Event Highlights

In the comprehensive programme of events that await you, we have selected for you those that you should not miss. 


Sunday 07 April 2024

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

How to Sell Rights and Understand Licensing in Children's Books

Sala Concerto
Services Centre - Wing D

Pre-registration required on BBPlus website.

How to participate.

Organized by

BBPlus

Monday 08 April 2024

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Self-Publishing Day One: A Focus on your writing

Sala Concerto
Services Centre - Wing D

Pre-registration required on BBPlus website.

How to participate.

Organized by

BBPlus

In cooperation with

Argentovivo

Event Highlights
PublisHer

The Power of Collaboration: Women in Publishing Networks

HALL 29, B44-C41
PublisHer Area

Explore the importance of networking and collaboration in the publishing industry. Discuss how female publishers have built supportive networks and collaborations to enhance their professional growth.

Panel

Bodour Al Qasimi, CEO and Founder, Kalimat Publishing Group; Elena Pasoli, Director, Bologna Children's Book Fair

Organized by

PublisHer

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
BolognaBookPlus
Slovenia Guest of Honour
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair Kids

Opening ceremony of Bologna Children’s Book Fair, BolognaBookPlus, Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids, Slovenia Guest of Honour

Services Centre
Illustrators Café
Event Highlights
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair Kids
Comics

Opening interview: Kodansha, building successful IPs from manga

HALL 29 MALL 2
Licensing Conference Room

Japanese publishing giant Kodansha is a leading producer of manga IP. In recent years, they have been developing licensing strategies that help to extend their IPs beyond manga to become iconic brands applied to consumer products and beyond. At the centre of the interview, discussions regarding the strategies behind the crossover of Kodansha content and consumer product development, the wave of major international trends around manga, and enlighten the audience with interesting and current ones to follow.

Panel

Yulia Amano, Senior International Licensing Manager, Kodansha Ltd, Japan.

Organized by

Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids

In cooperation with

Licensing Magazine

In the framework of

International Kids Licensing Days, Comics Corner

Event Highlights
Slovenia Guest of Honour
The Illustrators Survival Corner

Collage and Drawing Hand in Hand (Finding stories through creative play) - Workshop with Ana Maraž and Marta Bartolj

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area

Ana Maraž and Marta Bartolj are Slovenia-based illustrators. The workshop offers a creative mix of techniques from both artists. Let’s explore and play with the combination of collage and drawing.

Upon reservation only on Eventbrite.

Panel

Ana Maraž, iIllustrator; Marta Bartolj, illustrator.

Organized by

Slovenian Book Agency

In cooperation with

Slovenian Illustration Center

With the support of

Slovenian Book Agency

In the framework of

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus
Aldus Up

The Italian General Book Market 2023, with a Focus on the Children's Book Market: Destination Frankfurt

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre

A presentation of the latest available data of the Italian publishing market to foreign operators: sales, titles published, translation rights sold. Followed by an insight on the children’s book market, its growth despite the demographic crisis, the differences among age groups, the role of internationalisation.

Panel

Bruno Giancarli, Research Department, AIE - Associazione Italiana Editori.

Organized by

BBPlus

In cooperation with

AIE - Associazione Italiana Editori

With the support of

ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

In the framework of

Aldus Up

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
Awards & Contests

The winner of the Extraordinary Award for an Extraordinary Book

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

Winner The Extraordinary Award... For An Extraordinary Book: Bambini nascosti (Hidden Children), Vànvere edizioni, Italy. Text and illustrations by Franco Matticchio.

The Extraordinary Award for an Extraordinary Book is a special prize by Bologna Children's Book Fair created to acknowledge a title that has touched the Jury in an exceptional way.

Moderator
Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna
Panel

Stefania Camilli, Vànvere edizioni; Giorgia Grilli, Professor, University of Bologna.

 

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In the framework of

BolognaRagazzi Awards 2024

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

India in the Limelight Opening Ceremony: Painting a Picture for a Bright Indian Future

HALL 29 MALL 1, A7
India Stand, BBPLUS
Panel

Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India; Jacks Thomas, Guest Director, BolognaBookPlus.

Organized by

BBPlus

In cooperation with

National Book Trust India

Event Highlights
Awards & Contests
Book Lovers' Café

The winners of the BolognaRagazzi Awards 2024: Toddler category

Gallery Hall 25 - 26
Book Lovers' Café

Toddler Winner: Dia de Lua (Moon Day), Jujuba Editora, Brazil, 2023. Text and Illustrations by Renato Moriconi.

Moderator
Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna
Panel

Daniela Padilha, publisher, Jujuba Editora; Renato Moriconi, author and illustrator Dia de Lua (Moon Day).

 

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
Authors Café
Awards & Contests
Aldus Up

Stories across media. New forms of reading and storytelling for children from the BolognaRagazzi CrossMedia Awards 2024

HALL 30
Authors Café

Through digital media, children and young adults experience new forms of reading and storytelling, within complex narrative worlds in which books are joined by movies and TV series, webcomics and webnovels, podcasts and audiobooks, immersive and interactive stories. Now in its 4th edition, the BolognaRagazzi CrossMedia Award explores these new forms of storytelling, selecting the best cross-media projects and the most effective screen reading experiences for children and teenagers.

Panel

Warren Buckleitner, editor, Children’s Technology Review; Julie Fox, Founder, Serendipity Animation; Neal Hoskins, Founder, WingedChariot; Beatrice Yong-in Lin, Co-founder, CO.MINT Inc.; Elisa Salamini, Co-founder, ContentMakers and Mamamò.it.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

Mamamò

In the framework of

Aldus Up

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner

The Original Art Exhibition Presentation

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

An in-depth exploration of the Society of Illustrators' rich history, impactful work, and insights into the esteemed juried Original Art Show. Learn about its history, evolution, and medalists.

 

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

 

Panel

Arabelle Liepold, Executive Director, Society of Illustrators; Steven Compton, Director of Exhibitions and Permanent Collection, Society of Illustrators; Lindsay Compton, Director of Programs and Partnerships, Society of Illustrators; Clare Pernice, Children’s Programs Consultant & Saturday Stories Coordinator, Society of Illustrators.

Organized by

Society of Illustrators

In cooperation with

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In the framework of

The Original Art Exhibition

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour
Awards & Contests

Meeting with the Chinese Excellence in Children's Illustration Exhibition 2024 Jury

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

The exhibition "Chinese Excellence in Children’s Illustration" showcases the best contemporary Chinese illustrators selected each year by a different Jury of leading Chinese and international experts, to present them to the international publishing community at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. The exhibition 2024 (HALL 30, B46-C33) and the catalogue feature the 15 artists selected by the Jury: 3 winners and 12 finalists.

