Sala Suite
Services Centre - Wing D
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Sala Notturno
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Moderator
Donatella Lombello
Panel
Donatella Lombello; Nicoletta Bacco; Chiara Faggiolani; Chiara Bertolini; Caterina Spezzano; Luisa Marquardt; Patrizia Lùperi; Alessandra Merighi; Sabrina Zanghi
Organized by
Associazione Pedagogica Italiana-As.Pe.I.
In cooperation with
Gruppo di Ricerca Biblioteche Scolastiche- GRIBS (PD)- AIB CNBS - Commissione nazionale Biblioteche scolastiche
Under the auspices of
AIB Emilia-Romagna
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Panel
Upon reservation only.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
The workshop invites participants to explore characters that blend humans, animals, and plants, illustrating our bond with nature through imaginative, hybrid creations in a playful painting session.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Mohamed Touirs, alias Ed Oner, Street artist and freelancer illustrator.
In cooperation with
Ediciones Ekaré
The Content Café
HALL 30
Comics in Ukraine (maliopyses) began to develop actively only after 2017, unlike comics on the European market which have been developing for quite some time. Even during this time, Ukrainian artists achieved significant results, offering their vision in various genres of both Ukrainian history and current events, including the war with Russia. Right now, the non-fiction graphic novel A Brief History of a Long War of Ukraine with Russia has become the most successful on the international markets even before being published in Ukraine.
Moderator
Anna Tkach, Literary Agency OVO
Panel
Kateryna Omelianenko, Vydavnytstvo; Anastasiia Lypska, Vovkulaka Publishing House.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Hamelin, Literary Agency OVO, Vydavnytstvo, Vovkulaka Publishing House
In the framework of
Comics Corner
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Organized by
Chennai International Book Fair
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
This panel will explore how mentorship can serve as a vital tool for cultivating the next generation of women leaders, with a particular focus on advancing Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5).
Organized by
PublisHer
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Shelley Ann Jackson, Associate Professor, MA degree in Children's Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University; Dr Elys Dolan, Senior Lecturer, MA degree in Children's Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University; Naomi Tipping, graduate; Claire Goble, graduate.
With the support of
Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Michelle Perez Barruos, General Manager, Feenix Group, Madrid.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Text and images each contribute in their own way to the experience of a story in children's books and more. Making images accessible to readers with visual impairments is essential for a complete and inclusive reading experience. Image description is a means of accessibility, as does the selection of inherently accessible illustrations. How can publishers, authors and illustrators tackle both challanges? This seminar offers the opportunity to experience what it means to miss out on illustrations and to learn how to effectively convey the richness of images through description. The event is organized within the framework APACE, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
Moderator
Elisa Molinari, Project Manager, Fondazione LIA
Panel
Anne Bottenheft, image specialist, Dedicon; Anke Kersten, image specialist, Dedicon; Maurizio Mattioli, Director Educational Digital Products, Zanichelli; Milena Risi, PhD student in Accessible Publishing at Zanichelli and University of Rome "Tor Vergata”.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
In cooperation with
Fondazione LIA
In the framework of
APACE, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Panel
Fatema Al-Malki, Manager, Qatar Reads, Qatar National Library.
Organized by
Qatar Reads, Qatar National Library
The Content Café
HALL 30
Spanish comics for young people are on the rise and are capturing many new readers. The newest and most interesting editorial projects will be presented.
Panel
Grazia Gotti, Accademia Drosselmeier; Marta Tutone, translator and Founder of Liana Editorial; Sectorial del Cómic de España.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Accademia Drosselmeier, Kids Comics
In the framework of
Comics Corner
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
"100% naturalis. Protagonisti che fanno storia" è una nuova collana diretta da Grazia Gotti: chicchi, grani e semi nei testi di Alessandra Valtieri accompagnati dalle figure dell'illustratore Marco Sandreschi.
Panel
Beatrice Fini, Giunti; Alessandra Valtieri, autrice.
Organized by
Editoriale Scienza - Giunti
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
Translators Café
HALL 30
Panel
Damiano Abeni, translator; Fausta Orecchio, Editorial Director, Orecchio Acerbo.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Organized by
PublisHer
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Thierry Baujard, Co-Founder, Spielfabrique, Germany
Panel
Per Rosendal, Digital Media Producer, Savannah, Denmark; Jean Gobert de Coster, CEO and Founder, Belgium.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
Spielfabrique
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Sala Preludio
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Marta Marchi, Anna Ferrante Carrante, Monica Fanicchi, Lidia Pantaleo
Organized by
IBBY Italia
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
In 1975 Altan published the first story featuring his famous red-dotted dog: 50 years later, cartoonists come together to celebrate the birthday of one of the most beloved Italian comics characters.
Moderator
Emilio Varrà, Hamelin
Panel
Altan, cartoonist; Maicol & Mirco, cartoonist; Noemi Vola, cartoonist and illustrator; Sergio Ruzzier, illustrator.
Organized by
Hamelin
In cooperation with
Franco Cosimo Panini Editore
In the framework of
Comics Corner
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
La bibliografia, promossa da Regione Toscana e dal Centro regionale servizi per le biblioteche toscane che ha sede nella biblioteca Tiziano Terzani di Campi Bisenzio, risponde a un’esigenza diffusa e fortemente sentita da bibliotecari, insegnanti e operatori interessati alla lettura giovanile: quella di poter usufruire di una finestra panoramica - costruita con criteri ispirati a scelte qualitative - sui libri in commercio per infanzia, adolescenza e YA (young adults). Giunta alla sua diciassettesima edizione, verrà presentata con riferimento ad alcuni titoli significativi.
Moderator
Ilaria Tagliaferri, coordinatrice editoriale LiBeR, referente Centro regionale dei servizi per le biblioteche per ragazzi toscane, Fondazione Accademia dei Perseveranti.
Organized by
Centro regionale dei servizi per le biblioteche per ragazzi toscane
In cooperation with
Regione Toscana, Fondazione Accademia dei Perseveranti, LiBeR
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
During the workshop we will explore some examples of pop-up books and learn how to fill the prototypes with our own images to be able to transform our drawings into three-dimensional pages.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Char-Lee Mito, illustrator.
Organized by
Euskal Irudigileak
In cooperation with
Etxepare Institutua
With the support of
Gobierno Vasco
The Content Café
HALL 30
Through digital media, children and young adults experience new forms of reading and storytelling, within complex narrative worlds where books are joined by movies and TV series, webcomics and webnovels, podcasts and audiobooks, immersive and interactive stories. Now in its 5th edition, the BolognaRagazzi CrossMedia Award explores these new forms of storytelling, selecting the best cross-media projects and the most effective screen reading experiences for children and teenagers.
Moderator
Roberta Franceschetti, Co-Founder, Mamamò
Panel
Liviu Bărbulescu, Graphic Designer, DCB – Rumänische Diaspora Initiative e.V.; Pamela Izebel Garduño Cruz, Innovation Hub Manager, Santillana; Laura Henderson, Head of Program, Frontiers for Young Minds; Woo Hyun-ok, DreamingKite Corp. (BookGorae); Stéphanie Simonin, Sales and Marketing Director, Bayard Jeunesse; Jessica Tarrant, Content Director, Yoto; Warren Buckleitner, editor, Children’s Technology Review.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Mamamò
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
AIE provides a deepdive into the Italian general book market, with an additional focus on the children's book market.
Panel
Bruno Giancarli, AIE Research Department.
Organized by
AIE - Associazione Italiana Editori
In cooperation with
BolognaBookPlus
With the support of
ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Louise Lamont, LBA Agency UK; Jane Acton, Agent; Jacks Thomas, Guest Director, BolognaBookPlus.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Translators Café
HALL 30
Moderator
Samanta K. Milton Knowles
Panel
Yorick Goldewijk, author; Valentina Freschi, translator.
Organized by
the Dutch Literature Foundation as part of the campaign La scoperta dell’Olanda
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Moderator
Chiara Basile, Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Panel
Chiara Carminati, autrice; Vittoria Facchini, illustratrice; David Tolin, editore, Pension Lepic.
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Moderator
Silvana Sola, ISIA Urbino e Cooperativa Culturale Giannino Stoppani
Panel
Tanja e Daniele Fior, Locomoctavia Audiolibri; Christina Hasenau, Direttrice del Centro Informazioni e Redazione online / Coordinamento del settore per le sedi in Italia del Goethe Institut.
Organized by
Locomoctavia Audiolibri, Goethe Institut Italia
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO, Products of Change, UK
Panel
Joachim Knödler, Head of Licensing, Studio 100 International, Germany; Helga Árnadóttir, Co-Founder and CEO, Tulipop, Iceland; Valerio Costabile, Vice President Brand Collaborations, Smiley Company, UK.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
Products of Change
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Sala Preludio
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
William Grandi (UniBO), Anna Ascenzi (UniMC) e Milena Bernardi (UniBO)
Panel
Sabrina Fava (UniCatt), Giorgia Grilli (UniBO), Marnie Campagnaro (UniPD), Cristina Gumirato (UniCatt)
Organized by
IBBY Italia
In cooperation with
Gruppo di Letteratura per l'infanzia di Siped (Società Italiana di Pedagogia)
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Anna Goodson, Founder and Creative Curator, Anna Goodson Illustration Agency.
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Meeting with the Jury & Prize giving Ceremony of the "Chinese Excellence in Children’s Illustration 2025" exhibition, that showcases the best contemporary Chinese illustrators selected each year by a different Jury of leading Chinese and international experts, to present them to the international publishing community at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. The exhibition 2025 (HALL 30, B46-C33) and the catalogue feature the 19 artists selected by the Jury, including the winner.
Panel
Elena Pasoli, Director, Bologna Children's Book Fair; Sara Wang, CEO, Sìdee Cultural Communication; Ao Ran, Deputy Executive Director, China Audio-video and Digital Publishing Association (China); Cathy Olmedillas, Founder and creative director of Studio Anorak, publisher of the magazines Happy Mags for Kids Anorak Magazine, DOT and the new CHEW (Spain); Li Jianping, Dean of the School of Animation at the Beijing Film Academy, Vice-Director of the Committee for the Teaching of Animation and Digital Media at the Ministry of Education, Secretary General of the Animation Art Committee of the Chinese Artists Association and Vice-President of the China Children’s Film Association (China); Long Niannan, Senior art teacher at the China National Children’s Center, expert in art education for children and painter (China); Marcella Terrusi, Researcher and lecturer in the field of childhood culture, history of children’s literature and international children’s publishing, University of Bologna (Italy); Mireia Trius, Co-founder, Zahorí Books (Spain); Tan Fengxia, Professor of children’s literature, School of Literature at Nanjing Normal University (China).
