Publishing professionals near and far convened for this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair—which runs through April 4—to scope out new trends, honor accomplished artists, and network with colleagues in the industry throughout the world. Read on for our photo tour with highlights from the event, featuring visiting authors and illustrators, award presentations, parties, and more.
Open for business: Jen Loja and Ken Wright of Penguin Random House wait for their first appointment, on a beautifully sunny opening day at the fair. Photo: Diane Roback.
Scholastic hosted its first Dog Man Global Summit, with publishers from 20 countries in attendance, including Brazil, China, India, Italy, and Japan; they all shared their success stories with Pilkey’s mega-selling graphic novel series.
Activity at Little Tiger Group’s booth. The London-based children’s publisher was acquired just before the fair by Penguin Random House. Photo: Diane Roback.
When your hotel reservation falls through, if you’re lucky you can bunk with old buddies: Brenda Bowen (l.) of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates and Laura Godwin, v-p and publisher of Godwin Books, share a key moment. Photo: Diane Roback.
Lerner Publishing Group’s rights director Maria Kjoller (l.) meets with Hyeon-Jin Park, CEO of GrassandWind Publishing in Korea. Photo: Diane Roback.
Arthur A. Levine celebrates the launch of his new publishing venture, Levine Querido, with his Dutch colleagues. Photo: Emma Kantor.
On the David Fickling Books stand: Abrams’s Andrew Smith (center) meets with Tom (l.) and David (r.) Fickling. Photo: Diane Roback.
A view of the Russian collective stand. The Bologna Book Fair announced a new partnership with the Moscow International Book Fair; the goal is to launch a Russian International Children’s Book Fair in 2021. Photo: Emma Kantor.
Rebecca Mancini of RightsMix (l.) meets with Miriam Chamorro of Plataforma Neo from Spain. Photo: Diane Roback.
A collectible Moomin mug up for raffle on Wednesday. The mug was on sale for a 24-hour window on Finnish author-illustrator Tove Jansson’s birthday last year.
Australian author-illustrator Alison Lester created original drawings at the Australian collective stand. The stand also hosted current Children’s Laureate Morris Gleitzman and more than a dozen illustrators. Other children’s authors and illustrators in attendance at this year’s fair included Sergio Ruzzier, Christopher Myers, Beatrice Alemagna, and Andy Griffiths. Photo: Diane Roback.
Fair-goers take a break between appointments to enjoy the Italian sunshine. Photo: Diane Roback.
“I have how many appointments left today?” Holiday House’s Neal Porter peruses his schedule at the Literary Agents Center. Photo: Diane Roback.
Switzerland is the Guest of Honor at this year’s fair. Photo: Diane Roback.
John Quattrocchi, co-owner of Albert Whitman & Company, serves guests prosecco in honor of the publisher’s 100th anniversary. Photo: Emma Kantor.
A preview of Ian Falconer’s Two Dogs (HarperCollins/di Capua), the author-illustrator’s first standalone picture book outside of his Olivia series. Photo: Diane Roback.
Rights People’s Allison Hellegers (l.) meeting with Pushkin Press’s Sarah Odedina, who was also giving news of her new publishing partnership with Ghana-based Deborah Ahenkorah, founder of the Golden Baobab Prize. Photo: Diane Roback.
Azerbaijan was among the many nations represented at the global event. Photo: Diane Roback.
Fairgoers exit the exhibition center, including literary scout John McLay, after a busy day. Photo: Emma Kantor.
Arrivederci!