Moderator
Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna
Panel

Anna Castagnoli, author, illustrator, researcher and collector of books for children, Italy; Debbie Bibo, literary agent and editorial producer of children’s picture books and illustrated books, USA-Italy; Loïc Boyer, freelance graphic designer, Founder, Cligne Cligne Magazine, France; Hai Fei, publisher and writer, China; Wang Lijun, curator and Founder, China Picture Book Fair and the Zhang Leping Picture Book Award, China; Zhang Mingzhou, Founding Director, Lifetree Culture Promotion Center, Executive Director, Publishers Association of China, China; Yang Zhong, PhD, Associate Professor, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Director, Department of Culture and Urbanism School of Urban Design, Director, Picture Book Creation Workshop and Master’s Degree Tutor, China; Elena Pasoli, Director, Bologna Children's Book Fair; Sara Wang, CEO, Sìdee Cultural Communication.

 

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair, China South Publishing & MediaGroup, Sìdee Cultural Communication

In cooperation with

China Publishers

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus
The Illustrators Survival Corner
Awards & Contests

Talking Pictures: Ukraine's Contemporary Visual Book Production - Masterclass

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area

Talking Pictures, a project curated by Steven Guarnaccia and Hamelin, investigates the best international visual book production, seeking innovation in illustration and publishing, and promoting alla forms of experimentation in picture books. For BolognaBookPlus, Talking Pictures focuses on the Ukrainian visual book scene. Ukraine has a very important and still too little-known tradition in the field of printmaking, illustration and design. Its visual books production is of the highest quality, and now seems like the right time to showcase it. This masterclass explores this production, highlighting both its historical perspectives and new trends in the contemporary market.

 

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

 

Organized by

BolognaBookPlus

In cooperation with

Hamelin, Steven Guarnaccia, International Book Arsenal Festival Kyiv

Event Highlights
Authors Café

Reading for a Healthy Planet: Inspiring Children’s Books to Help Achieve a Sustainable Future

HALL 30
Authors Café

Children's books about sustainability serve as a powerful tool to introduce global issues to young audiences, inspiring them to become active participants in creating a sustainable future. This session, composed of publishers, scientists, authors, and international advocates will look at how children’s books can help convey complex ideas about the impact of our actions on the environment and empower kids to start making a difference in their communities from an early age. The panel discussion is complemented by an exhibition of some of the best environmentally themed children's books from all over the world (HALL 30). This event is in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, a framework for a better future for all by the United Nations. Inspired by the SDG Book Club, a collaboration of the United Nations, the International Publishers Association, the Bologna Children's Book Fair, the European & International Booksellers Federation, the International Board on Books for Young People, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

Moderator
Ed Nawotka, Senior International and Bookselling Editor, Publishers Weekly, USA
Panel

Irina Lumelsky, United Nations Publications; Karine Pansa, President, International Publishers Association; Inês Castel-Branco, Publisher, Akiara Books; Elisa Palazzi, Children's Book Author and Researcher, Professor of Climate Physics at the University of Torino. 

Organized by

United Nations, Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

IPA - International Publishers Association

In the framework of

Sustainable Development Goal Book Club

Event Highlights
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair Kids

Spotlight on gaming. Gaming crossing Publishing and Licensing: New Opportunities

HALL 29 MALL 2
Licensing Conference Room

Gaming, along with publishing and audiovisual, is clearly one of the sources of original children's content that is then licensed to develop successful IPs. Gaming is also one of the media from which audiovisual producers and publishers acquire content to develop animation, live action, featured films and book series. Today gaming is central to communicating with a young audience that is increasingly fragmented and distracted and distant from mainstream. In this panel we discuss with some of the international protagonists of the gaming industry about their approach to connecting worlds such as licensing, audiovisual and publishing.

Moderator
Ben Roberts, Conten Director, EMEA, License Global, UK
Panel

Gianluca Marani, CEO, Funny Tales, Italy; Fèe Heyer, Head of Global Licensing & Partnerships, Devolver Digital, UK; Thierry Baujard, Co-founder, Spielfabrique, Germany.

 

Organized by

Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids

In cooperation with

Licensing Magazine

In the framework of

International Kids Licensing Days

Event Highlights
Awards & Contests

The Chinese Excellence in Children's Illustration 2024: Opening Ceremony and Exhibition Tour

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HALL 30, B46-C33

The exhibition "Chinese Excellence in Children’s Illustration" showcases the best contemporary Chinese illustrators selected each year by a different Jury of leading Chinese and international experts, to present them to the international publishing community at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. The exhibition (HALL 30, B46-C33) and the catalogue feature the 15 artists selected by the Jury 2024: 3 winners and 12 finalists.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair, China South Publishing & MediaGroup, Sìdee Cultural Communication

In cooperation with

China Publishers

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

IBBY - International Board on Books for Young People: Annual Press Conference

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

The IBBY Press Conference presents the work of IBBY throughout the year and highlights its most important events, including the 39th IBBY World Congress (Trieste, Italy, 30 Aug - 1 Sept, 2024) and the 2024 International Children's Book Day. It is also the much-expected occasion to discover the winners of the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award and the IBBY Reading Promotions Awards.

Panel

Sylvia Vardell, President, IBBY; Carolina Ballester, Executive Director, IBBY; Valerie Coghlan, President, Bookbird Inc.; Yukiko Hiromatsu, JBBY Board Member; Elisabetta Lippolis, IBBY Italy, Vice President and 2024 IBBY World Congress Chair; Junko Yokota, JBBY Reading Promotion Award Jury President; Liz Page, 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury President.

Organized by

IBBY - International Board on Books for Young People

Event Highlights
Awards & Contests
Book Lovers' Café

The winners of the BolognaRagazzi Awards 2024: Opera Prima and New Horizons categories

Gallery Hall 25 - 26
Book Lovers' Café

Opera Prima winner: Ko darīt, ja esi kails pilsētā (What to Do If You Are Naked in a City?), Janis Roze Publishers, Latvia, 2023. Text and Illustrations by Aleksandra Runde.

New Horizons SPECIAL JURY PRIZE Winner: 回憶見 (See You in Memories), Pen So Artlab, Hong Kong, China, 2022. Text and Illustrations by Pen So.

Moderator
Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna
Panel

Renate Punka, Managing Director, Janis Roze Publishers, Latvia; Aleksandra Runde, author and illustrator Ko darīt, ja esi kails pilsētā (What to Do If You Are Naked in a City?); Pen So, author and illustrator, 回憶見 (See You in Memories).

 

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
Authors Café

Data Release and Case Analysis of the Chinese Children's Book Market

HALL 30
Authors Café
Organized by

China Publishers

In cooperation with

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

Silent Book Contest 2024 - Gianni De Conno Award. Announcement of the finalists

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

Presentation of the finalists of the 2024 Silent Book Contest - Gianni De Conno Award, the first international competition dedicated to the wordless book, this year in its 11th edition.

Panel

Patrizia Zerbi, publisher and Editorial Director, Carthusia Edizioni; Elena Pasoli, Director, Bologna Children's Book Fair; Walter Fochesato, President of the Jury and expert in the history of children's literature; Emanuela Bussolati, illustrator; Eros Miari, consultant, Turin Book Fair; Marco Gillo, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Corriere della Sera; Sara Wang, CEO, Niu Niu Culture Limited; Sonja Riva, journalist, Swiss radio and television; Lorena De Vita, Head of the Culture sector, BPER Banca.