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair, China South Publishing & MediaGroup, Sìdee Cultural Communication
In cooperation with
China Publishers
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Children’s books capture the imagination, educate, and the can inspire communities to think and act in support of the SDGs. This session will look at the influence SDG book club has on raising awareness and the importance of adding new languages to drive local change and actions. Panelists will discuss how can books compel future generations of leaders to achieve sustainability and lasting change.
Moderator
Antje Watermann, Global SDG Book Club
Panel
Mercedes Alvarado, Mexican SDG Book Club; José Borghino, Secretary General, IPA - International Publishers Association; Kristina Kramer, German SDG Book Club; Karine Pansa, Brazilian SDG Book Club.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
United Nations Publications, IPA - International Publishers Association
The Content Café
HALL 30
Organized by
Andersen - La rivista e il premio dei libri per ragazzi
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
In una società in continua evoluzione, conoscere e recuperare le tradizioni diventa un'opportunità e una necessità, sia per i bambini sia per gli adulti.
Organized by
Tomolo EdiGio’ Edizioni
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Andre Breedt, Managing Director, Nielsen BookData.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
In today's entertainment landscape, the interaction among books, toys, and licensing has never been more dynamic. As streaming platforms propel characters to global stardom and nostalgia-driven brands make powerful comebacks, the opportunities—and challenges—for publishers, toy companies, and licensors are rapidly evolving. This panel brings together industry experts to explore the creative and commercial forces shaping the future of licensed products. How do book franchises successfully extend into the playroom? What role does sustainability play in the next generation of licensed goods? And how can licensors balance brand integrity with market demands? Don't miss this chance to gain insights, network with industry leaders, and discover what's next at the intersection of storytelling and play.
Moderator
Astrid Specht, Editor in Chief, TOYS & 1st Steps magazine, Germany
Panel
Gaby Dior, Head of EMEA Licensing, BBC Studios, UK; Kirstin Kreppel, Head of Entertainment & Licensing, KOSMOS, Germany.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
TOYS
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Opera Prima winner: 빨간 사과가 먹고 싶다면 (If You Want to Eat a Red Apple), Finger Publishing, South Korea, 2024. Text by Jin Joo, Illustrations by Ga Hee Lee. Toddler winner: Le coq polyglotte (The Multilingual Cockerel), Hélium, France 2024. Text and Illustrations di Marie Darme-Rizzo
Moderator
Francesca Mignemi, Children's Literature independent researcher.
Panel
Mi Ja Cho, Publisher, Finger Publishing, South Korea; Ga Hee Lee, Illustrator, South Korea; Sophie Giraud, editorial and artistic director, Hèlium, France.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Book presentation The Boy Lost in the Maze by Joseph Coelho, Kate Milner (Otter-Barry Books, 2022); Theo & Teseo nel labirinto by Joseph Coelho, translated by Sara Ragusa and Alessandra Valtieri (Terre di Mezzo, 2025).
Moderator
Chiara Basile, Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Panel
Caterina Favaretto, rights and co-editions, Otter-Barry Books; Janetta Otter-Barry, publisher, Otter-Barry Books; Sara Ragusa, translator; Alessandra Valtieri, translator.
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Translators Café
HALL 30
Moderator
Yuliia Kozlovets, Director, International Book Arsenal Festival, Kyiv, Ukraine
Panel
Lawrence Shimel, author & translator, USA/Spain; Kateryna Mikhalitsyna, author, translator and poet, Ukraine; Edward van de Vendel, author, translator and teacher, The Netherlands
Organized by
International Book Arsenal Festival Kyiv
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
How to start a career in illustration, catch an agent’s eye, understand what sells and sustain a career in children’s book publishing. Q&A will follow.
Moderator
Sarah Baker, Executive Director, SCBWI - Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Panel
Kirsten Hall, Founder and Owner, Catbird; Laurent Linn, Art Director, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Netta Rabin, Publisher of Children’s Books, Phaidon Press; TeMika Grooms, Illustration & Design Manager, SCBWI - Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Organized by
SCBWI - Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators
The Content Café
HALL 30
Are there differences in writing for boys or girls? Do boys read less? What must stories be like to attract young male readers?
Moderator
Stefan Boonen, writer
Panel
Ilmar Tomusk, writer; Anti Saar, writer; Charalambos Demetriou, reading promoter, teacher, IBBY Executive Committee member in Cyprus.
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Panel
Julia Eccleshare, Co-Founder, Klaus Flugge Prize and Chair of the judges; Pam Dix, Chair of Ibby UK; Mariajo Ilustrajo, illustrator, Klaus Flugge Prize winner 2023; Petr Horáček, award winning illustrator, Klaus Flugge Prize Judge 2024; Bruce Ingman, illustrator, Head of MA Children's Literature - Children's Book Illustration, Goldsmiths, University of London.
Organized by
Klaus Flugge Prize
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
The AI revolution is accelerating the already fragile balance between publishers and authors. In order to react, we must be aware of the current challenges and try to anticipate what will come next.
Moderator
Anna Karina Birkenstock, illustrator and President, IO - Illustratoren Organization Germany and EIF
Panel
Nurgül Şenefe, Social Entrepreneur, Founding President of the Illustrators Platform, Founding Managing Director iP Academy, EIF Board of Directors Member; Francesco Archidiacono, comics artist, Co-Founder MeFu and proposer, EGAIR; Elisabeth Perez Fernandez, illustrator, President, FADIP Spain and Board member EIF.
Organized by
EIF - European Illustrators Forum
In cooperation with
Euskal Irudigileak, MeFu, EGAIR
With the support of
AGPI - Asociación Galega de Profesionais da Ilustración, AI - Associazione Autori di Immagini, AOI - Association of Illustrators, APIC - Associació Professional d'il·lustradors de Catalunya, APIM - Asociación Profesional de Ilustradores de Madrid, APIV - Associació de Professionals de la Il·lustració Valenciana, ASIL - Asociacia Ilustratorov, BNO - Association of Dutch Designers, Clubul Ilustratorilor Romania, GRAFILL - Norwegian Association for Visual Communication, GRAFIA - Association of Visual Communication Designers Finland, Illustrators Ireland, Illustria Austria, Illustrators Platform Turkiye, IO Illustratoren Organisation Germany, Kuvittajat - Finnish Illustration Association, Svenska Tecknare Sweden, Tegnerforbundet af 1919 Denmark, Tegnerforbundet - Norwegian Drawing Association, Illustratörcentrum Sweden
In the framework of
A combined action by EIF member associations to raise awareness on professional issues including the impact and consequences of new AI technologies
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
This seminar will focus on the current trend of the 'book as object,' exploring how books have become collectors' items in an increasingly digital world. The discussion will include debates on the characteristics of a great physical book and a great ebook, how both formats can coexist, and how to optimize a list across all formats.
Moderator
Jacks Thomas, Guest Director, BolognaBookPlus
Panel
Joanna Reynolds, CEO, The Folio Society; Nadim Sadek, Founder and CEO, Shimmr AI; Victoria Sutherland, Founder and publisher, Foreword Magazine.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Sarah Arbuthnot, Chief Commercial Officer, Supadu.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
HALL 30, B46-C33
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair/BolognaFiere, China South Publishing & MediaGroup, Sìdee Cultural Communication
In cooperation with
China Publishers
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
The Folio Society will discuss the 2025 Folio Book Illustration Awards.
Moderator
Steven Guarnaccia, illustrator, designer and Associate Professor of Illustration at Parsons School of Design
Panel
Tom Walker, Publishing Director, The Folio Society; Zach Rock, previous winner; Sophia Schoepfer, editor, The Folio Society.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Sala Ronda
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Panel
Maria Polita
Sala Notturno
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
This meet-up is a networking event which will provide opportunities to raise questions, challenges and solutions when it comes to image descriptions in publications.
After the walk-in with drinks and a snack and a short introduction, participants can choose between two thematic tables led by accessibility experts: 'Images and AI' and 'Image descriptions and publishing accessible e-books'.
Organized by
APACE, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union
In cooperation with
Fondazione LIA
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
I librai dell'Associazione librerie indipendenti per ragazzi (ALIR) hanno letto, si sono confrontati e hanno selezionato i titoli che, nel panorama dell'editoria infantile, meritano un riconoscimento per la loro qualità.
Organized by
ALIR - Associazione Librerie Indipendenti per Ragazzi
Sala Suite
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Moderator
Irene Greco, ideatrice del progetto Leggimiprima e formatrice
Panel
Anna Cascone - psicologa e formatrice, è esperta di psicologia positiva e dell'invecchiamento.
Valentina Mossa - psicologa e psicoterapeuta specializzata nel trattamento dei traumi e nel victim support. Si dedica allo storytelling e alla libroterapia, anche illustrata.
Maria Sole Pipino - psicoterapeuta familiare e psicologa perinatale, lavora con le famiglie e la maternità nelle diverse fasi del ciclo di vita.
Organized by
Kite Edizioni
In cooperation with
Autori in città - Festival d'illustrazione e narrazione
Sala Ouverture
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Moderator
Modera: Samuele Cafasso (Giornale della Libreria)
Panel
Fabio Del Giudice (Direttore AIE-Associazione Italiana Editori); Carlo Gallucci (Gallucci Editore); Miriam Giovanzana (Terre di Mezzo); Nicoletta Gramantieri (Biblioteca Sala Borsa); Giovanni Peresson (Ufficio studi AIE-Associazione Italiana Editori)
Organized by
AIE – Associazione Italiana Editori
Sala Wagner
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Maurizio Caminito
Panel
Simone Piccinini (Progetto Xanadu dell’Associazione Hamelin)
Lucia Tringali (Casa Gavoglio)
Catia Cavatorti (Cooperativa Re.Search, Laboratori Bibliosociali)
Antonella Fallerini, Valentina Rovacchi e Elisabetta Tamburini (La Sapienza Università di Roma)
Ludovica Azzali (Radioimmaginaria)
Organized by
Forum del libro - ETS
In cooperation with
Associazione Hamelin, Casa Gavoglio, Cooperativa Re.Search, La Sapienza Università di Roma, Radioimmaginaria
Sala Allegretto
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
We are pleased to invite you to the presentation of
LET’S RETRACE THE SILK ROADS – a co-production in cooperation with UNESCO Publishing
The Silk Roads encompass some of the most complex and fascinating systems in the history of world civilizations. A shifting network of roads and pathways for trade that evolved over centuries, it enabled the exchange of cargo such as silk, spices, gems, furs, but also shared art, religion and technology. It is also one of the first cultural ‘corridors’ worldwide, embodying the principles of cultural diversity, heritage and peaceful cooperation that are fostered by both UNESCO and the World Heritage Convention.
Step By Step enabled to create a beautiful children series explaining the importance of the Silk Roads with the most authoritative experts on this topic.
