3rd Edition of Ridda Selvaggia – Children's Literature Festival

Ridda Selvaggia is a children’s literature festival whose third edition takes place from June 12 to 14 in the evocative setting of Bosco Seleni in Lanusei, and continues between November and December with activities in schools across the Unione dei Comuni dell’Ogliastra.Promoted by the Municipality of Lanusei and artistically and organisationally curated by Cooperativa Tuttestorie, the festival is supported by the Regional Department of Education and Cultural Heritage of Sardinia, the Fondazione di Sardegna, and the Unione dei Comuni dell’Ogliastra.Ridda Selvaggia begins with books and storytelling and expands into the visual and performing arts, positioning itself as a community-based cultural project that actively involves families, schools, local associations, cultural institutions, and publishers. The festival is conceived as a shared space for imagination, learning, and participation, where literature becomes a gateway to broader artistic and educational experiences.The conceptual framework of the festival draws inspiration from two complementary sources. The first is nature, embodied by the unique landscape of Lanusei: its forest, archaeological park, and the star-filled sky observable from the F. Caliumi Astronomical Observatory. The second is literature, specifically Maurice Sendak’s iconic Where the Wild Things Are (Adelphi), a cornerstone of illustrated literature that portrays childhood as a time of transformation, exploration, and profound connection with the natural world.In this vision, the forest—symbol of the unknown—becomes the ideal setting for the ridda, the wild dance at the heart of Sendak’s story and a pivotal moment of self-discovery for the protagonist, Max. This metaphor guides the festival’s identity, celebrating imagination, growth, and the relationship between children and their environment.The programme includes approximately 100 events, among workshops, talks, readings, and performances involving authors, illustrators, artists, storytellers, librarians, and scholars of children’s literature, making Ridda Selvaggia a significant cultural event within the regional and national landscape of literary festivals for young audiences.