Organized by

Carthusia Edizioni

In cooperation with

Bologna Children's Book Fair, Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino, Comune di Mulazzo

With the support of

BPER Banca

Event Highlights
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair Kids
Awards & Contests

Announcement of the Bologna Licensing Awards winners

HALL 29 MALL 2
Licensing Conference Room

For the 7th edition, the Bologna Licensing Awards will be announced at a dedicated event at the heart of the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids. The award is a unique achievement, as it rewards the most innovative projects based on children and teen brands and products at an international level.

Organized by

Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids

In cooperation with

Licensing Magazine

Event Highlights
Authors Café
Comics

The Italian factor: How to Build a Career in Comics and Illustration in the US. A Conversation with Bianca Bagnarelli, Matteo Berton, Sarah Mazzetti

HALL 30
Authors Café

From Bologna to the cover of The New York Times: what opportunities exist for young comic artists and illustrators seeking careers overseas? How does one secure positions with some of the largest American magazines? This panel provides a practical guide for those aiming to launch international careers, drawing from the experiences of three young Italian talents who, starting in Bologna, are making names for themselves in the USA.

Panel

Bianca Bagnarelli, comics artist and illustrator, Italy; Matteo Berton, comics artist and illustrator, Italy; Sarah Mazzetti, comics artist and illustrator, Italy; Arabelle Liepold, Executive Director, Society of Illustrators, USA; Maria Russo, Editor at Large, Union Square Kids, USA.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

Hamelin

In the framework of

Comics Corner

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

L'occhio del mondo: 12 Independent Picture Book Publishers from Around the World

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

"L'occhio del mondo", Italian leg of L'œil du monde, involves 12 independent picture book publishers from around the world: A Buen Paso (Spain), Bakame (Rwanda), Baobab (Czech Republic), Jaimimage (South Korea), Magikon (Norway), MeMo (France), One Stroke (Japan), Petra Ediciones (Mexico), Planeta Tangerina (Portugal), Tara Books (India), Topipittori (Italy), and Wytwórnia (Poland). Twelve publishers as diverse as the countries they are from, but united by a common vision of childhood. Created in 2023 by Éditions MeMo, L'œil du monde celebrates a year of activities in libraries, public schools, and associations in every one of the twelve countries. This round table is the opportunity to present the results of the project, and reflect on the role of independent publishing in an increasingly multilingual world. L'occhio del mondo, Italian leg of L'œil du monde, co-financed by the "Creative Europe" project of the EU. First created by Éditions MeMo, L'occhio del mondo is curated by Topipittori and Hamelin.

Panel

Paolo Canton, Topipittori, Italy; Tereza Horváthová, Baobab, Czech Republic; Magdalena Kłos-Podsiadło, Wytwórnia, Poland; Christine Morault, Éditions MeMo, France; Ilaria Tontardini, Hamelin, Italy.

Organized by

Éditions MeMo, Topipittori, Hamelin

In cooperation with

Settore Biblioteche e Welfare culturale, Comune di Bologna

With the support of

Creative Europe Programme

In the framework of

BOOM! Crescere nei libri

Event Highlights
Authors Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour
Aldus Up
Artificial Intelligence

Higher-level reading, AI and Book publishing: the Ljubljana Reading Manifesto

HALL 30
Authors Café

Digitalization is one of the fastest accelerators of change in human history. The World Wide Web, social media and the explosive growth of English as a global language of communication connect us across geographical and linguistic boundaries; thanks to the unprecedented development of natural sciences, we are looking into the deepest darknesses of the universe and exploring the secrets of the human genome; even more so, we have developed virtually intelligent machines that could immeasurably accelerate scientific development in the coming decades and change the current rules in the process of creating textual content. But we also live in a time when stupidity and vulgarity are not only on public display but are becoming a political virtue, and social media enclose us in bubbles where we lose sense of the differences between facts and beliefs, arguments and biases, ideologies and scientific methods. How to understand such a complex, fluid and entangled world? And how does book publishing fit into all of this? How to communicate all these complexities in book formats without getting lost in simplifications? And what role does higher level reading play in understanding the complexity of today's world? Is it an obscure intellectual technique that is becoming obsolete, or is it something that cannot be replaced by a range of new media activities, and we need to rethink its position both in publishing and in the cultural landscape as a whole?.

Moderator
Miha Kovač
Panel

Karine Pansa, President, IPA; Kristenn Einarsson, CEO, World Expression Forum; Christoph Bläsi, University of Mainz and Aldus up; Luis González, Fundación Germán Sánchez Ruipérez, Aldus Up.

 

Organized by

JAK - Slovenian Book Agency

In the framework of

Slovenia Guest of Honour, Aldus Up

Tuesday 09 April 2024

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Self-Publishing Day Two

Sala Concerto
Services Centre - Wing D

Pre-registration required on BBPlus website.

How to participate.

Organized by

BBPlus

In cooperation with

Argentovivo

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour

Why are silent books so loud?

Services Centre
Illustrators Café
Organized by

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
PublisHer

Breaking Barriers: Women in Leadership Roles

HALL 29, B44-C41
PublisHer Area

Learn about the experiences of female publishers in leadership positions. Discussing the challenges of breaking into leadership roles, navigating gender biases, and fostering diversity in publishing.

Organized by

PublisHer

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Call your Agent: how to Become a Successful Literary Agent

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre

Pre-registration required on BBPlus website.

How to participate.

Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner

In Conversation with Artist and Picture Book Maker Oliver Jeffers - Masterclass

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

Join us for an event with globally-renowned artist and internationally bestselling author, Oliver Jeffers, discussing with Mara Pace the 20th anniversary of Oliver’s debut in his picture book making.

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

Panel

Oliver Jeffers, artist and picture book maker; Mara Pace, journalist, Andersen Magazine.

Organized by

ZOOlibri

In cooperation with

HarperCollins Children's Books Publishers

With the support of

Andersen Magazine

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour

Slovenian illustrators at the Bologna Children's Book Fair exhibitions

Services Centre
Illustrators Café
Organized by

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner

Anatomy of the Villain in Children's Books - Masterclass with Benjamin Lacombe and Sébastien Perez

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

Benjamin Lacombe and Sébastien Perez, authors of L'enfance des méchants, des vilaines & des affreux (L'infanzia dei cattivi. O come divennero così malefici, Ippocampo Edizioni) analyse the characteristics of the villain in children's literature. With Martina Russo (Andersen).

 

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

 

Panel

Benjamin Lacombe, artist; Sébastien Perez, author; Martina Russo, journalist, Andersen Magazine.

Organized by

L'ippocampo Edizioni

Event Highlights
Awards & Contests
Book Lovers' Café

The winners of the BolognaRagazzi Awards 2024: Fiction and Non-Fiction categories

Gallery Hall 25 - 26
Book Lovers' Café

Fiction winner: Kintsugi, Libros del Zorro Rojo, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, CD de México, 2023, Text and Illustrations by Issa Watanabe.

Non-Fiction winner: Myko (Myco), Baobab, Czech Republic, 2023, Text by Jiří Dvořák, Illustrations by Daniela Olejníková.