Moderator
Cinzia Seccamani
Panel
Mehrdad Shabahang, Head of the UNESCO Silk Roads Programme
Tara Golkar, Programme Officer of the UNESCO Silk Roads Programme
Cristina Puerta, Head of UNESCO Publications
Cinzia Seccamani, Step By Step Int. Publishing, Int. Sales Director
Fred Fan, AF Times Group, General Director
Zhong Mei Chen, Step By Step Int. Publishing, Chief Editor
Rosa Tiziana Bruno, Author
Domenico Russo, Illustrator
Organized by
Step by Step International Publishing Ltd
In cooperation with
UNESCO Publishing
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Viola Gabrielli, Media Consultant & Head of Programme, Young Horizons Industry, Poland
Panel
Marta Galewska-Kustra, IP Owner, speech therapist, creativity educator and writer, Poland; Paulina Talarska, producer, EGoFILM, Poland.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
Young Horizons Industry
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
The Illustrators Survival Corner
HALL 30
A group of max 20 participants carries out a live sketching session within the spaces of the fair. The images produced will create a visual diary of the fair.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Allegra Agliardi, illustrator; Harold Canizales, illustrator.
In cooperation with
Institut d'Estudis Baleàrics
Translators Café
HALL 30
A showcase of Italian childrens’ books to be translated, aimed at publishers and literary translators working from Italian
Panel
Leah Janeczko, translator; Anna Mioni, translator and literary agent.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Alice Bigli
Panel
Andrea Bouchard e Alice Bigli
Organized by
Salani Editore
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Join us for an in-depth exploration of the Society of Illustrators' rich history and impactful work, along with insights into the esteemed Original Art Show, which celebrates the best in U.S.-published children’s book illustration each year. Learn about its history, application process, selection criteria, meet the 2024 OA Gold Medal Winner and OA in-show award winning author and illustrators.
Panel
Arabelle Liepold, Executive Director, Society of Illustrators; Steve Compton, Director of Exhibitions & Collections, Society of Illustrators; Clare Pernice, Children’s Programs Consultant, Society of Illustrators; Laurent Linn, The Original Art Artistic Advisor, past OA Jury Chair; Beatrice Alemagna, award winning author and illustrator, Original Art Gold Medalist 2024; Sergio Ruzzier, award winning author and illustrator, multi-in show illustrator, past OA juror; Ed Vere, award winning author and illustrator, multi-in show illustrator.
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
Panel
Gerda Dendooven, illustrator.
Organized by
Camelozampa
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Tante storie surreali e divertentissime per ridere insieme alla famiglia più buffa del mondo, e per buttare – appunto – un occhio sui giochi che si possono fare con i modi di dire e la nostra lingua. Un inno d'amore alle parole e alla letteratura da due degli scrittori più amati e più divertenti di questi anni.
Panel
Daniel Pennac, autore; Stefano Bartezzaghi, autore; Antonio Prudenzano, Responsabile editoriale IlLibraio.it.
Organized by
Salani Editore
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Kanchan Wanchoo Sharma
Panel
Milind Marathe, professor; Prashant Pathak; Ajay Mago; Shweta Khurana.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
The 2025 IBBY Press Conference will showcase IBBY’s latest initiatives and key events. Highlights include the presentation of the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award candidates, the celebration of International Children’s Book Day 2025, the launch of the 2025 Selection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities, the presentation of a new IBBY-UNESCO project, and news about our next World Congress and Regional Conferences, in addition to the presentation of the Jella Lepman medal to Patricia Aldana.
Panel
Basarat Kazim, President, IBBY; Carolina Ballester, Executive Director, IBBY; Marloes Robijn, President, IBBY Netherlands; Leigh Turina, Project Leader, Toronto Public Library; Cristina Puerta, Head, UNESCO Publishing; Josiane Polidori, 2nd Vice President, IBBY Canada; Tucker Stone, Past President, USBBY, Valerie Coghlan, President, Bookbird Inc.; Shereen Kreidieh, President, 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury.
Organized by
IBBY - International Board on Books for Young People
Sala Bolero
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Alice Debianchi, Ufficio Stampa Edizioni EL / Einaudi Ragazzi / Emme Edizioni
Panel
Nicoletta Bortolotti, Marco M., Davide Mattiello, Paola Predicatori e Fabrizio Silei
Organized by
Edizioni EL / Einaudi Ragazzi / Emme Edizioni
The Content Café
HALL 30
Moderator
Patrizia Zerbi, publisher and Editorial Director, Carthusia Edizioni
Panel
Patrizia Zerbi, publisher and Editorial Director, Carthusia Edizioni; Elena Pasoli, Director, Bologna Children's Book Fair; Walter Fochesato, President of the Jury and expert in the history of children's literature; Emanuela Bussolati, illustrator; Eros Miari, consultant, Turin Book Fair; Chiara Bidoli, Editor-in-Chief, Corriere della Sera; Sara Wang, CEO, Niu Niu Culture Limited; Sonja Riva, journalist, Swiss radio and television; Lorena De Vita, Head of the Culture sector, BPER Banca.
Organized by
Carthusia Edizioni
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair, Salone Internazionale del Libro di Torino, Comune di Mulazzo
With the support of
BPER Banca
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Theodore Huang, Senior Manager, Publishing and Licensing Team, Taiwan Creative Content Agency, Taiwan; Alice Lee, Project Manager, Sunthingood Co., Ltd., Taiwan; Jeannie Yong, Business Development Dept. Manager, Jimmy S.P.A. Plus Co., Ltd., Taiwan; Yu Shih, Project Manager, Dreamland Image Co.,Ltd, Taiwan.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA)
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Translators Café
HALL 30
Moderator
Stephanie Barrouillet – Foreign Rights Agent S.B. Rights Agency (Israel)
Panel
Alīse Nīgale, Publisher from Liels uns mazs (Latvia); Federico Appel, editor from Sinnos (Italy); Triinu Laan, writer (Estonia); Adéla Procházková, publisher from Cesta Domu (Czech Republic); Jennifer Alise Drew, publisher from Restless Books (USA).
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Sustainability Special Category winner: Art is a Voice, Art1st Enterprises, India, 2024. Text and Illustations by Kripa. Non-Fiction winner: Per mille camicette al giorno, Orecchio Acerbo, Italy, 2024. Text by Serena Ballista, Illustrations by Sonia Maria Luce Possentini.
Moderator
Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna.
Panel
Kripa, author and illustrator, Art1st Enterprises, India; Fausta Orecchio, Publisher, Orecchio Acerbo, Italy; Serena Ballista, author, Italy; Sonia Maria Luce Possentini, illustrator, Italy.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Valentina De Poli
Panel
Gianluca Caporaso, Janna Carioli, Valentina De Poli.
Organized by
Salani Editore, Lettori si diventa
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Organized by
PublisHer
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Organized by
PublisHer
The Illustrators Survival Corner
HALL 30
Delve into the Original Art Exhibition, gaining exclusive insights into the 2024 medal winners and their acclaimed works.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Moderator
Yuliia Kozlovets, Director, International Book Arsenal Festival, Kyiv, Ukraine
Panel
Oleg Gryshchenko, painter, illustrator, Co-Founder, Pictoric Illustrators Club, Kyiv, Ukraine; Anna Sarvira, illustrator, curator, Co-Founder Pictoric Illustrators Club, Cologne, Germany; Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv, award-winning book authors, illustrators, graphic designers known as Art Studio Agrafka, Lviv, Ukraine.
Organized by
International Book Arsenal Festival, Kyiv
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
Gain a better understanding of color through discovering your personal color palette, which can help improve your craft, make your images more cohesive, and establish your visual voice and style.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Dr. Elizabeth "e" Dulemba, Director of Graduate Programs in Children’s Literature & Illustration, Hollins University.
Organized by
Hollins University
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Are you a publisher or part of an organisation in the book and publishing sector? The Creative Europe programme offers dedicated funding to support your work. Its mission is to enhance the translation, circulation and linguistic diversity of literary works across Europe and beyond, expand audiences for European literature, and boost the sector’s competitiveness through cooperation and networking between organisations in Europe.
Panel
Arnaud Pasquali, European Commission, Directorate-General Education, Youth, Sport and Culture.
Organized by
European Commission (DG Education and Culture), Creative Europe Desks Italy, Portugal, Slovenia
The Content Café
HALL 30
Organized by
China Publishers
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Nel panorama editoriale attuale, il digitale non è un nemico, ma un alleato strategico per gli editori. PRIMIVERSI, piattaforma innovativa basata sulla tecnologia OLHOS, offre un ecosistema digitale avanzato per la distribuzione di contenuti destinati ai bambini da 0 a 12 anni. Grazie alla combinazione di multimedialità, gestione autonoma della distribuzione e coinvolgimento diretto dei lettori, PRIMIVERSI permette agli editori di mantenere il controllo sui propri contenuti e di ampliare il proprio pubblico senza dipendere da grandi piattaforme centralizzate.
Organized by
Weiji Lab
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Panel
Olivia Deane, Research Manager, Ampere Analysis, UK
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Under the auspices of
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
The event will include readings from Tamer’s latest publication I Will not Write Poetry and Other Texts, which is the third book in the Children of the Sea and Groves series. The series captures the experiences of Palestinian children during times of war. It began with Children of the Sea Memoirs in 2014, followed by What Becomes of Eid? in 2022, and today we present readings from the third book, I Will Not Write Poetry and Other Texts in 2025. These texts were written by children in Gaza during the first half of 2024. We are presenting a reading of selected texts today, in 2025, after the war has ended, as a living testament to the genocide and as a message to the world that politics, journalism, or war cannot convey.
Panel
Dima Saqfalhait, Literary and Knowledge Production Program Coordinator, Tamer Institute for Community Education, Palestine.
Organized by
Tamer Institute for Community Education
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Upon reservation only.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Upon reservation only.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
Translators Café
HALL 30
Panel
Rita Tura, Latvian Literature, International Writers and Translators House (Latvia); Toma Gudelyte, translator and scout (Lithuania); Daniele Monticelli, translator and university lecturer (Estonia)
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Sala Suite
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Moderator
Valentina Mai - Direttrice Editoriale Kite Edizioni
Panel
Raul Nieto Guridi - autore e illustratore
Organized by
Kite Edizioni
In cooperation with
Autori in città - Festival d'illustrazione e narrazione
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Organized by
Franco Cosimo Panini Editore
In the framework of
Comics Corner
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Portfolio Review with Francesca Zucchi, Art Director of Junior Poetry Magazine.
