BolognaRagazzi Awards

The BCBF BolognaRagazzi Awards - BRAW - are an international showcase for the world’s finest, most innovative picturebooks.

Adjudicated by international juries made up of experts from the publishing world, the Awards acknowledge excellence of graphic design, innovation and ability to engage with young readers.

Some of the most sought-after awards in children’s publishing, the BRAW are also a great business opportunity for the winners. An award or special mention help drive copyright sales on the international market, focusing world attention on the publishers, authors and illustrators involved. Visibility is also sustained by BCBF’s far-reaching promotion not only of the contest and winners during the Fair and online but also of a broad selection of the best 100 titles, with a special exhibition entitled The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf during the Fair.

The BRAW comprise five main categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Opera Prima (debut works by authors and illustrators), Comics (comic books and graphic novels), and Toddler. Juries may also assign a special New Horizons award to a particularly innovative work. In addition, each year, one or more Special Award categories are created alongside the main sections.

The 2025 Special BolognaRagazzi Awards category is dedicated to the sustainability.

As is the longstanding tradition, all the winning books will be added to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Collection dating back to 1966 and held by Bologna’s Salaborsa Children’s Library.


2025 Special Category: Sustainability

In line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals Book Club, BCBF is dedicating the special category of the 2025 BolognaRagazzi Awards to Sustainability. Nominated books should explore one or more themes related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals:

  1. No poverty
  2. Zero hunger
  3. Good health and well-being
  4. Quality education
  5. Gender equality
  6. Clean water and sanitation
  7. Affordable and clean energy
  8. Decent work and economic growth
  9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  10. Reduced inequalities
  11. Sustainable cities and communities
  12. Responsible consumption and production
  13. Climate action
  14. Life below water
  15. Life on Land
  16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
  17. Partnerships for the goals.

THE BRAW AMAZING BOOKSHELF

Since 2022, BCBF has turned a spotlight on the BolognaRagazzi Award finalist books. 
 
Every year, the international jury has the difficult task of choosing a shortlist of winners and mentions from hundreds of beautiful titles from all over the world. 

The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf will showcase, besides the winners and mentions, one hundred outstanding picture books, selected among the BRAW finalists in each category. In 2025 too this showcase will provide a valuable opportunity to unveil excellent works to the international publishing community. 

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