Next month’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the world’s largest rights fair devoted to children’s books, offers an extensive lineup of programming over four days. Here are some of the highlights.
Monday, April 8
■ READING FOR THE PLANET: CHILDREN’S BOOKS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Authors Café, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
This roundtable discussion, held in cooperation with the International Publishers Association, will explore how books for young readers can address humanity’s impact on the environment and encourage children to make a difference within their communities. Chaired by Ed Nawotka, international editor at Publishers Weekly, the panel will feature Irina Lumelsky of United Nations Publications; Karine Pansa, president of the International Publishers Association, Brazil; and a representative of the UNESCO Greening Education Partnership, as well as publishers and authors of some of the books included in the accompanying exhibition, Reading for the Planet: Children’s Books for a Sustainable Future.
■ DATA RELEASE AND CASE ANALYSIS OF THE CHINESE CHILDREN’S BOOK MARKET
Authors Café, 3:30–4:20 p.m.
BCBF’s engagement with Chinese publishers continues this year with a new program, China, Market of Focus, which will involve more than 100 exhibitors. Organized by China Publishers, this panel will provide a close-up look at the country’s expanding publishing industry.
Tuesday, April 9
■ TRANSATLANTIC CONNECTIONS: LITERATURE, CHILDHOOD AND DIVERSITY
Authors Café, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Dolores Prades will chair a discussion on contemporary Black literature and the interactions between African literature and that of Latin and North America. The speakers are Bel Santos Mayer, coordinator of the Queiroz Filho Brazilian Institute of Studies and Community Support–IBEAC (of Brazil); Wade and Cheryl Hudson, founders and publishers of Just Us Books (U.S.); Lola Shoneyin, author and publisher of Ouida Books; author-illustrator Dipacho (Colombia); and author-illustrator Kayode Onimole (Nigeria).
■ MAC BARNETT, ARE YOU EVER GOING TO WRITE A REAL BOOK?
WHY CHILDREN’S BOOKS ARE A VERY SERIOUS THING
Illustrators Café, 3–3:50 p.m.
U.S. author Mac Barnett will appear in conversation with Maria Russo, former children’s books editor at the New York Times, and publisher Terre di Mezzo about why children’s literature is literature in its own right and why children are the ideal readers.
■ DEAD BUNNIES AND NAKED BOTTOMS:
MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING ACROSS CULTURES
Authors Café, 4:30–5:20 p.m.
This panel, chaired by Maria Russo, will discuss intercultural successes and failures, taboos, and publishing strategies. Panelists include Neal Porter, v-p and publisher, Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, USA;Dolores Prades, founder, director, and editor of Instituto Emília (Brazil); author-illustrator Beatrice Alemagna (Italy and France); and Erik Titusson, founder and publisher of Lilla Piratförlaget (Sweden).
■ PICTURED WORLDS: THE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN’S BOOK PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
Illustrators Café, 4:50–5:30 p.m.
Leonard Marcus, author of Pictured Worlds: Masterpieces of Children’s Book Art by 101 Essential Illustrators from Around the World, will speak with Marcella Terrusi, researcher and lecturer at the University of Bologna, about the history of children’s books, sharing some of their favorite findings on the origins, development, and increasingly global reach of this art form.
Wednesday, April 10
■ HOW TO MAKE COMICS FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Authors Café, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Max de Radiguès, cartoonist and editorial director of Sarbacane (France); Isabel Minhós Martins, writer and cofounder of Planeta Tangerina (Portugal); and Simona Binni, cartoonist and editorial director of Tunué (Italy) will explore how to select and publish graphic novels that appeal to teenagers. The panel is curated by Associazione Hamelin, in collaboration with Sarbacane.
■ ORIGINS: INDIGENOUS VOICES IN CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Book Lovers’ Bistrot, 10–11:30 a.m.
This discussion focused on Indigenous representation will be chaired by Dolores Prades and will feature author-illustrator Nat Cardozo (Uruguay); Jason Low, publisher and cofounder of Lee & Low Books; author and translator David Unger (Guatemala); author Adolfo Cordova (Mexico); Eboni Waitere, director of Maˉori Huia Publishers (New Zealand); Inuit author Aviaq Johnston (Canada); and linguist and author Victor D.O. Santos (Brazil and the U.S.).
■ WHAT MAKES AN ILLUSTRATED BOOK AN INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
Illustrators Survival Corner, 11–11:50 a.m.
New York–based author, illustrator, and designer Steven Guarnaccia will chair a discussion of different cultural perspectives, and the creative elements that help illustrated books achieve global success. Guarnaccia will be joined by some of the artists featured in the exhibit The Original Art. Celebrating the Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration, including Felicita Sala (Italy and Australia), Victoria Tentler-Krylov (Russia and the U.S.), and Cecilia Ruiz (Mexico and the U.S.).
■ LITERATURE AS A DRIVER OF CHANGE
Illustrators Café, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
IBBY Italy will lead this session with illustrator Roberto Innocenti, who in 2008 became the first Italian to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award since Gianni Rodari in 1970. The discussion will examine the role of children’s literature in constructing society and in launching revolutionary practices in education and the community. Also appearing at the event are Paola Vassalli, author, curator, and member of the board of directors of the Italian section of IBBY; Valentina Zucchi, curator of Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence; and Elisabetta Lippolis, v-p of IBBY Italy and coordinator of the IBBY 2024 International Congress in Trieste.
■ ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS: COMICS CONQUER YOUNG READERS
Authors Café, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Spotlighting the rise in comics for beginning readers, this panel will be chaired by Grazia Gotti of Accademia Drosselmeier-Kids Comics in Italy, featuring Matteo Stefanelli, creative director of Comicon and Director of Fumettologica, Italy, and Imma Napodano, founder of Bibi Libreria dei Ragazzi in Naples and part of the Kids Comics working group of Alir, Italy.
■ NAVIGATING THE FUTURE: AI TOOLS FOR PUBLISHERS
Authors Café, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Neal Hoskins, publishing consultant and director of WingedChariot (U.K.), will lead a discussion on the ways in which AI is transforming publishing—from marketing strategies to printing processes and content creation—offering solutions and insights. Panelists are Ashley Gordon, publishing market development manager for the Page Wide Industrial Division of HP Inc., and founder of Mockingbird Publishing (U.S.); Sebastian Wehner, CEO of Wonderz and Wolkenlenker (Germany); Sam H. Minelli, AI expert for the European Commission in charge of partnerships in digital publishing, education, and creative industries at Meta Group (Italy); and Searsha Sadek, founder and chief product officer of Shimmr (Ireland).