Moderator
Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna
Panel

Estrella Borrego, publisher, Libros del Zorro Rojo; Issa Watanabe, author and illustrator Kintsugi; Tereza Horváthová, Co-founder, Editor-in-Chief, writer and translator, Baobab; Jiří Dvořák, author; Daniela Olejníková, illustrator Myko (Myco).

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
Authors Café

Sea of Stories: The Science, History, and Cultural Importance of the Sea in Children’s Literature

HALL 30
Authors Café

Covering almost three quarters of our planet’s surface, the sea is the Earth’s largest ecosystem. Some scientists even call Earth “the Ocean Planet.” And while the planet’s oceans may seem to exist separately, in reality, the oceans are one interconnected body of water. It is this one great sea that makes life possible, and the same sea that each of us around the globe must share and nurture. The sea is not static, empty space: Just as it is constantly reshaped by marine life and geology, it is also transformed through politics and human initiatives. This international round table will explore how children's books today address the momentous presence and multifaceted impact of the sea on human life and society. We will discuss how books can make scientific and ecological investigation of the sea come alive for children; how books can help children explore the role of the sea in socio-political phenomena such as migrations; and how the timeless lore of the sea has shaped storytelling across cultures. Convening a distinguished group of publishers, scientists, authors, and international advocates, this session will highlight the many rigorous, brilliant, and aesthetically elevated children’s books across the globe that reveal the deep interconnectivity between human life, marine life, and the irreplaceable sea. This event is linked to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Book Club and to the BolognaRagazzi Award 2024 Special Category, dedicated to the best international illustrated books about the Sea.

Moderator
Maria Russo, Editor at Large, Union Square Kids, USA
Panel

Irina Lumelsky, United Nations Publications; Bernardo P. Carvalho, Author, Illustrator and Co-Founder, Planeta Tangerina, Portugal; Janetta Otter-Barry, Publisher, Otter-Barry Books, UK; Gita Wolf, Founder and Publisher, Tara Books, India; Deborah Soria, Bookseller, Ottimomassimo, Project Manager, IBBY "Silent Books - Final Destination Lampedusa", Italy.

Organized by

United Nations, Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

IPA - International Publishers Association

In the framework of

Sustainable Development Goal Book Club

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour

Will young Slovenian artists conquer the world?

Services Centre
Illustrators Café
Organized by

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
Slovenia Guest of Honour

Guided Tour of "And then what happens?" - GoH Illustrator's Exhibition

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Services Center
Organized by

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
Authors Café
Comics

Jérémie Moreau: drawing the future with comics

HALL 30
Authors Café

In the increasingly vibrant landscape of young adult comics, Jérémie Moreau is single handedly creating a new paradigm. Striking a meticulous balance between fantasy and realism, tradition and experimentation, his comic books manage to talk to young readers about the uncertainty of a world marked by planetary emergencies, and to imagine the future that awaits us.

Panel

Jérémie Moreau, comics artist and illustrator, France; Massimiliano Clemente, Editorial Director, Tunué, Italy; Emilio Varrà, Hamelin, Italy.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

Hamelin, Tunué

In the framework of

Comics Corner

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

Announcement of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2024

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

Announcement of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2024, broadcast live from Stockholm.

Panel

Boel Westin, Jury chair ALMA; Kajsa Ravin, Director General, Swedish Arts Council; Jan Björklund, Ambassador of Sweden to Italy; Björn Sundmark, Jury member, ALMA; Balsam Karam, Jury member, ALMA; Mårten Sandén, Jury member, ALMA.

Organized by

Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award

Event Highlights
Authors Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour
Comics

Great stories from a small country: slovenian comics today

HALL 30
Authors Café

When we talk about comics we automatically think of France, Belgium, the United States, Japan... But Slovenia, guest country of Bologna Children's Book Fair 2024, is one of the most original and surprising hubs for European independent comics. This panel is both a conversation between Stripburger, whose magazine has been bringing the best of Slovenian comics to Europe and vice versa for more than 30 years, and comic artist Izar Lunacek, among the organizers of Tinta Comics Fest.

Panel

David Krančan, comics artist and editor, Stripburger, Slovenia; Tanja Skale, editor, Stripburger, Slovenia; Izar Lunacek, comics artist, Slovenia.

Organized by

Bologna Children’s Book Fair, JAK - Slovenian Book Agency

In cooperation with

Hamelin

In the framework of

Slovenia Guest of Honour, Comics Corner

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Author Ambassador Neil Packer In Conversation

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre

2024 BolognaBookPlus Author Ambassador, Neil Packer in Conversation with Ed Nawotka, Publishers Weekly.

Panel

Neil Packer, author; Ed Nawotka, Publishers Weekly.

Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
Book Lovers' Café

Beatrice Alemagna, the Grande Ourse 2023: a moving and troubled look at childhood

Gallery Hall 25 - 26
Book Lovers' Café
Organized by

Salon du Livre et de la Presse Jeunesse de Montreuil

In cooperation with

Istituto Francese, Hamelin

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
Awards & Contests

Meeting with Andrea Antinori, winner of the 2023 International Award of Illustration BCBF - Fundación SM

Services Centre
Illustrators Café
Panel

Andrea Antinori, illustrator; Pablo Núñez, Sara Rioja, Teresa Tellechea, Fundación SM.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

Fundación SM

Event Highlights
Translators Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour

No language left behind, no book left behind. For a biodiversity in children's literature

HALL 30
Translators Café
Moderator
Francesca Novajra, children's literary translator, AITI, President, CEATL.
Panel

Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp, children's literary translator, literary agent and Project Manager, World Kid Lit; Karolina Jaszecka, children's literary agent, scout and translator; Elisabetta Lippolis, Vice President, IBBY Italy; Julija Potrč Šavli, children literary translator, DSKP, IBBY Slovenia; Eva Valvo, children literary translator, Strade, CEATL.

 

Organized by

CEATL - European Council of Associations of Literary Translators

In cooperation with

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In the framework of

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
Authors Café

Transatlantic connections: literature, childhood and diversity

HALL 30
Authors Café

The panel discussion continues the debate initiated by Bologna Children's Book Fair in 2023 on the interactions between African production and that of Latin and North America. Recognising a black literature today, aimed at an Afro-descendant community, and identifying a place for it in the market and a wider readership is at the top of the agenda. The visibility of many authors in Latin and North America, especially those of African descent and native peoples who until recently were considered outside the canon, is reshaping many markets. How should publishers work to include themes of African, African American and Afro-Latin American origin in their catalogues? How to deal with the subject of racism in books for children and young people? How to respect Africanness and move beyond stereotypes and prejudices?.

Panel

Wade and Cheryl Hudson, Founders and publishers, Just US Books, USA; Bel Santos Mayer, project coordinator Queiroz Filho Brazilian Institute of Studies and Community Support - IBEAC, Brazil; Dipacho, picture books author and illustrator, Colombia; Lola Shoneyin, author and publisher, Ouida Books, Nigeria; Kayode R. Onimole, illustrator, Nigeria.

