An international competition kicked off on Monday in Shanghai, inviting global young illustrators to participate in one of Asia's largest book fair events.

Started in 2015, the Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition is an important project of China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair. The book fair is now jointly operated by Shanghai Xinhua Distribution Group Co., Ltd. and the Italian Bologna exhibition group.

One of the award-winning works ofthe 2019 Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition.[Photo/Official website ofthe Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition]

Illustrators, aged under 39, may submit their works through the official website of Shanghai Children's Book Fair from March 30 to June 30.

The organizing committee will give out awards to winners in November.

Shanghai also announced that it will hold the Eighth China Shanghai International Children's book exhibition from Nov 13 to 15 this year.

The book fair is expected to attract more than 450 children's book publishers, with an exhibition area of 25,000 square meters.