Bologna Children's Book Fair 2024 draws global publishing professionals to 62nd edition; event features award ceremonies, exhibitions and Hans Christian Andersen Award winner Sydney Smith at Palazzo Re Enzo

April 10, 2025 (Publisher's Weekly) –

Publishing professionals from around the globe gathered for the 62nd Bologna Children's Book Fair from March 31 through April 3 --where pasta, prosecco, and picture books offered a brief respite from world politics. PW takes you on a photo tour with highlights from the event, featuring internationally renowned authors and illustrators, award announcements, after-hour publisher parties, and more.

On Sunday night before the fair kicked off, Penguin Random House hosted its traditional cocktail reception at the Royal Hotel Carlton . Nihar Malaviya (l.), CEO of Penguin Random House , gave a toast to Barbara Marcus , who will be stepping down on May 1 as president and publisher of Random House Children's Books . Marcus said later of attending her final Bologna, "When I look at people and think, I may never see you again, I get a little weepy. What makes it so special is the relationships, the conversations, the shared love of children's books."

The winners for the 13th edition of the BOP - Bologna Prize for the Best Children's Publishers of the Year were announced on Monday evening at a ceremony at Palazzo Re Enzo, in Bologna's historic Piazza Maggiore. The event included the presentation of the BolognaRagazzi Awards. A line stretched across the piazza for entry to the after-party.

Author-illustrator Sydney Smith , winner of the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration, which was announced last year at Bologna, attended this year's fair and participated in a number of panels and programs. A solo exhibition of his work on display in the Illustrators Café featured original artwork from several of his books and a selection of unpublished pieces created especially for the exhibit. Here Smith (l.) is joined onstage by his longtime editor, Neal Porter , now publisher emeritus of Neal Porter Books at Holiday House.

Estonia was this year's guest of honor, marking the Baltic nation's first time in the role. A comprehensive program showcased Estonian children's literature and illustration through exhibitions, panels, and author presentations.

Mo Willems (r.) chatted with fairgoers who attended the stand party that Hidden Pigeon threw for him on Tuesday. Here he greets the Bent Agency's Molly Ker Hawn (in black).

It was back-to-back meetings for Dog Man on the Scholastic stand.

Simon de Jocas of Quebec's Editions Les 400 Coups, in orange, cutting the cake at the fifth-anniversary party for Publishers Without Borders on Thursday night. The event attracted more than 200 people.

Rights & Brands, the global master licensee of the Moomins, commemorated 80 years of Tove Jansson's beloved characters.

Saying hello in the aisles: Jean Christophe Boule-van Hensbroek (l.) of Lemniscaat and the Walker Books Group's Karen Coeman .

Nancy Traversy (r.), CEO and co-founder of Barefoot Books , and executive editor Kate de Palma (l.) are gearing up for the May release of Rise Up!: Powerful Protests in American History by Rachel C. Katz , illustrated by Sophie Bass , a nonfiction title about social activism tied to the 250th anniversary of American independence on July 4, 2026 . Barefoot will be teaming up with the nearby Concord Museum in Massachusetts for a number of events around the anniversary, beginning with April 19 , the day of "the shot heard round the world," which marked the start of the American Revolutionary War.

On the Simon & Schuster stand, Rachel Denwood (l.), managing director of S&S UK's children's division, met with Alessandra Balzer (c.) and Donna Bray (r.) of Macmillan's Balzer + Bray imprint.

Wimpy Kid creator Jeff Kinney signing books for fans. During an event with fellow author-illustrator Davide Calì on "Finding Funny Around the World," Kinney said of his global success and international book tours, "The different translations are like a passport for me. I keep getting to level up as a person."

Venetian author Paola Myriam Visconti attended BCBF in celebration of the fourth title in her middle grade fantasy series Dynowish, the Protector of Dreams, published in her native Italy in both English and Italian by Giunti Editore . In honor of the new book, The Moon Lily (Il giglio lunare), her husband, artist Antonio Signorini , designed a bronze sculpture of a winged dinosaur-unicorn which was unveiled on the fairgrounds on Monday, March 31 . Visconti hosted an event with 300 children in Bologna as part of the book fair, leading them in artmaking and storytelling workshops. She also appeared on two panels about licensing and the evolution of books into global franchises, along with Beatrice Fini , director of children's and YA editorial at Giunti.

The springtime weather invited many to hold meetings al fresco in the warm sunshine.

At the DK stand, Rosaria Munda signed galleys of Fireborne, the first book in her YA fantasy trilogy The Aurelian Cycle. Originally published in the U.S. by Putnam , the book will feature on the launch list of DK's inaugural fiction imprint, DK flip. Fireborne is due in paperback in May in the U.K. , followed by Flamefall in July and Furysong in September.

Astrid Lindgren's irrepressible heroine Pippi Longstocking turns 80 this year, with a number of celebrations and panels marking the occasion in Bologna and beyond. During the fair, French author Marion Brunet was announced as the winner of the 2025 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the world's largest children's book prize.

Author Matteo Razzini (l.) and illustrator Giovanna Marin signing their picture book Che coraggio, papà! (Zoolibri).

On Wednesday, April 2 , local bookstore/café Zoo hosted "Out of the Cage," an exhibit of published and unpublished picture book art. The showcase featured some of the many international artists selected over the years for the Unpublished Picturebook Showcase organized by the creative collective Dpictus.

Next year's fair will take place April 13-16, 2026 . Alla prossima!