Moderator: Dolores Prades, Founder, Director and editor, Instituto Emília, Brazil.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair, Instituto Emília

With the support of

ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

"Mac Barnett, are you ever going to write a real book?". Why children’s books are a very serious thing

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

After twenty years and more than fifty books published, in his first book for "grown-ups", The Secret Door (Terre di Mezzo Editore) Mac Barnett tells why children's literature is literature in its own right and why children are the ideal readers. «The best children’s literature is as good as the best literature humans have produced».

Panel

Mac Barnett, author; Maria Russo, Editor at Large, Union Square Kids, USA; Giulia Rizzo, Editorial Vice Director, Terre di Mezzo Editore.

Organized by

Terre di Mezzo Editore

In cooperation with

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner

Illustrate Poetry. Experience Based on the "Book of Questions" by Pablo Neruda - Masterclass with Paloma Valdivia

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

Six years of study, trial and error to understand how to illustrate the poem, a poetic but unanswered question. To achieve this, the illustrator Paloma Valdivia had to read the poet's entire oeuvre, visit the places where he lived, watch documentaries and somehow get inside his head. In this masterclass, Paloma Valdivia talks about her creative process behind "The Book of Questions" (Enchanted Lion Books, USA 2022). Event in Spanish with English translation.

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

Panel

Paloma Valdivia, illustrator.

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus
Awards & Contests

Talking Pictures. The New Award for Ukranian Book Design: the Winner and Special Mentions

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Organized by

BBPlus

In cooperation with

Hamelin, Steven Guarnaccia, International Book Arsenal Festival Kyiv

Event Highlights
Awards & Contests
Comics
Book Lovers' Café

The winners of the BolognaRagazzi Awards 2024: Comics category

Gallery Hall 25 - 26
Book Lovers' Café

Comics Young Adult winner: Il racconto della roccia (The Tale Of The Stone), Coconino Press, Italy, 2023, Text and Illustrations by BeneDì (Benedetta D'Incau).

Comics Early Reader winner: Comment naissent les arbres (How Trees Are Born), La Martinière Jeunesse, France, 2023, Text and Illustrations by Charles Berbérian.

Comics Middle Grade winner: Les Pissenlits (Dandelions), Éditions Sarbacane, France, 2022, Text and Illustrations by Nina Six.

Panel

Giovanni Ferrara, Editorial Director, Coconino Press; BeneDì (Benedetta D'Incau), author and illustrator Il racconto della roccia (The Tale Of The Stone); Charles Berbérian, author and illustrator Comment naissent les arbres (How Trees Are Born).

Moderators: Emilio Varrà, President of Hamelin, Lecturer of the Comic and Illustration Course at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna; Enrico Fornaroli, Lecturer of the Comic History Course at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna, member of the Technical Table on Italian Comics of the Ministry of Culture.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In the framework of

Comics Corner

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner

Le corse, i cavalieri, le fiere, gli amori, io canto - Masterclass with Lorenzo Mattotti

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

Ivan Canu converses with Lorenzo Mattotti on the themes of the Italian artist's most recent work.

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

 

 

 

Panel

Lorenzo Mattotti, artist; Ivan Canu, Director, Mimaster Illustrazione.

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

Reading of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

The United Nations recently celebrated 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the key document outlining the rights and freedoms of every human being. Children’s book authors, illustrators and publishers from around the world gathered at BCBF will read the thirty articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in their native language. This multilingual reading will inspire readers and listeners alike to think about how human rights, particularly those of young citizens, continue to be a central theme in 2024, and why we need to keep fighting to make them a reality for everyone, everywhere.

Organized by

United Nations, Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

30 friends of the international children's book community

Event Highlights
Authors Café

Dead Bunnies and Naked Bottoms. Meeting the Challenges of Children's Publishing Across Cultures

HALL 30
Authors Café

The love we feel for our children is universal. But the ways we raise our beloved children are specific to the cultures we live in. How we swaddle a newborn, how and what we feed a baby, where that baby sleeps, how we teach the child to use the potty, how we speak to that child as he or she grows, how we educate the child and introduce difficult subjects like death or divorce to them, all of our childrearing practices are embedded in cultural traditions that can feel non negotiable, even eternal. Even our most closely held beliefs about the nature of childhood can start to destabilize when we view them through the lens of a different culture. For children's publishers working across international markets, this raises unique challenges as we acquire books that originate in disparate cultural practices and mindsets. How do we choose which books can travel across borders? How do we work with editors, artists, and writers to create respectful foreign editions that are true to the essence of the original, but work within our markets? What are the limits of cross-cultural adaptation? Join a distinguished panel of publishers, illustrators, and foreign rights professionals for a lively discussion of cross-cultural successes and failures, taboos and proscriptions, and the ongoing search for best practices as we navigate the international children's books market.

Moderator
Maria Russo, Editor at Large, Union Square Kids, USA
Panel

Neal Porter, Vice President and publisher, Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, USA; Dolores Prades, Scholar, Founder, Instituto and Revista Emília, Brazil; Beatrice Alemagna, author and illustrator, Italy; Erik Titusson, Founder, Lilla Piratförlaget, Sweden.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Storytelling, characters and illustrations: Italian children's publishing abroad. Destination Frankfurt

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Panel

Katharina Ebinger, Thienemann-Esslinger Verlag GmbH; Rex How, Founder and President, Locus Publishing; Claudia Zoe Bedrick, publisher, editor and Art Director, Enchanted Lion Books; Carlo Gallucci, Founder, Gallucci Editore and coordinator of AIE - Commissione Ragazzi; Porter Anderson, Publishing Perspectives.

Organized by

Italy Guest of Honour Frankfurter Buchmesse 2024, AIE - Italian Publishers Association, Bologna Children’s Book Fair

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

Pictured Worlds: The Illustrated Children's Book Past, Present, and Future with Leonard S. Marcus

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

In this wide-ranging conversation, noted historian and critic Leonard Marcus talks with Marcella Terrusi about his path-finding, decades-long research into the history of children's books and their illustration, and shares some of his favourite discoveries about the origins, development and increasingly global reach of an art form that is only now beginning to enjoy the cultural standing it has long deserved.

Panel

Leonard S. Marcus, children's book historian and critic; Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

Fostering African Illustration: Training, Contest and Exhibition

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

This training initiative, beginning Autumn 2024, focuses on the design of illustrated picture books. It systematically covers the fundamental stages of the creative process: analyzing and narratively scanning the text, storyboarding, and creating final illustrations along with a proposed cover design. In addition to the design process, the course provides insights into the dynamics of the publishing market, equipping illustrators with the necessary knowledge to present and promote their projects. Professional tools and skills, such as book presentation cards, editorial research, and techniques for contacting and engaging with a publishing house, are also covered. All participants will work on topics provided by editorial teams, allowing them to immediately engage with the editorial reality and develop a book project with inherent potential for publication. The main instructor is the illustrator and designer Francesca Chessa, with professionals from the publishing field contributing on specific topics related to the illustrated picture book industry. Access to the course, limited to 16 participants, is granted through a portfolio selection contest. The book projects created during the course will be showcased at the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2025, forming the initial core of an exhibition dedicated to African illustration. This initiative is a collaboration between BCBF, Aké Arts and Book Festival, in Nigeria, and Mimaster Illustrazione.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

Aké Arts, Book Festival, Mimaster Illustrazione

Wednesday 10 April 2024

Event Highlights
Authors Café
Comics

Publishing Graphic Novels for Young Adults: a Conversation with Max de Radiguès, Isabel Minhós Martins and Simona Binni

HALL 30
Authors Café

Young adult comics continue to be one of the fastest growing sectors in this industry. How to choose and publish graphic novels that can speak directly to teenagers and appeal to young readers? Three publishers, who are also artists and writers themselves, responsible for some of the best comic book series in Europe, explain how they managed to reach one of the most coveted audiences in the market.