Panel
Francesca Zucchi, art director, Junior Poetry Magazine
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Moderator
Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, Publishing Perspectives
Panel
Rachel Martin, Global Director Sustainability, Elsevier; Leonardo Aldegheri, President, Grafiche AZ; Anne Bergman Tahon, Director, Federation of European Publishers; Mary E. Glenn, Chief, Sales and Marketing Section UN Publications, Department of Global Communications United Nations; Helena Mansell-Stopher, Founder and CEO, Products of Change; Iroo Joo, Korean Publishers Association; Gvantsa Jobava, International Publishers Association; Nicolas Roche, BIEF - Bureau international de l'Edition francaise.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair, BolognaBookPlus, Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
United Nations Publications
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
This energetic session will feature a panel of contemporary writers and illustrators as they delve into the world of writing children's books. Explore trends, tackle challenges, and uncover opportunities. It will also highlight how creative minds collaborate to craft captivating stories and provide insights on breaking into this competitive landscape. Hosted by Julia Eccleshare, this session is a must-see event for all publishers and artists wishing to engage in a creative exchange of ideas.
Moderator
Julia Eccleshare, Director, Hay Children's Festival
Panel
Dorien Brouwers, illustrator, author; Maria Strzelecka, illustrator, writer; Gaby Dawnay, writer; Neal Hoskins, editor, writer.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
WingedChariot
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
All fairy tales aim to prepare children for life today. “With which fairy tales do we prepare our children for life today?”
Panel
Birsen Ekim Ozen
Organized by
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkiye
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Chris Haughton, designer, illustrator and children's book author, juror Illustrators Exhibition 2025.
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
Under the auspices of
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
The Content Café
HALL 30
Itabashi Art Museum Director Kiyoko Matsuoka and Art Director Masahiro Kakinohara will present the SDG SUGOROKU, an educational game created in collaboration with an artist from Itabashi, Picture Book City. Following this, there will be a presentation of Japanese SDG picture books selected by the city of Itabashi.
Panel
Kiyoko Matsuoka, Director, Itabashi Art Museum; Masahiro Kakinokihara, Art Director; Ayami Moriizumi, researcher.
Organized by
Itabashi Art Museum and the City of Itabashi, Tokyo
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Jacks Thomas, Guest Director, BolognaBookPLus
Panel
Tom Walker, Publishing Director, The Folio Society; Sara Saorin, Co-Founder, Camelozampa; Christopher Maclehose, Open Borders Press.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
As books get transformed dramatically from printed pages to diverse formats, small to mid-sized publishers in niche markets with limited populations face unique challenges that require reinventing their business strategies to remain competitive. ThinkPub.eu, a European project and think tank, provides vital learning resources to increase vital competencies for publishers.
Moderator
Rüdiger Wischenbart, Content and Consulting
Panel
Carlo Carrenho, Alpine Global Collective; Sonia Draga, Federation of European Publishers, Sonia Draga Grupa Wydawnicza; Alma Čaušević Klemenčič, Beletrina Digital; Marko Hercog, Beletrina.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
A lot of stories begin with a problem to solve or an unexpected event to deal with. Sometimes, we forget that even the most imaginative scenario has its own logic and that we have to think as a designer, more than as an illustrator. If you know how to draw something, but you have troubles coming up with ideas for a real story, you have to test yourself with this creative marathon starting from the books “Il genio della musica” and “Le regine litigiose” with two surprising authors and illustrators. We will test together some creative exercises, drawing characters and finding inspiration from daily things and storytelling strategies.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Marianna Balducci, author and illustrator; Sergio Olivotti, author and illustrator.
Organized by
Edizioni Clichy
Estonian GoH Area
Services Centre
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Fra le migliaia di libri che gli editori di tutto il mondo inviano per partecipare al BolognaRagazzi Awards emergono dei nuovi protagonisti: i sassi. É nato così un progetto di mostra-laboratorio itinerante a loro dedicato che inaugurerà a Napoli, in occasione di Campania Libri, a ottobre prossimo.
Panel
Nicoletta Del Giudice, Il Gatto Verde; Grazia Gotti, Accademia Drosselmeier; Alessandra Valtieri, traduttrice.
Organized by
Accademia Drosselmeier, Children’s Book Publishing Naples Academy
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Panel
Anna Bergman - Tahon, Director, Federation of European Publishers; Enrico Turrin, Deputy Director, Federation of European Publishers; Olena Odynoka, Deputy Director, Ukrainian Book Institute; Marjana Savka, Co-Founder, Old Lion Publishing house, Ukraine; Kateryna Mikhalitsyna, Ukrainian Writer, children's author, translator, and a member of PEN Ukraine, friend of Viktoria Amelina.
Organized by
The Ukrainian Book Institute, FEP - Federation of European Publishers
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Consultant, Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
Panel
Irene Guerrieri, architect and toy designer, Design for kids; Andrea Ligabue, Art Director, Play The Games Festival; Stefano Ascari, comics scriptwriter and Creative Director.
In cooperation with
Play - Festival del Gioco
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Panel
Jeff Kinney, author and cartoonist; Davide Calì, author, illustrator and cartoonist.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Abrams Books
The Content Café
HALL 30
A pochi giorni dalla sua morte, ricordiamo un'artista che, insieme al compagno Francesco Testa, ha segnato la storia della cultura per l'infanzia attraverso una instancabile sperimentazione tra linguaggi (il fumetto, il libro illustrato e l'animazione) e l'invenzione di personaggi indimenticabili come Giovanna e il drago Tommasone. La ricordano studiosi, autrici e autori che ne hanno incrociato il percorso artistico e di vita. L'incontro è aperto da un saluto in video di Francesco Testa.
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Francesco Testa, autore e illustratore; Pino Boero, autore ed esperto di letteratura per l'infanzia; Orietta Fatucci, Edizioni EL; Walter Fochesato, studioso di letteratura per l’infanzia e storia dell’illustrazione, Vicedirettore del mensile Andersen; Carlo Gallucci, Gallucci Editore; Giusi Quarenghi, autrice; Elena Toselli, Direttrice di produzione, Rai Fiction; Sara Wang, CEO, Sìdee Cultural Communication.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair, Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
Hamelin
In the framework of
Comics Corner
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Organized by
IPA - International Publishers Association
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Upon reservation only.
Organized by
BLTF/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
The creative process behind Isol's book Abbecedario stravagante (@logosedizioni): how to use each letter to write and illustrate a story.
Panel
Isol, author and illustrator.
Organized by
@logosedizioni
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
This inaugural AI Summit offers a thorough consideration of how AI can assist publishing
Moderator
Searsha Sadek, Founder and Chief Product Officer, Shimmr AI
Panel
Nadim Sadek, Founder and CEO, Shimmr AI.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Art residency in a small country’s border town: does the environment and collaboration with the local community influence the outcome of one’s creative work, and if so, to what extent?
Moderator
Anne Pikkov, Vice-Rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts and Executive Board Member of Cumulus
Panel
Greta Alice, illustrator, Lithuania; Lucia Carlini, illustrator, Italy; Pamela Samel, illustrator, Estonia.
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
In the year of Estonia Guest of Honour of BCBF, we take a look at children's comics from the Baltic regions and their neighbouring countries, to understand how the world of comics is developing there, the peculiarities of the visual tradition of these nations, and the challenges publishers who want to grow in this sector must face.
Moderator
Tanja Skale, editor of Stripburger and Co-Founder and Art Director of the Tinta International Comics Festival, Slovenia
Panel
Veiko Tammjarv, editor, Kratt Werk, Estonia; Lina Itagaki, author, editor, Misteris Pinkmanas, Lithuania; Paweł Timofiejuk, editor, Timof Comics, Poland.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Hamelin
In the framework of
Comics Corner
Sala Concerto
Services Centre - Wing D
Note: Pre-registration required on BBPlus website
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
In cooperation with
Argentovivo
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
Fold and cut one piece of paper to create a small book. Draw your name on the cover of the first page, then pass it for others to continue. In the end, you'll have a collaborative book!
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Liu Hsu-Kung, Illustrator.
Organized by
TAICCA-Taiwan Creative Content Agency
The Content Café
HALL 30
Discover global trends and opportunities that are shaping the future of this vibrant literary format. Gain exclusive insights from Scholastic Graphix, the renowned graphic novel imprint, and celebrate the launch of The Cartoonist Club as it makes its debut in bookstores.
Moderator
Ed Nawotka, Publishers Weekly
Panel
Peter Warwick, CEO, Scholastic; Renata Gorgani, CEO and Publisher, Editrice Il Castoro.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In the framework of
Comics Corner
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Chantal Restivo-Alessi, Chief Digital Officer, HarperCollins.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Come raccontare 35 anni di una casa editrice, che poi sono un nuovo punto di partenza? Con i libri, naturalmente ma anche con le voci che accompagnano questo viaggio: chi contribuisce a farli conoscere, chi scrive e illustra storie che in Sinnos hanno trovato casa, e chi queste storie le fa diventare libri.
Panel
Della Passarelli, Sinnos; autori e autrici Sinnos.
Organized by
Sinnos Editrice
Sala Ronda
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Come and meet with Laureate project teams from across the world to hear about how their different programmes were developed, and how you might begin a Laureate programme in your country. To RSVP or if you have any queries please contact Ruth Ni Eidhin, Project Manager at Ireland’s Laureate na nOg at info@childrenslaureate.ie.
Panel
Kristin Darrell (Project Manager, Australian Children's Laureate); Tialda Hoogeveen (Friesland Children's Laureate)
Organized by
International Laureate Network
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Samantha Loveday, Group Editor, Max Publishing, UK
Panel
David Sprei, Commercial Director, Penguin Ventures, UK.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Translators Café
HALL 30
Translators on the Cover: The EU expert group on Multilingualism and Translation publishes its report. The report gives recommendations on how to reinforce the European translation sector and increase the circulation of books in Europe and beyond. It advocates for more public funding for translation projects so publishers can take on a higher number of translation projects and can fairly remunerate the translators working on them. The EU Expert Group on Multilingualism and Translation published its report on the role of translators for the cultural and creative sectors and proposed recommendations to improve the translators’ working conditions and professional developments. The report also includes recommendations on how public institutions can stimulate the translation and promotion of European books.
Moderator
Francesca Novajra, President, Ceatl
Panel
Arnaud Pasquali, Policy Officer, European Commission (DG-EAC, Creative Europe); Renate Punka, President, LGA-Latvian Publishers Association; Cécile Deniard, Atlf-Association des Traducteurs Littéraires de France, Ceatl-European Council of Associations of Literary Translators
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
CEATL
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Nadim Sadek, Founder and CEO, Shimmr AI
Panel
Nancy Traversy, Barefoot Books; Tom Benjamin, author; Kelly Garner, Treefort Media.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Vicente Ferrer Azcoiti, publisher, Media Vaca; Begoña Lobo, Rights Manager, Media Vaca.
