On Tuesday, 20 January 2026 at 4:00 p.m., the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre will open the illustration and puppet exhibition All Feelings Are Valid. The exhibition invites visitors to recognise different emotions, cope with them, and accept them both in themselves and in others.
The Centre’s main hall and stairway gallery will be filled with illustrations by book artists from Estonia and around the world. The works show that emotions are a natural and essential part of everyday life. The artists’ images convey the idea that feelings are neither good nor bad – they simply exist.
In addition to illustrations, visitors can explore the “emotion animals” displayed in the Centre’s attic. These puppets were created by puppet artists and are based on children’s drawings. The original drawings were selected through a creative competition launched in November 2024, which involved children aged 5–18 from all over Estonia. More than 2,000 drawings were submitted, and around one hundred were chosen for the exhibition. Throughout the exhibition period, children’s drawings decorate the Centre’s walls. Together with a specially space design these drawings create an emotionally rich atmosphere.
“Emotions are a natural part of our everyday lives, yet we often tend to suppress them within ourselves, especially difficult and negative feelings,” said Katrin Tõnisson, the exhibition curator. According to her, emotions have an important place in children’s literature, particularly in picture books. “Stories offer children and parents a good opportunity to explore feelings. The exhibition allows emotions to be discussed in an honest and playful way,” she added.
Illustrators participating in the exhibition:
Emma AdBåge, Beatrice Alemagna, Elina Braslina, Oksana Domashych, Mark Janssen, Kristi Kangilaski, Vane Kasturanov, Katri Kirkkopelto, Krõõt Kukkur, David Litchfield, Lumimari, Sirly Oder, Roger Olmos, Triin Paumer, Helena Pass, Elena Repetur, Ulla Saar, Aleksandra Zając, Reda Tomingas and Laura Verte.
Emotion animals created by:
Maris Aare, Annika Aedma, Kaili Kask, Terje Kiho, Kristel Maamägi, Tiia Mets, Jüri Mildeberg, Pille Pattak, Leenamari Pirn, Resa Tiitsmaa and Evelin Vassar.
Emotion animals are based on drawings by:
Anastassia Aljamsova, Mirjam Koitla, Eliisa Kuivjõgi, Carola Lass, Mariia Lytvynenko, Miialiisa Matsoo, Alina Ossipova, Annaliisa Rahnoja, Veronika Ryzhkova, Jethe-Mirell Saarman, Marianna Svežova, Krislin-Kevelin Teas and Rebeka Toompere.
The exhibition also features drawings by:
Mia Aga, Mari-Ann Ala, Anna-Grete Albi, Anastassia Aljamsova, Amelia Arkadjeva, Mats Artur Avi, Milana Barovskaja, Brenet, Carl Sebastian Eelmaa, Freia Figol, Raul Fiorenza, Richard Fuchs, Elis Gaver, Aljona Gromova, Hilda Haber, Enna Haapsal, Erika-Celeste Haavam, Marleen Heinsalu, Kristina Helmrosin, Herman Janson, Annabel Jagomäe, Jakob, Saskia Jalasto, Oliver Jääger, Oskar Jääger, Flora Kaasik, Karl Kalk, Kristelle Kardmaa, Jorven Kariste, Laureen Kasupeit, Eliise-Eleene Kesküll, Martin Kibus, Carolin Isabel Kiin, Isabel Kiis, Mirjam Koitla, Helisandra Koort, Klairika Koovit, Rasmus Korela, Rosmarie Korts, Samuel Krünberg, Eliisa Kuivjõgi, Keiu Kuld, Miina Kull, Kenert Kõlli, Gustav Evert Laats, Carola Lass, Emily Laurmann, Filip Lepik, Nora Liivlaid, Ott Liivsoo, Luise Lindström, Oliver Luik, Lorenna Luhari, Keity Lukken, Viktoriia Lukianenko, Bianka Lumi, Mariia Lytvynenka, Miialiisa Matsoo, Märt Meremäe, Milana Mihkelson, Mikk-Marten Mikita, Anastassia Mitrofanova, Andrias Naarist, Evert Neeme, Keron Niidumaa, Carola Nurm, Ciara Nurm, Hugo Oks, Yvonne-Mirell Orgus, Karmel-Lota Oro, Solomija Ossiitšuk, Alina Ossipova, Annabel Paluots, Juhan Paljak, Lucia Jasmine Padula, Mia Loore Pikkorainen, Meelis Pill, Emma Linda Piirat, Adeele Pilt, Danil Podolsky, Andra Press, Kertu Puštšenko, Andra Päär, Annaliisa Rahnoja, Ingel Reinson, Vitalina Revyako, Randel Rosenberg, Veronika Ryzhkova, Roosi Karolina Rüütli, Jethe-Mirell Saarman, Stella Rebecca Saarna, Piret Schnur, Rudolf Heinrich Seeman, Markus Siimsen, Lisann Sild, Sofia Sivukko, Pätrik Soomer, Mia Marii Soop, Daisy Sorokin, Victoria Soots, Marianna Svežova, Karolin Taim, Mirjam Tammeleht, Jaan Tani, Veronika Taratynko, Krislin-Kevelin Teas, Anastasiia Tebiakina, Kritika Thakur, Liisbet Tisler, Rebeka Toompere, Sarah Elisabeth Marie Trumm, Patric Utsar, Liisabet Uusma, Talis Valde, Heily Wagner, Rait Ragnar Veski, Helena Vihman, Hannah Vološtšenko, Sergo Välimäe, Fred Zacek, Johann Zavatski, Emilia Zelenski, Tuule Õige, Ulrik Sõber and Kirill Äri.
The exhibition is accompanied by an educational programme for kindergarten groups and school classes. The programme creates a safe and playful environment for noticing, reflecting on, and sharing feelings. Children’s books dealing with emotions by Estonian and international authors are also explored.
The exhibition is open until 6 June 2026 during the Centre’s opening hours and can be visited when no educational programmes are taking place in the exhibition spaces.
Roger Olmos’ illustration “Loneliness”