Panel

Simona Binni, comics artist and Editorial Director, Tunué, Italy; Max de Radiguès, comics artist and Editorial Director, Sarbacane, France; Isabel Minhós Martins, writer and Co-founder, Planeta Tangerina, Portugal; Elisabetta Mongardi, Hamelin, Italy.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

Hamelin, Sarbacane

In the framework of

Comics Corner

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner

Finding a Voice through Osmosis - Masterclass with Neil Packer

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

The gradual and unconscious assimilation of ideas and the way this process informs and gives voice to Neil Packer's work.

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

Panel

Neil Packer, author and illustrator.

In cooperation with

Camelozampa

Event Highlights
PublisHer

Innovations in Publishing: Female Perspectives

HALL 29, B44-C41
PublisHer Area

Explore how female publishers have contributed to innovations in the publishing world. Discussing the adoption of new technologies, creative marketing strategies, and unique editorial approaches.

Organized by

PublisHer

Event Highlights
Book Lovers' Café

Origins: Indigenous voices in children's books

Gallery Hall 25 - 26
Book Lovers' Café

In a world where Western thought is losing its hegemony in the face of the profound crisis of civilization we are experiencing, indigenous belief systems are being viewed with new respect and are pointing the way forward, prompting us to reconsider fundamental issues such as solidarity, mutual aid, respect for nature, and cultural diversity. Inspired by Nat Cardozo's book Origen, published by Zorro Rojo, the event serves as BCBF's homage to indigenous communities, many of which are still on the margins of the publishing market.

Panel

Nat Cardozo, author and illustrator, Uruguay; Adolfo Córdova, author, Mexico; Jason Low, publisher and Co-owner, Lee & Low Books, USA; Aviaq Johnston, Inuk author, Canada; Victor D.O. Santos, linguist and children's books author, Brazil/USA; David Unger, author and translator, Guatemala/USA; Eboni Waitere, Director, Huia Publishers, New Zealand.

Moderator: Dolores Prades, Founder, Director and editor, Istituto Emília, Brazil.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair, Instituto Emília

With the support of

ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Translation Forum 1. Books From Taiwan: Discover and Translate

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre

Taiwan is home to a wealth of literature waiting to be discovered. Covering a range of genres from fiction to manga to children’s books, Taiwan agents and publishers are the gateway to undiscovered and yet to be translated books. With a generous translation grant available for rights buying publishers, this session will highlight how to engage with Taiwan and where to look for its hidden gems.

Panel

Catrina Liu, Project Manager, Books from Taiwan; Shin Su, MD, Bk Agency; Kim Pai, Founder, The PaiSha Agency.

Organized by

BBPlus

In cooperation with

Taiwan Creative Content Agency

Event Highlights
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair Kids
Artificial Intelligence

The role of Artificial Intelligence in the creation of intellectual properties

HALL 29 MALL 2
Licensing Conference Room

What is generative Artificial Intelligence and what role does it play in the creative process? How is it positioned in the chain of editorial and television content rights? What are the challenges posed by its relentless development? What are the current and future legal implications?.

Panel

Francesca Perri, Partner Tonucci & Partners Law Firm, Italy.

Organized by

Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids

In cooperation with

Licensing Magazine

In the framework of

International Kids Licensing Days, Tv/Film Rights Centre

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
Awards & Contests

The reason behind a choice. Meeting with the Illustrators Exhibition Jury 2024

Services Centre
Illustrators Café
Panel

Marco Ghidelli, Raum Italic, Italy; Xiaoyan Huang, Everafter Books, China; Lee Ho Baek, Jaimimage, illustrator, South Korea; Øyvind Torseter, illustrator, Norway.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner

What Makes an Illustrated Book an International Success - Masterclass with Steven Guarnaccia, Cecilia Ruiz, Felicita Sala, Victoria Tentler-Krylov

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

Society of Illustrators featured artists explore the creative elements that propel illustrated books to international acclaim through diverse cultural lenses.

 

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

 

Panel

Felicita Sala, illustrator; Victoria Tentler-Krylov, illustrator; Cecilia Ruiz, author and illustrator; Steven Guarnaccia, author, illustrator and designer.

Organized by

Society of Illustrators

In cooperation with

 Bologna Children's Book Fair

In the framework of

The Original Art Exhibition

Event Highlights
Authors Café
Comics

On a journey through Canadian comics

HALL 30
Authors Café

The Canadian comics scene is rich, interesting, and of quality. Canadian production is well received in the market. Let’s talk with the protagonists.

Panel

Peggy Burns, President and publisher, Drawn & Quarterly, Canada; Frédéric Gauthier, publisher and Co-founder, La Pastèque, Canada; Valérie Picard, publisher and Co-Founder, Monsieur Ed, Canada.

Organized by

Bologna Children’s Book Fair

In cooperation with

Accademia Drosselmeier-Kids Comics

In the framework of

Comics Corner

Event Highlights
Book Lovers' Café

The most precious thing: Victor D.O. Santos in conversation with Vera Gheno

Gallery Hall 25 - 26
Book Lovers' Café

«It has existed for a very long time. It knows how to be sweet, but also very harsh. You find it in every home, on every street, in every city. If it dies, an entire world disappears. It is language! Guardian of every culture, essence of our humanity». The most precious thing is the book by linguist and author Victor D.O. Santos, protagonist of a dialogue with Vera Gheno, the book's translator. The volume, illustrated by Anna Forlati, is published by Terre di Mezzo, in collaboration with UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032).

Moderator
Caterina Ramonda
Panel

Victor D.O. Santos, Author; Vera Gheno, Linguist.

Organized by

Terre di Mezzo Editore

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

European Prize for Literature: announcement and networking drinks

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
Slovenia Guest of Honour

Guided Tour of "And then what happens?" - GoH Illustrator's Exhibition

-
Services Center
Organized by

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair Kids

From books to screen. Facts and figures

HALL 29 MALL 2
Licensing Conference Room

In occasion of the brand-new TV/Film Rights Centre at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, we offer a panel in which we illustrate some figures and trends in audiovisual development inspired by books for children. How central is a book-inspired IP in today's television programming? And how important is it for a producer to look for book-inspired properties as opposed to original ones? Where is the market heading today?.