Organized by
Media Vaca
With the support of
Ministerio de Cultura, Dirección General del Libro, del Cómic y de la Lectura, España
Under the auspices of
Plan de Fomento de la Lectura 2021-2024
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
What are the working principles and funding models of various organizations that promote children's literature, writers as well as illustrators?
Moderator
Tuulike Kivestu, illustrator, journalist
Panel
Triin Soone, Director, Estonian Children's Literature Centre; Dr. Katja Wiebe, editor for Eastern European Children's and Youth Literature; Justinas Vancevičius, Acting Head of the Children's and Youth Literature Center, Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
The Content Café
HALL 30
The Southeast Asian book markets, which have been widely ignored internationally, are flourishing. There is a spirit of optimism, and the literary exchange within Asia is also gaining in importance. The Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC), organized annually by the Singapore Book Council, is no longer just a "hub to Southeast Asia," but to the entire Asian continent and evidence of the establishment of an "Asian identity" in the field of children's literature. In the past, publishing houses would complain about the difficulties of gaining a foothold in the Western book market or of meeting Western taste criteria. Today, however, presence on the Western market is no longer as relevant for many Asian publishers. In terms of content and aesthetics, an undeniable divide has emerged between Asia and Europe. The «White Ravens Panel» focuses on questions such as: how does cultural exchange within Asia succeed, what similarities facilitate it and what barriers hinder it, how has the relationship with Western book markets changed, is an equal dialogue in the field of children's literature between East and West possible, and how can translations and cultural transfer be facilitated.
Moderator
Lucia Obi, Language Specialist for Chinese Children's & YA Books, International Youth Library
Panel
Felicia Low-Jimenez, author, publisher, Difference Engine, Singapore; William Phuan, Executive Director, Singapore Book Council.
Organized by
International Youth Library Foundation
In cooperation with
Bologna Children’s Book Fair
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Illustrate & Animate: Have you tried bringing your illustrations to life with small animations and want professional feedback? Would you like to turn your illustrations into GIFs? Are you looking for someone to help you animate your illustrations? Then, connect with your motion design partner! Unlock new creative and market opportunities—bring your illustrations to life!
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
The Illustrators Survival Corner
HALL 30
A group of max 20 participants carries out a live sketching session within the spaces of the fair. The images produced will create a visual diary of the fair.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Mariana Alcántara, illustrator; Kayode Onimole, illustrator; Lychee Chai, illustrator.
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Organized by
Fondazione LIA
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Japan is one of the picture book kingdoms where books for babies reign. Every year, more than 200 - 300 new titles are published. We will trace the history of baby books in Japan starting from the million sellers published in the 60s up to some of the recent experimental titles, and analyze their unique representations that continue to fascinate both babies and adults.
Panel
Yukiko Hiromatsu, picture book writer, critic, independent curator.
Organized by
Itabashi Art Museum and the City of Itabashi, Tokyo
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Searsha Sadek, Shimmr AI
Panel
Gaurav Sabharwal, Prakash Books; Raul Perez, Grupo Planeta; Sarah Arbuthnot, Supadu.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Kings League is an innovative football competition featuring unconventional rules, celebrity team presidents, and a mix of amateur and professional players. It combines traditional football with entertainment elements, aiming to attract a younger audience through fast-paced gameplay and unique twists. In essence, the Kings League serves as a prime example of building fandom to attract audiences in an innovative way. This panel presents a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the strategies and opportunities presented by the Kings League brand. It offers insights into how sports organizations can innovate to build and expand their fanbase in today's competitive entertainment landscape.
Moderator
Samantha Loveday, Group Editor, Max Publishing, UK
Panel
Joan Domènech, Marketing Director of Spain & Italy, Kings League, Spain.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Translators Café
HALL 30
Panel
Cora Presezzi, Adelphi; Sergio Ruzzier, translator; Sara Saorin, Camelozampa; Giovanna Zoboli, Topipittori
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Children’s magazines as a unique stepping stone for aspiring writers and artists. They are a child’s first reading material and an introduction to the works of various authors.
Moderator
Kätlin Vainola
Panel
Llona Martson, Chief Editor, Täheke; Muriel Rathje, Chief Editor, Gecko; Petra Novikova, Communication Manager, Raketa.
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Organized by
PublisHer
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Sala Bolero
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Con Alberto Pellai e Barbara Tamborini
Organized by
De Agostini Libri
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Fiction winner: بيت الحكمة (House of Wisdom), Kalimat, United Arab Emirates, 2024. Text by Bodour Al Qasimi, Illustrations by Majid Zakeri Younesi. New Horizons SPECIAL JURY PRIZE winner: Dalla finestra, Start Edizioni, Italy, 2024. Text by Laura Cattabianchi, Illustrations by Laura Cattabianchi and Patrizio Anastasi.
Moderator
Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
H.H. Bodour Al Qasimi, Publisher Kalimat and Author, United Arab Emirates; Giuliana Riunno, Publisher Start Edizioni; Laura Cattabianchi, author and illustrator, Italy; Patrizio Anastasi, Illustrator, Italy.
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Upon reservation only.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
The Illustrators Survival Corner
HALL 30
Delve into the Original Art Exhibition, gaining exclusive insights into the 2024 medal winners and their acclaimed works.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Gaurav Sabharwal, CEO, Prakash Books; Raúl Pérez, Head of Digital, Grupo Planeta; Sarah Arbuthnot, Chief Commercial Officer, Supadu; Tom Benjamin, author.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Sala Notturno
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Moderator
Giuseppe Bartorilla
Panel
Elisa Callegari, Anna Maria Di Giovanni, Fiamma De Salvo, Ida Triglia, Jeff Kinney, Renata Gorgani, Gabriella Marinaccio, Giuseppe Bartorilla, Silvia Cuppini, Caterina Ramonda, Marianna Balducci, Valentina Busso, Luigi Ballerini e Valentina Federici
Organized by
Commissione nazionale Biblioteche e servizi per ragazzi e ragazzi dell'Associazione italiana biblioteche
Sala Wagner
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Organized by
Babalibri
Sala Ronda
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Moderator
Silvana Sola, Chiara Pinton
Panel
Alessandra Algostino, Prof.ssa ordinaria Diritto Costituzionale (Università di Torino), Jessica Cugini, Giornalista (Verona)
Organized by
IBBY Italia
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Antonio Prudenzano
Organized by
Gruppo editoriale Mauri Spagnol
In cooperation with
IlLibraio
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Moderator
Sarah Genovese, curatrice del concorso, Lucca Comics & Games
Panel
Paolo d’Altan, Presidente di Giuria, Concorso LuccaJunior - Premio di Illustrazione Editoriale Livio Sossi; Loredana Baldinucci, editore, Editrice Il Castoro; Daniele Bonomo (Gud), Art Director, Book on a Tree; Anna Castagnoli, autrice e critica dell'albo illustrato; Marcella Peluffo, Presidente, Autori di Immagini; Lucia Stipari, autrice del testo 2025.
Organized by
Lucca Comics & Games
In cooperation with
Book on A Tree, Editrice Il Castoro
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Furio Camillo, Scientific Director, Webboh-LAB, Italy
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Under the auspices of
The Content Café
HALL 30
Remember when publishers started producing wonderful, reassuring, empowering, self-esteem-building books for girls? Today, professional sociological research shows that young men need that very same support from the book industry. Many younger boys are testing almost a grade level behind girls in English and arts studies. And many young men are struggling to finish school, earn college degrees, and become the supportive, loving fathers and husbands we know they can be. Much of this comes down to self-esteem and the need to signal that masculinity does not have to be "toxic." The publishing world can help male readers with books that offer healthy career options, loving and compassionate relationships, and the means to grow into great friends, lovers, spouses, and fathers. In this special session, expert speakers will be exploring the book industry's unique opportunity to help young men face their crises, just as it has faithfully done for girls.
Moderator
Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, Publishing Perspectives
Panel
Francesca Cavallo, author of Stellar Stories for Boys of the Future and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls; Michiel Kolman, Senior Vice President at Elsevier and Chair of the Inclusive Publishing and Literacy Committee at the International Publishers Association (IPA); Maria Russo, Editor at Large, Union Square Kids; Jonathan Simcosky, Quarto Books, New York, Editor of Yes, Boys Can! Inspiring Stories of Men Who Changed the World.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
With the support of
ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
In this wide-ranging conversation, museum professions from three continents will offer an inside look at three innovative museums - the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the Itabashi Art Museum, and the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration - where children's book art takes center stage.
Moderator
Leonard Marcus, founding trustee, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, USA
Panel
Olivia Ahmad, Artistic Director, Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, UK; Kiyoko Matsuoka, Director, Itabashi Art Museum, Japan.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
With the support of
ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Organized by
Forestae
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
Join award-winning illustrator Loes Riphagen for a creative workshop! Learn her techniques for creating characters and backgrounds, then try illustrating with the materials she uses in her books.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Loes Riphagen, illustrator and author.
Organized by
Dutch Literature Foundation
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Edward Nawotka, Senior Editor, Publishers Weekly.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Exploring the background of cooperation between an Estonian illustrator and a world-famous writer.
Moderator
Tuulike Kivestu, illustrator, journalist
Panel
Regina Lukk Toompere, illustrator; Davide Calì, writer; Valentina Mai, publisher, Kite Edizioni; Takako Totsuka-Mizuno, Green Seed Book.
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
The very special poetry series by AKIARA books.
Moderator
Marina Lepore, Accademia Drosselmeier
Panel
Rachel Caiano, illustrator; Inês Castel-Branco, publisher; Anna Font, illustrator; Concha Pasamar, illustrator; Arianna Squilloni, author, publisher, A Buen Paso.
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
2025 marks a very special milestone for DeAPlaneta Entertainment: the 25th anniversary of the company's creation, which is part of Grupo Planeta and De Agostini. A quarter of a century of all-round leadership in the entertainment sector, during which the company has distributed Academy Award-winning films (The Pianist, The King's Speech, 12 Years a Slave) and box office hits such as Saw, The Invisible Guardian, and The Girl on the Train. The company has also produced internationally recognized children's series, such as MILO, and more recently, has explored the universe of gaming and immersive content, expanding some of its most outstanding IPs, such as Wonderpals, into interactive environments.
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Antonella Ceraso, Consumer Products Director, DeAPlaneta Entertainment, Spain; Gianluca Ferrara, Head of Italy and International Head of Toys, DeAPlaneta Entertainment, Italy.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Giacomo Benelli, The Illustrators Survival Corner
Panel
Steve Compton, Director of exhibitions and collections, Society of Illustrators; Eugenia Mello, Board Member and illustrator, Society of Illustrators.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
In cooperation with
Society of Illustators
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Presentazione di una nuova collana pensata per il pubblico dei ragazzi dai 9 ai 13 anni che nasce dal desiderio di incontrare nuovi lettori, proporre nuove storie, cercare nuovi autori.
