Publishing professionals from around the globe gathered for the 60th Bologna Children’s Book Fair—which ran March 6 through 9—to scope out new trends, honor accomplished artists, and network with colleagues in the industry. Read on for our photo tour with highlights from the event, featuring visiting authors and illustrators, award presentations, an anniversary party, and more.


Attendees lined up to enter the fair on the opening day, including more than 1,450 exhibitors hailing from 90 countries and regions of the world. Photo: Diane Roback.


The exhibition halls were abuzz with activity the first morning of the fair. Photo: Roback.


One of two teams from Book Dash, a South African children’s publishing house that was writing, illustrating, and publishing a book in 48 hours at the BCBF. Photo: Ed Nawotka.


Bologna first-timer Amelia Brown (l.), rights and contracts manager at Charlesbridge Publishing, meeting with Maiko Fujinaga of Japan Uni. Brown saw a lot of interest in the company’s math, science, and environmentally focused titles, and called her Bologna experience “amazing.” Photo: Roback.


Browsing the BolognaRagazzi Award display. A total of 2,349 titles were submitted by 644 publishers from 59 countries and regions around the world. Photo: Roback.


A bustling Bologna Rights Centre. Photo: Roback.


Nosy Crow’s John Mendelson (l.) and Kate Wilson (c.) in a meeting at the expanded Nosy Crow stand. Photo: Roback.


On March 6, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair hosted a 60th-anniversary party at Palazzo Re Enzo in the city’s Piazza Maggiore, featuring pasta, prosecco, and live music late into the night. Here, a trio of celebrants take their turn in the photo booth. Photo: Roback.


A view of the celebration. Photo: Roback.


Holiday House and Pixel+Ink subsidiary rights director Miriam Miller (r.) meets with (from l.) Markus Weber and Franziska Newhaus with Moritz Verlag in Frankfurt, and Odile Josselin from Pastel in Brussels. Photo: Roback.


The Ukraine Illustrated exhibit presented a selection of works by Ukrainian artists in honor of the country’s bravery and resilience in the face of war. Photo: Emma Kantor.


Canadian author-illustrator Sydney Smith being interviewed. Smith was one of this year’s jurors for the Illustrators Exhibition, and also led a workshop at the fair on observational drawing. Photo: Roback.


U.K. journalist Julia Eccleshare (far r.) chaired the “Children’s Laureates in Conversation” panel, which brought together seven children’s laureates and literature ambassadors from around the world: (from l.) Joseph Coehlo (Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate, U.K.), Susanna Mattiangeli (Children’s Laureate, Italy); Nioosha Shams (Sveriges läsambassadör, Sweden), Casi Wyn (Bardd Plant Cymru, Wales), Tialda Hoogeveen (Berneboeke ambassadeur Fryslân, Friesland), Gabrielle Wang (Children’s Laureate, Australia), and Áine Ní Ghlinn (Laureate na nÓg, Ireland). Three of the seven laureates—Wyn, Hoogeveen, and Ní Ghlinn—write in languages that are not the dominant languages in their countries. Photo: Roback.


The Moomin stand. The brand recently announced its first significant foray into the U.S. market via a partnership with Barnes & Noble. Photo: Roback.


Former PRH global CEO Markus Dohle (c.), with Ahmed al Almeri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, (center, r.), and others from the Sharjah Book Fair. Photo: Nawotka.


Editor Greet Poelmans with Philippe Werck, publisher and CEO of Clavis. Photo: Kantor.


Illustrators drawing on the wall honoring illustrator Tomi Ungerer. Photo: Nawotka.


Jon Anderson (seated, c.), president and publisher of Simon & Schuster’s children’s division, in his first meeting of the fair, with Rachel Denwood, managing director of S&S UK Children’s, and Ian Chapman, managing director of S&S UK. Photo: Kantor.


Flowerpot Press publisher Anne Hayes showing new projects at an appointment. Photo: Roback.


An unpopular opinion at the Bologna Fair. Photo: Roback.


An exhibit titled “Illustrators for Gianni Rodari. Italian Excellence” featured original works by 21 artists inspired by this beloved 20th-century children’s author. Photo: Roback.


Scholastic’s Lori Benton (l.) and Ellie Berger, discussing future projects in an appointment. Photo: Kantor.


Safety first. Photo: Kantor.


Two designers from Jumping Jack Press in New Haven, Conn., drew inspiration from the fair. Photo: Nawotka.


Author-illustrator Fabian Negrin signed copies of his picture book L’indovinello della tigre clad in a tiger suit, at the Edizione Corsare booth. Photo: Kantor.

The next Bologna Children’s Book Fair is scheduled for April 8–11, 2024, and will feature Slovenia as the Guest of Honor. Ci vediamo!