Panel

Olivia Deane, senior analyst, Ampere Analysis, UK.

Organized by

Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids

In cooperation with

Licensing Magazine

In the framework of

International Kids Licensing Days, Tv/Film Rights Centre

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
Awards & Contests

Announcement of the winner of the International Award of Illustration BCBF, Fundación SM; Announcement of the winner of the 2024 Ars in Fabula Grant Award; Prize giving ceremony of the 2024 Illustrators Exhibition selected artists

Services Centre
Illustrators Café
Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner

East/West round trip: the aestethic codes of children's illustration - Masterclass with Anna Castagnoli and Yang Zhong

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

A conversation between Anna Castagnoli and professor Yang Zhong, both jurors of the first edition of the "Chinese Excellence in Children’s Illustration" exhibition. How images are designed in the East, the visual and technical codes, the relationship between image and text and the mutual influences between East and West in art and illustration.

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

Panel

Anna Castagnoli, author, illustrator, researcher and collector of children's books; Yang Zhong, Associate Professor, Central Academy of Fine Arts, PhD, Director Department of Culture and Urbanism School of Urban Design, Director Picture Book Creation Workshop and Master's Degree Tutor, engaged in picture book research and education, promotion and planning.

In the framework of

Chinese Excellence in Children’s Illustration Exhibition 2024

Event Highlights
Translators Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour
Comics

Slovenian Comics in translation

HALL 30
Translators Café
Panel

Majda Koren, Damijan Stepančič, Jurij Devetak, David Krančan.

Organized by

Sinnos, JAK - Slovenian Book Agency

In the framework of

Slovenia Guest of Honour, Comics Corner

Event Highlights
Awards & Contests
Book Lovers' Café

The winners of the BolognaRagazzi Awards 2024: The Sea special category

Gallery Hall 25 - 26
Book Lovers' Café

The Sea special category winner: Giù nel blu - Dalla superficie agli abissi: viaggio sottomarino sfogliabile (Down in the Blue - From the Surface to the Abyss: a Browsable Underwater Journey), Nomos Edizioni, Italy, 2021, Text by Gianumberto Accinelli, Illustrations by Giulia Zaffaroni.

 

Panel

Emanuele Tosi, publisher, Nomos Edizioni; Andrea Amato, Art Director, Nomos Edizioni; Gianumberto Accinelli, author; Giulia Zaffaroni, illustrator Giù nel blu - Dalla superficie agli abissi: viaggio sottomarino sfogliabile (Down in the Blue - From the Surface to the Abyss: a Browsable Underwater Journey).

Moderator: Giorgia Grilli, Professor, University of Bologna.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Jackets Off: Considering Different Cultural Iterations of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

Literature as the driver of change. IBBY Italia towards the 39th IBBY World Congress 2024

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

From 30th August to 1st September 2024, Italy will host the 39th International Congress of IBBY - International Board on Books for Young People. More than 600 participants from the world of children's books (writers, illustrators, translators, publishers, librarians, booksellers, educators and reading promoters, scholars, trainers, volunteers, health professionals and more) are expected to gather in Trieste from all continents around the main theme "Join the Revolution. Giving every child good books". Along the path leading to the Congress, IBBY Italia has invited Roberto Innocenti (the first Italian author to receive the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2008 after Gianni Rodari in 1970) to contribute to the theme of "Literature as a driver of change". Paola Vassalli, author and curator, Executive Board IBBY Italia and Valentina Zucchi, curator Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence will dialogue with the author on the role of literature, in particular youth literature, in building society and promoting revolutionary practices in education and within our communities. Introduced by Elisabetta Lippolis, Vice President IBBY Italia, coordinator IBBY Congress 2024

Panel

Roberto Innocenti, iIllustrator, HCA Award 2008; Paola Vassalli, author and curator, Executive Board, IBBY Italia; Valentina Zucchi, curator, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence. Introduced by Elisabetta Lippolis, Vice President, IBBY Italia, coordinator, IBBY Congress 2024.

Organized by

IBBY Italia

Event Highlights
Translators Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour

Focus on Slovenian literature translated into italian

HALL 30
Translators Café
Panel

Martina Clerici, translator; Martina Kafol, Editoriale Stampa Triestina; Della Passarelli, Sinnos; Julija Potrč Šavli, children literature translator, DSKP, IBBY Slovenia; Matteo Sabato, Besa Muci.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In the framework of

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner
Awards & Contests

The process of BCBF 2024 Visual Identity and a glimpse into 2025 - Masterclass

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

The story of how the Chialab working group guided illustrator Inês Oliveira towards the creation of the Bologna Children's Book Fair Visual Identity2024. A look "behind the scenes" of the process and a glance to 2025.

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

Panel

Elena Pasoli, Director, Bologna Children's Book Fair; Inês Oliveira, illustrator, author BCBF Visual Identity 2024, in co-production with Chialab Design; Beppe Chia and Jessica Cantoni, Chialab.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

Chialab Design

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Audio Forum: Introduction and In Conversation with Amanda D'Acierno, Penguin Random House USA

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Panel

Jacks Thomas, Guest Director, BolognaBookPlus; Nathan Hull, Chief Strategy Officer, Beat Technology.

Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
Book Lovers' Café

Dall'idea al libro. Le regole del set-up perfetto

Gallery Hall 25 - 26
Book Lovers' Café

Scrivi storie per ragazzi, crei illustrazioni, ami tradurre oppure vorresti farlo in modo professionale? Hai un'idea straordinaria ma non sai come trasformarla in un libro? Scopri in questo workshop pratico le regole per preparare e realizzare il set-up perfetto e sottoporre la tua idea ad agenzie e case editrici: gli elementi essenziali che non possono mancare, le fasi del lavoro, le modalità migliori e, soprattutto, gli errori da evitare.

Panel

Pierdomenico Baccalario, scrittore e fondatore di Book on a Tree, Professore del Master Children’s Books & Co.; Gaia Stock, Direttrice Editoriale EL Einaudi Ragazzi Emme Edizioni, Professoressa del Master Children’s Books & Co.; Paola Di Giampaolo, Project Manager dei Master in Editoria dell'Università Cattolica, Milano.

Organized by

Master in Editoria Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano, Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

Book on a Tree

Event Highlights
Authors Café
Aldus Up
Artificial Intelligence

Navigating the Future: AI Tools for Publishers

HALL 30
Authors Café

Join us for a fascinating panel discussion on the exciting intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and publishing today. Our panelists, will delve into how AI is transforming various aspects of publishing. From marketing strategies to printing processes and content creation, we'll explore the innovative solutions that are reshaping the landscape. Whether you’re a publisher, marketer, or content creator, this panel promises insights and practical takeaways to reinforce our believe that AI and human ingenuity can coexist in the world of children's books.

Panel

Ashley Gordon, Publishing Market Development Manager, PageWide Industrial Division of HP Inc; Sebastian Wehner, CEO, Wonderz and Wolkenlenker; Sam Habibi Minelli, electronic engineer, responsible for international partnerships for digital publishing and education sectors, creative industries, Gruppo Meta, independent expert for the European Commission for AI and research funded projects; Searsha Sadek, Founder and Chief Product Officer, Shimmr.