Moderator
Silvana Sola, ISIA Urbino e Cooperativa Culturale Giannino Stoppani.
Panel
Antonio Manzini, scrittore; Antonio Sellerio, Direttore Editoriale, Sellerio.
Organized by
Sellerio
Translators Café
HALL 30
Presentation of the newly founded Calibro, a networking alliance of book creators that unites Stradelab (editorial translators), Al - Authors of Images and ICWA - Italian Children's Writers Association. An authors alliance for a healthy and sustainable publishing.
Panel
Eva Valvo, Stradelab, Gianluca Garofalo, Al - Authors of Images, Marco Dazzani, ICWA - Italian Children's Writers Association
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Sala Bolero
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Enrico Racca (direttore editoriale Libri per ragazzi del Gruppo Mondadori), Alberto Pellai (psicoterapeuta e saggista), Roberta Russo (Libraia della Libreria “Anacleto”) e Diana Ligue (insegnante). Modera Riccardo Pedicone
Organized by
Mondadori
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Organized by
PublisHer
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Illustrations for children, press cartoons, solo exhibitions, communication works, wall paintings, theater posters... Serge Bloch enjoys connecting with people, and sharing emotions through humor.
Panel
Serge Bloch, illustrator; Anselmo Roveda, journalist and writer.
Organized by
Edizioni Clichy
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Valentina De Poli
Panel
Donatella Di Pientrantonio, autrice.
Valentina De Poli, Giornalista.
Organized by
Salani Editore
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Moderator
Chrysogonus Siddha Malilang, editor, Bookbird.
Panel
Marc Aronson, Associate Professor, Rutgers University; Giorgia Grilli, Associate Professor, University of Bologna; Tina Bilban, research assistant, INR Slovenia; Mingzhou Zhang, Founder, SISU Lifetree International Youth Library in Shanghai.
Organized by
Bookbird
The Content Café
HALL 30
SDGs can be successfully achieved if we start early. Reading promoters help children understand how our actions, both positive and negative, shape the world. What are the main challenges in the era of consumerism, AI and new technologies? And what are the key tools a reading promoter might need? Where does the book industry come into play?
Moderator
Daan Beeke, Network Manager, EURead
Panel
Rian Visser, author, Dutch Children’s Laureate, Writers for the Future; Elaina Ryan, CEO, Children's Books Ireland; Grzegorz Jankowicz, CEO, Polish Book Institute.
Organized by
EURead
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Mawadda Al-Hamid
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
An extraordinary legacy that has been able to renew itself over the years, always remaining highly appealing. From Finland to the rest of the world, the characters created and illustrated by Tove Jansson live on in lifestyle, entertainment, retail activations, concept stores, and much more, making Moomin a well-known and beloved brand worldwide. In Bologna this year, it's time to celebrate them, always with an eye on their upcoming projects.
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Roleff Kråkström, Managing Director, Moomin Characters Ltd, and CEO and Founding Partner, Rights & Brands, Finland.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Panel
Åsa Bergman, Head of Office, ALMA; Kajsa Ravin, Director General, Swedish Arts Council; Jan Björklund, Ambassador of Sweden to Italy; Katarina Eriksson Barajas, Jury member, ALMA; Per Gustafsson, Jury member, ALMA; Mårten Sandén, Jury member, ALMA.
Organized by
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Tom Benjamin, author; Natasha Poliszczuk, Content Director, BookBrunch.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Estonian GoH Area
Services Centre
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Comics Early Reader winner: Gutenachtgeschichten für Celeste - Ein sehr gruseliges Bilderbuch (Bedtime Stories for Celeste - a Very Scary Picture Book) Carl Hanser Verlag, Germany, 2024. Text and drawings by Nikolaus Heidelbach and Ole Könnecke. Comics Middle Grade winner: Dita Dor (Dictator), Edições Assembleia da República, Portugal, 2024. Text and drawings by António Jorge Gonçalves. Comics Young Adult winner: La Trahison d’Olympe Livre 1 (The Betrayal of Olympe #1), Sarbacane, France, 2024. Text and drawings by Jean Dalin
Moderator
Emilio Varrà, Hamelin; Tanja Skale and Luca Raffaelli, 2025 BolognaRagazzi Awards Comics Jurors.
Panel
Ole Könnecke and Nikolaus Heidelbach, Author and Illustrator, Germany; António Jorge Gonçalves, author, Portugal; Sara Ludovico, Publisher, Edições Assembleia da República, Portugal; Frédéric Lavabre, Head of publication, Serbacane, France.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In the framework of
Comics Corner
Translators Café
HALL 30
A profound insight into the Bulgarian translation scene: Bulgarian children’s book market, the state translation support program, the opportunities available to foreign translators and publishers.
Moderator
Elena Georgieva, Cultural Manager
Panel
Yana Genova, cultural manager and translation activist; Julia Rafailovich, Next Page Foundation
Organized by
Association for Culture and Literature
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Presentazione del libro Poesie notturne di Cristina Bellemo, Flavia Ruotolo (Topipittori, 2025).
Moderator
Chiara Basile, Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Panel
Cristina Bellemo, autrice; Flavia Ruotolo, illustratrice.
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Elena Pasoli, Director, Bologna Children's Book Fair; Bruno De Almeida, illustrator, author of the BCBF Visual Identity 2025, in co-production with Chialab Design; Beppe Chia, Art Director, Chialab.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fiar
In cooperation with
Chialab Design
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
For the first time, BLTF/Kids includes a small area dedicated to promoting illustrations and designs for participating licensing companies (licensees and retailers). In this panel, we showcase a selection of participating agencies to provide a brief overview of their rich offerings and to further explore the close relationship between licensing and illustration, which is more pronounced than ever in Bologna.
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Exhibitors della Arts Licensing Area
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
Mimaster Illustrazione
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Glib Kaporikov, Creative Director, Projector Publishing and Mentor; Mykhailo Boychuk, Kyiv State Academy of Decorative Applied Arts and Design; Yuliia Kozlovets, Director and Coordinator, International Book Arsenal Festival; Anna Karnauh, Editor-in-Chief, Projector Publishing; Oleh Gryshchenko, artist, illustrator, co-curator of Pictoric.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Content Café
HALL 30
Moderator
Bruno Molinero, journalist, editor, Folha de S. Paulo, Brazil
Panel
Bebel Abreu, publisher, Bebel Books, Brazil; Javier Hildebrandt, publisher, Hotel de las ideas, Argentina; Juan Pablo Fajardo, Founder, Piedra Tijera Papel, Colombia.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Hamelin
In the framework of
Comics Corner
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
Presentation of the winners of the Notte di Fiaba Illustration Contest 2025, along with honorable mentions and selected artists for the traveling exhibition.
Moderator
Chiara Tomasi, Art Director, Notte di Fiaba Illustration Contest
Panel
Beatrice Fini, Editorial Director, Giunti Ragazzi; Francesca Tancini, President of the Jury, Notte di Fiaba Illustration Contest; Eleonora Cumer, Jury member, Notte di Fiaba Illustration Contest.
Organized by
Notte di Fiaba (Associazione Manifestazioni Rivane)
In cooperation with
Giunti Editore, Museo Alto Garda
With the support of
Cartiere del Garda
In the framework of
Notte di Fiaba Festival 2025
Under the auspices of
Comune di Riva del Garda, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Regione Trentino Alto Adige
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Moderator
Inger Klesment, media literacy specialist
Panel
Janari Lage, digital literacy expert; Nathan Hull, Chief of Strategy Officer, Beat Technology; Triin Sooäär, Gen Z.
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
A symbol of freedom, strength, kindness, courage, and justice. For 80 years, Pippi Longstocking has stood against injustice, inspiring positive change in the world since 1945. This event is an international celebration of Astrid Lindgren: a panel of writers, illustrators, publishers, scholars and translators will come together to pay homage.
Moderator
Nicola Gardini, President at Salani
Panel
Elena Pasoli, Director, Bologna Children’s Book Fair; Jan Björklund, Ambassador to Sweden in Italy; Johan Palmberg, The Astrid Lindgren Company, great-grandchild of Astrid Lindgren.
Writers, illustrators, winners at ALMA, scholars, translators, editors in chief, publishers: Beatrice Alemagna, Pierdomenico Baccalario, Alice Bigli, Moa Brunnberg, Laura Cangemi, Kitty Crowther, Donatella Di Pietrantonio, Martina Forti, Nicola Galli Laforest, Grazia Gotti, Vivian Lamarque, Emilia Lodigiani, Isol, Leonard Marcus, Mariagrazia Mazzitelli, Samanta K. Milton Knowles, Bart Moeyaert, Barbara Schiaffino, Marcella Terrusi, Simona Vinci.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Salani Editore
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Presentazione del libro Come d’estate il temporale di Carlo Marconi, Serena Viola (Lapis, 2024).
Moderator
Marta Marchi, Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Panel
Carlo Marconi, autore.
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Simonetta Fiori dialoga con la vincitrice del Premio Inge Feltrinelli (Sezione Kids). Interviene Daniel Pennac.
Panel
Simonetta Fiori, giornalista; Daniel Pennac, scrittore
Organized by
Feltrinelli Editore
Sala Ronda
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Moderator
Federica Sala
Panel
Melania Longo, Maria Polita
Translators Café
HALL 30
Panel
Federico Taibi, translator; Alessandra Valtieri, translator
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Fondazione Bellonci
Sala Vivace
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Moderator
Fabrizio Silei dialoga con Luigi Ballerini
Panel
Fabrizio Silei dialoga con Luigi Ballerini
Organized by
Edizioni San Paolo srl
Sala Allegretto
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Panel
Simona Malfatti, Ilaria Bernecich, Romina Ramazzotti.
Organized by
Erickson
Sala Intermezzo
Costituzione Entrance, Hall 19-20
Organized by
Alir - Associazione Librerie Indipendenti Ragazzi, Dipartimento di Architettura dell'Università di Firenze
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
In cooperation with
Institut d'Estudis Baleàrics
Sala Notturno
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Moderator
Silvia Cuppini
Panel
Laura Ballestra, Stefania Manenti, Giorgio Tamburlini, Angela Dal Gobbo, Nives Benati e Paolo Tinti
Organized by
Nati per Leggere e Associazione italiana biblioteche
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Steven Guarnaccia, illustrator and designer; Jacks Thomas, Guest Director, BolognaBookPlus; Ilaria Tontardini, Hamelin.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
In cooperation with
Talking Pictures - Steven Guarnaccia and Hamelin, Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Sarah Pozzoli
Panel
Alberto Pellai, Camilla Ronzullo e Sarah Pozzoli.
