traditionally dominated by illustration. Yet its presence forms a fascinating subgenre, highlighting both the narrative qualities of the medium and its varied graphic applications. The exhibition invites young audiences and adults alike to explore the experimental nature and visual richness of this unique and little-explored editorial subgenre.

From April 24th to June 4th, KPA’s collection was exhibited in Araña space in Madrid, as a Reading Room, with a display designed by Laura Alandes and Pablo Alabau, from Studio Estudio. With a small entrance that served as a transition between the ordinary and the extraordinary, the Reading Room unfolded into a serene space designed for contemplation. Inside, an altar of books rested atop a tiered platform that not only displayed the publications but also doubled as a continuous-step seating area, inviting visitors to settle in, relax, and explore the books at their own pace.