Moderator: Neal Hoskins, WingedChariot.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

WingedChariot

In the framework of

Aldus Up

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
Awards & Contests

Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi 2024. Annuncio del libro vincitore nella categoria "Narrazione per immagini"

Services Centre
Illustrators Café
Panel

Moderatrice: Marcella Terrusi, Docente, Università di Bologna.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In cooperation with

Fondazione Bellonci

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Audio Forum: Multi Language Strategies in the Global Audiobook Market

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Panel

Miles Stevens-Hoare, Managing Director, RBmedia International.

Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner

Moleste, un manifesto per la difesa delle donne nel mondo dei fumetti e dell'illustrazione - Masterclass

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

In the comic book and illustration sector, discrimination in the workplace, inappropriate actions, and attitudes in schools and events are prevalent. These behaviors undermine the dignity of professional women who play a vital role in sustaining the book industry through their work. Autori di Immagini engages in a discussion with Moleste, a collective of female authors, to address these issues. Moleste focuses on giving voice and visibility to the numerous testimonies of women and girls, with the aim of combating the male-dominated reality and advocating for equal rights in our field of visual storytelling.

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

Panel

Flavio Rosati, President, Autori di Immagini; Davide Costa, cartoonist; Margherita Tramutoli, illustrator, cartoonist and lecturer; Deborah Tommasini, cartoonist, Art Director and illustrator.

Organized by

Autori di Immagini Association

In cooperation with

Moleste

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Audio Forum: Podcasts, Adaption to Audio... and Back

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Panel

Michele Cobb, President, Audio Publishers Association; Chiara Santella, Founder, Studio Ochenta; Sabrina Tinelli, Head of Content, Chora; Carla Herbertson, Founder, Small Wardour.

Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café
Awards & Contests

A talk with Paloma Valdivia. Winner of the 2023 BIB Grand Prix and Author of 2024 Illustrators Annual Cover

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

BCBF hosts every other year the winners of two prestigious children's book awards in the arts, the BIB - Biennial of Illustration Bratislava and the Hans Christian Andersen Award, to create the Illustrators Annual cover: the catalogue collecting all the works of the artists selected for the Illustrators Exhibition. The 2024 Illustrators Annual cover has been created by Paloma Valdivia, Chile, winner of the 2023 BIB Grand Prix.

Panel

Paloma Valdivia, illustrator, Chile; Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Audio Forum: Strategies for Effective Distribution and Monetisation

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Panel

Tina Jürgens, Co-CEO, Zebralution.

Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Audio Forum: From Digital to Physical, Global Opportunities for Children's Publishers with Audio Players

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Panel

Carla Herbertson, Founder, Small Wardour; Eloise Elandaloussi, Head of Content, Tonies; Jessica Tarrant, Content Director, Yoto; Matteo Fabbrini, CEO, FABA; Jim Jacob, Founder, Storybutton.

Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
The Illustrators Survival Corner

Border Crossings: Children's Books in a Time of Restless Change - Masterclass with Claudia Zoe Bedrick and Leonard Marcus

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

Claudia Bedrick and Leonard Marcus discuss such defining current trends as the blending of genres and age categories, impact of globalization, and factors affecting a book's chances of "travelling".

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.

Panel

Leonard Marcus, children's book historian, critic and author; Claudia Zoe Bedrick, publisher, Enchanted Lion Books.

Event Highlights
Book Lovers' Café

ABC delle figure nei libri per ragazzi

Gallery Hall 25 - 26
Book Lovers' Café

Una storia dell'illustrazione che dagli anni 60 del secolo scorso arriva a noi attraverso libri illustrati di qualità. Paola Vassalli costruisce un abbecedario prezioso che si apre con Alice e si chiude con La Zanzara senza zeta di Toti Scialoja. Nel libro vengono citati autori come Innocenti, Mattotti, Munari, Sendak.

Panel

Lorenzo Cantatore, Docente, Università Roma Tre; Marcella Terrusi, Docente, Università di Bologna; Paola Vassalli, autrice.

Moderatrice: Silvana Sola, Docente, ISIA Urbino.

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Audio Forum: Understanding Listener Behaviours via Data

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Panel

Giulia Lo Monaco, Product Manager, Audio Bookwire.

Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

La Terre Tourne: a conversation with Anne Brouillard

Services Centre
Illustrators Café

After an incredible career and more than 40 illustrated books, Anne Brouillard finally arrives in Italy. A keen observer of nature and a master of impression and atmosphere, Brouillard questions the meaning of life itself, evoked by a train passing through a landscape, the nocturnal adventure of a puppet falling from its owner's stroller, or the life of a goofy, talking dog. In this panel, Brouillard talks about her art and her vision, which naturally leads her to confront childhood: because children, just like her, cannot help but wonder how and why we are here, on earth, spinning.

Panel

Anne Brouillard, author; Emilio Varrà, Hamelin.

Organized by

Hamelin

In cooperation with

Bologna Children's Book Fair, orecchio acerbo, Babalibri, l’École des loisirs, Esperluète éditions, WBI. In partnership with Gruppo Hera

Event Highlights
BolognaBookPlus

Audio Forum: Voices from the Diaspora

HALL 29 MALL 1
BBPlus Theatre
Panel

Nathan Hull, Chief Strategy Officer, Beat Technology; Ajay Mago, publisher, Om Books; Raúl Perez, Head of Digital, Grupo Planeta; Liza Faja, Director, Editions Lizzie.

Organized by

BBPlus

Event Highlights
Slovenia Guest of Honour
The Illustrators Survival Corner

Making a Picturebook: 10 tips on how to handle the ups and downs of the process - Masterclass with Maja Kastelic

HALL 30
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area

Creating a picture book is a complex creative and practical process that can involve everything from enthusiasm to despair. Here are a few tips on how to navigate through the journey of making the book come true.

 

Find out more about The Illustrators Survival Corner.


 

Panel

Maja Kastelic, illustrator.

Organized by

Slovenian Book Agency

In cooperation with

Slovenian Illustration Center

In the framework of

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
Illustrators Café

Estonia Guest of Honour Country at BCBF 2025

Services Centre
Illustrators Café
Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair, Estonian Publishers Association, Estonian Children's Literature Centre

Thursday 11 April 2024

Event Highlights
Translators Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour
Awards & Contests

Workshop: "In Altre Parole" translation competition (Slovenian language)

HALL 30
Translators Café
Panel

Martina Kafol and Patrizia Raveggi, Jurors.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In the framework of

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
Translators Café
Slovenia Guest of Honour
Awards & Contests

Translation competition "In Altre Parole": prize-giving ceremony

HALL 30
Translators Café
Panel

Martina Kafol and Patrizia Raveggi, Jurors.

Organized by

Bologna Children's Book Fair

In the framework of

Slovenia Guest of Honour

Event Highlights
Slovenia Guest of Honour

Guided Tour of "And then what happens?" - GoH Illustrator's Exhibition

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Services Center
Organized by

Slovenia Guest of Honour