Organized by
Salani Editore, Lettori si diventa
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Adam Rumanek, Founder and CEO, Aux Mode, Canada
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Moderator
Ivan Canu, director, Mimaster Illustrazione
Panel
James Rose, Head of Editorial, The Folio Society; Sophia Schoepfer, Editor, The Folio Society.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
In cooperation with
The Folio Society
Sala Wagner
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Organized by
AIE – Associazione Italiana Editori e Fondazione Cariplo
In cooperation with
Nati per leggere e Bologna Children’s Book Fair
Sala Bolero
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Arianna Di Pietro (libraia della Libreria “Il Mosaico” di Imola)
Panel
Con Alice Bigli e Matteo Biagi
Organized by
Mondadori
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Panel
Miyase Sertbarut, author; Carla Fiorentino, Editorial Director, Emons Edizoni; Maria Chiara Cantelmo, translator.
Organized by
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
È possibile la convivenza tra le tradizionali tecniche di illustrazione e l'AI? Possibili scenari, interazioni e vantaggi per l'editoria.
Organized by
Tomolo EdiGio’ Edizioni
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Organized by
PublisHer
The Content Café
HALL 30
A panel of esteemed authors, publishers, educators, and sexologists will discuss how children's books today can create space for authentic and inclusive stories that avoid stereotypes—while steering clear of writing books solely to address specific topics. Panelists will explore how gender representation is evolving in children’s books, including trans and queer experiences, in various countries around the world, and also discuss the use of gender-neutral language as well as the experiences of these works being translated (cultural expectations of local versus foreign works and identities about gender and expression).
Moderator
Lawrence Schimel, author, translator
Panel
Ani Rosa Almario, Vice President, Adarna House, Co-Founder, Director of The Raya School; Chiara Gregori, gynaecologist, sexologist, author; Marie-Aude Murail, author; Edward van de Vendel, author, publisher, Uitgeverij Blauw Gras.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
United Nations Publications
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
A deep dive into character creation through playful and structured exercises, exploring their world via relationships and environment.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Felicita Sala, illustrator, juror Illustrators Exhibition 2025.
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Brett Jubinville, COO & Head of Distribution, Skyship Entertainment, Canada; Kate Turner, Head of Product & Business Development, Spain.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Taiwan's most influential education and parenting media, providing credible information for parents of children up to 15 years old. It combines current issues in education, parenting, and family lifestyle. A high-quality reading experience is offered through various categories for children and teenagers, with a strong following built among parents, educators, scholars, and education policymakers.
Panel
Sheryl Ho, Supervisor, CommonWealth Education Media and Publishing Co, LtD; Rhea Lin, Marketing Editor, PaPa Publishing House.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Moderator
Giulia Zucchini, Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Panel
Jorge Luján, poet and musician
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Sala Allegretto
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Panel
Antonella Ranieri, Laureata in Giurisprudenza, ha conseguito un Master in Gestione del personale e risorse umane. Perfezionata in editoria, illustrazione, letteratura dell‘ infanzia e pedagogia della lettura presso l’Ateneo Patavino e in albi illustrati e natura presso l’Università della Valle D’Aosta.
La sua ricerca con le mani nella carta si avvia nel 1996 in Piemonte. Dal 2003 sviluppa in collaborazione con Enti, Associazioni Nazionali e Internazionali, Istituti Comprensivi, Librerie, Biblio
Organized by
Erickson
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Organized by
PublisHer
Estonian Stand
HALL 30, E8-F5
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
In cooperation with
CultLitera Association
The Illustrators Survival Corner
HALL 30
Delve into the Original Art Exhibition, gaining exclusive insights into the 2024 medal winners and their acclaimed works.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
I Libri del '45 di Bruno Munari sono un classico intramontabile che nel 2025 festeggia gli 80 anni dalla prima edizione senza perdere la sua potenza innovativa. Fustelle, fori e disegni grandi ed eleganti invitano a un gioco di scoperte e ricerche, facendo di questa serie ancora oggi uno straordinario esempio di progettazione e design del libro.
Panel
Beppe Finessi, architetto e ricercatore; Giusi Quarenghi, scrittrice.
Organized by
Corraini Edizioni
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Sarah Pozzoli
Panel
Enrico Galiano, Maestra Fede e Sarah Pozzoli
Organized by
Salani Editore con Lettori si diventa e Vallardi
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
It is difficult to categorize an artist like Paul Cox: graphic designer, book creator and illustrator, scenographer, painter. Over more than forty years of career, he has experimented with languages, techniques, styles, genres, with the sole imperative of never repeating himself and never getting bored. In this ongoing exploration, Cox chooses the visual book as his favorite playground: within the book he experiments with the interactions between image and text, he plays with styles of figuration, narrative clichés, and the storytelling possibilities that the book, as an object, opens up in all its parts. This is the focus of Wallbook, a large site-specific installation in the exhibition’ rooms of the Fondazione del Monte, where Cox transforms the walls into a kind of giant book to immerse oneself in the figures.
Moderator
Ilaria Tontardini, Hamelin
Panel
Paul Cox, author, illustrator, graphic designer.
Organized by
Hamelin
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair, éditions MeMo, Topipittori, Institut Français Italia
With the support of
Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna
In the framework of
BOOM! Crescere nei libri
Translators Café
HALL 30
Panel
Alba Mantovani, translator, AITI- Associazione Italiana Traduttori e Interpreti; Roberta Scarabelli, translator, AITI- Associazione Italiana Traduttori e Interpreti.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Kätlin Vainola, writer and Chief Editor of Children´s Magazine Hea Laps; Kertu Sillaste, illustrator and teacher of illustration; Ida Antonella Passarelli, Editorial Director, Sinnos.
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Manita Schaapman, Co-Founder and Creative Director, The Mouse Mansion Company, Netherlands.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Estonian Stand
HALL 30, E8-F5
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
Sala Bolero
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Con Antonella Capetti, Chiara Carminati, Angela Dal Gobbo e Marta Mazza
Organized by
Mondadori
The Content Café
HALL 30
Moderator
Neal Hoskins, Director, WingedChariot.
Panel
Searsha Sadek, Founder, Chief Product Officer, Shimmr AI; Sam Habibi Minelli, Chief researcher in AI, Gruppo Meta.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
WingedChariot
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Children's Literature Laureates from seven countries in conversation
Moderator
Julia Eccleshare, journalist, writer
Panel
Patricia Forde, Ireland's Laureate na nÓg; Giovanni Colaneri, Italian Children's Laureate; Frank Cottrell-Boyce, UK Children's Laureate; Sally Rippin, Australian Children's Laureate; Tialda Hoogeveen, Friesland Berneboeke-ambassadeur; Rian Visser, Netherlands Kinderboekenambassadeur; Agnes Török, Sweden's Läsambassadör.
Organized by
International Laureates Network
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Presentazione di La lettura felice con i più piccini, un manuale in 12 mosse per cominciare a leggere insieme da subito. Con Elisa Mazzoli, Anita Molino.
Organized by
Il Leone Verde
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Translators Café
HALL 30
The project “G-BOOK 3 - Audience engagement activities for the social and emotional education of EU teens through gender-positive literature and digital technology,” co-funded under the Creative Europe program and implemented by the MeTRa Center (Dept. of Interpretation and Translation, University of Bologna-Forlì), is a continuation of the G-BOOK (1017-2019) and G-BOOK 2 (2020-2023) projects. The project builds on the excellent results achieved by the previous projects: G-BOOK, which created the first European bibliography of gender-positive books for children (ages 3-10), and G-BOOK 2, which expanded the research to include the 11-14 age group. The new project aims to fill the latest gap by targeting young readers between the ages of 15 and 18, pursuing the following objectives: to foster the transnational circulation of teen literature that promotes positive gender models; to raise awareness and engage the target audience (15-18 years old) on gender issues through literature, while developing their social, emotional and creative skills through the use of digital technologies and social media.
Panel
Raffaella Baccolini, University of Bologna-Forlì Campus; Valeria Illuminati, University of Bologna-Forlì Campus; Roberta Pederzoli, University of Bologna-Forlì Campus; Beatrice Spallaccia, University of Bologna-Forlì Campus
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Claudia Lucarella, Head of Publishing EMEA, Mattel, Italy; Eleonora Schiavoni, Head of Consumer Products Italy, Spain & Portugal, Mattel, Italy.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
In 1989, world leaders made a historic commitment to children by adopting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child—the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history. While this agreement has helped improve the lives of millions, many children around the world are still denied their fundamental rights. To highlight the importance of protecting and promoting these rights, Bologna Children’s Book Fair hosts - in collaboration with the United Nations - a multilingual reading of the Convention, featuring 42 authors, illustrators, and publishers from across the globe. Each participant will read one of the 42 articles of the Convention in their native language, creating a powerful, collective voice for children’s rights.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
United Nations Publications, 42 friends of the children's book community
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Moderator
Paola Di Giampaolo, Project Manager, Master in Editoria, Università Cattolica, Milano.
Panel
Pierdomenico Baccalario, Marco Magnone, Matteo Biagi, Alice Bigli, Daniela Adorno, docenti del Master Children’s Books & Co.
Organized by
Master in Editoria Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano, Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Book on a Tree
Estonian Stand
HALL 30, E8-F5
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Portfolio Review with Francesca Zucchi, Art Director of Junior Poetry Magazine.
Panel
Francesca Zucchi, Art Director, Junior Poetry Magazine.
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Sala Wagner
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Valentina Sonzini ed Elisa Callegari
Panel
Chiara Zingaretti, Milena Tancredi, Daniele Brunello, Sara Chiessi ed Enzo Borio
Organized by
Associazione italiana biblioteche
In cooperation with
Osservatorio sulla censura AIB, AIB Liguria e Commissione nazionale AIB biblioteche e servizi per ragazze e ragazzi
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Moderator
Walter Fochesato, scholar of children's literature and the history of illustration, juror Illustrators Exhibition 2025
Panel
Beatrice Alemagna, author and illustrator; Giovanna Zoboli, writer and publisher, Topipittori
Estonian Stand
HALL 30, E8-F5
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
The Content Café
HALL 30
The panel is a discussion about books for kids and social activism. How do children's authors become social activists and take on roles beyond writing? And how books for kids can inspire courage and standing up for what’s right. The panelists will discuss writers who are volunteering for those in need, readings for kids during war time, initiatives that promote reading to advocate for goodness, peace and justice, as well as ideas of freedom and power of truth in children's books.
Moderator
Junko Yokota, Professor Emeritus at National Louis University, Director of the Center for Teaching through Children’s Books, Andersen Jury President 2018-2022, USA
Panel
David Unger, translator, author, Guatemala/USA; Kateryna Mikhalitsyna, author, translator, editor, Cultural Manager, illustrator, Ukraine; Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv (Art Studio Agrafka), authors, illustrators, graphic designers, Ukraine.
Organized by
International Book Arsenal Festival Kyiv
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
With the support of
ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Sala Allegretto
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Felice Cimatti and Fausta Orecchio chat with Kristien In-'t-Ven and Martha Verschaffel, the author and illustrator of the book The Girl and the Boulder (both on video).
"This is the story of a girl who received an unexpected visitor. She was kneading bread." - A great metaphor in which everyone has their own stone to carry. The secret, for children and adults, is to keep it with you and learn to carry it.
Moderator
Felice Cimatti and Fausta Orecchio
Panel
Fausta Orecchio, Kristien In-’t-Ven , Martha Verschaffel
Organized by
orecchio acerbo
Under the auspices of
Flanders Literature
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Militanza, libertà, rigore, leggerezza. Dalle parole dei romanzi alla sua lectio magistralis Liberi tutti del 2024, un dialogo a due voci per ricordare una grande scrittrice, prima socia onoraria Icwa.
Panel
Manuela Salvi, autrice, Fondatrice, tesoriera Icwa; Carlotta Cubeddu, autrice e socia Icwa
Organized by
ICWA - Italian Children's Writers Association
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
Antiche miniature, gioco arcano, simboli per allenare la fantasia. I Tarocchi affascinano da sempre gli artisti: in che modo si possono usare per inventare nuove illustrazioni e nuove storie?
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Michelangelo Rossato, illustratore e autore.
Organized by
L'Ippocampo Edizioni
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
Spielfabrique
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Joanna Karpowicz, painter, illustrator and comics artist; Steven Guarnaccia, illustrator and designer.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Panel
Henrique Moreira, illustrator.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Fundación SM
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Dal 2012 il progetto Leggere senza stereotipi, a cura di SCOSSE, propone una bibliografia ragionata di albi illustrati per la costruzione di identità e immaginari liberi. Un incontro per presentare l’ampiamento del catalogo: nuovi titoli, nuova fascia d’età (7-11) e una sezione dedicata al contrasto alla violenza di genere.
Panel
Elena Fierli, Scosse; Susanna Mattiangeli, scrittrice; Silvana Sola, ISIA Urbino e Cooperativa Culturale Giannino Stoppani.
Organized by
Settenove
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Laura Varsky, Co-Director, ILUS.P. - Professional Illustration, Postgraduate Program, FADU-UBA; Flor Capella, Co-Director, ILUS.P. - Professional Illustration, Postgraduate Program, FADU-UBA; Martín Laksman, Co-Director, ILUS.P. - Professional Illustration, Postgraduate Program, FADU-UBA.
Organized by
ILUS.P Professional Illustration postgraduate program, University of Buenos Aires
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Moderator
Iván Baretto, Literary Director, Edicions Bromera
Panel
Rocio Bonilla, author, illustrator; Erika de Pieri, illustrator; Valentina Brioschi, Publisher, Valentina Edizioni.
Organized by
Edicions Bromera
In cooperation with
Valentina Edizioni
With the support of
Institut Ramon Llull
The Content Café
HALL 30
How can an independent comics publisher reach an audience of teenagers and young adults? What are the opportunities and the risks of introducing contemporary and experimental comics to a young audience? Four of the most original and influential independent comics publishers will discuss strategies for attracting readers aged 15 and over with innovative titles.
Moderator
Elisabetta Mongardi, Hamelin
Panel
Daniel Pellegrino, publisher, Atrabile, Switzerland; Sergi Puyol, publisher, Apa Apa Cómics, Spain; Dirk Rehm, publisher, Reprodukt, Germany; Tucker Stone, Executive Director of Communications & Marketing, Fantagraphics Books, USA.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Hamelin
In the framework of
Comics Corner
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Moderator
Giacomo Benelli, Co-founder and Coordinator, Mimaster Illustrazione
Panel
Donna Chai, General Manager, BolognaFiere China, China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair; Mariaelena Schiavo, Special Projects Manager, Bologna Children’s Book Fair; Yukiko Hiromatsu, Picture Book author, critic, independent curator, juror of 2024 Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition; Heimi, illustrator, winner of 2024 Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition Grand Award; Daniele Morganti, illustrator, winner of 2024 Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition Special Mention
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair, China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair
Sala Bolero
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Silvana Sola, curatrice della mostra, Elisabetta Lippolis, Chair 39° IBBY Congress e vicepresidente IBBY Italia
Organized by
IBBY Italia
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Sala Allegretto
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Moderator
Mauro Speraggi
Panel
Fuad Aziz, Chiara Bighinzoli, Antonio Catalano, Raffaella Castagna, Irene Lorenzini, Vincenzo Covelli, Federica Crispo, Ylenia Petrini, Davide Sanna, Mauro Speraggi, Vittoria Zorzi
Organized by
Edizioni Artebambini
In cooperation with
AKI - Associazione Kamishibai Italia
Sala Preludio
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Organized by
Avis Regionale Emilia-Romagna ODV
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
The stories of the talents awarded and discovered by BCBF around the world, an international panorama of references and visual languages along with Mariana Alcántara (winner of the Bologna Portfolio Award - FIL24), Heimi (winner of the Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition Grand Award) and Lychee Chai (selected at the BKKIF in Bangkok, Thailand)
Moderator
Giacomo Benelli, The Illustrators Survival Corner
Panel
Mariana Alcántara, illustrator, winner of the Bologna Portfolio Award - FIL24; Heimi, illustrator, winner of the Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition Grand Award; Lychee Chai, illustrator, selected at the BKKIF in Bangkok, Thailand
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
The modern world is a world of information. The Internet, artificial intelligence, and social media influencers flood us with an endless stream of data on any topic every day. But along with this, the amount of fake news, manipulation, and disinformation is also growing. Children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to these challenges, as they interact with digital content from an early age. How do books help them distinguish between truth and fiction, critically evaluate information, and make informed decisions?
Event participants will discuss the role of reading in developing critical thinking and information literacy, share successful practices and research, and explore how literature teaches children to analyze information and make conscious choices.
Panel
Valentina Stoeva, EURead Co-Chair, Founder at Children’s Book Foundation and Reading Foundation Bulgaria; Daan Beeke, Network Manager at EURead, Specialist Secondary Education at Stichting Lezen, Netherlands; Olena Odynoka, EURead member, Deputy Director for International Cooperation at the Ukrainian Book Institute; Tetiana Petrenko, book critic, Head of PR at the Ukrainian Book Institute.
Organized by
The Ukrainian Book Institute, EURead
The Content Café
HALL 30
How does the ISBN influence and portray the production and circulation of children's books in Colombia? What challenges and opportunities does it present for publishers, authors, and readers? In this panel, a research group from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia) will present the findings of their study on the role of the ISBN in the Colombian children’s book industry. The team has analyzed how this identifier affects the visibility, commercialization, and accessibility of books for young readers. This research highlights the structural challenges faced by the Colombian publishing sector, such as fragmented distribution networks and limited international reach, and explores how a stronger implementation of the ISBN could help address these issues. Through data analysis and comparative perspectives, the panel will discuss the broader implications of their findings for other publishing markets.
Panel
María José Grisales, Literature and Economics student at Javeriana University and Coordinator of the ACLIJ research group; Gabriela Quiroga, Social Communication and Political Science student at Javeriana University and member of the ACLIJ Research Group; María Alejandra Bernal, Master’s student in Literature at Javeriana University and member of the ACLIJ Research Group.
Organized by
Asociación Colombiana de Literatura Infantil y Juvenil
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Only non-fiction portfolios
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Sala Concerto
Services Centre - Wing D
Note: Pre-registration required on BBPlus website
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
In cooperation with
Argentovivo
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
An immersion into the Chinese tradition of blue and white porcelain decoration, between pattern design and illustration, discovering the aesthetic connotations of a millenary tradition.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Jiu'er, sculptor and picture book illustrator.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite (coming soon)
Translators Café
HALL 30
Three publishers present a roundup of translation projects from their catalogue
Panel
Benedetta Tosi, editor, Nomos edizioni; Monica Martinelli, Direttrice Editoriale, Settenove Edizioni; Francesca Martucci, traduttrice, Diabolo Edizioni.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Panel
Paola Myriam Visconti, author of Dynowish The Protector of Dream’s, Italy; Beatrice Fini, Director Kids and Young Adults Division, Giunti Editore, Italy; Francesco Artibani, scriptwriter, Italy; Luigi Aimè, Illustrator and Concept Designer, Italy.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Unlike Western European or American approaches to publishing literature in translation, the Balkans have been significantly underdeveloped in terms of agenting traditions, copyright management and local strategies in promoting national literatures. However, there is an upswing in publishing titles in translation from the region in the last few years as curiosity has been aroused towards Bulgarian authors for sure. Georgi Gospodinov and his International Booker Prize-winning, best-selling novel Time Shelter in 2023 shed a different light on contemporary Bulgarian literature and its newly emerged or already well-established voices. More and more Bulgarian titles showcase authentic voices that discuss modern topics like domestic violence, life right after the end of the Cold War, feminist issues or global warming. A lot of titles published build anti-utopian worlds and discuss universal themes through local voices. What is the very reason for these titles to arouse more interest and what makes them appealing for the international literary scene?
Moderator
Neva Micheva, translator and journalist
Panel
Gergana Pancheva, agent; Zornitsa Hristova. writer, translator and publisher.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Katsumi Komagata (1953 - 2024) is known as the Bruno Munari of the Orient. Starting with the Little Eyes series designed for his daughter Ai, he has revolutionized the concept of picture books for babies and toddlers. This special panel will present the making of Katsumi Komagata and analyze some of his major works and his activities in Italy while giving important projections into the future.
Moderator
Ayami Moriizumi, researcher
Panel
Kiyoko Matsuoka, Director, Itabashi Art Museum; Steven Guarnaccia, illustrator, designer and Associate Professor of Illustration at Parsons School of Design; Ai Komagata, One Stroke; Francesco Saviola, Mutty; Antonella Dalla Rosa, La Baracca - Testoni.
Organized by
Itabashi Art Museum, One Stroke
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Sala Wagner
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Antonella Capetti
Organized by
Editrice Il Castoro
Sala Bolero
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Andrea Antinori, Alberto Emiletti, Deborah Soria, Michela Tonelli e Paloma Valvida
Organized by
IBBY Italia
In cooperation with
Biblioteca IBBY Lampedusa
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
In cooperation with
Institut d'Estudis Baleàrics
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Panel
Ilaria Tagliaferri, Coordinamento rivista LiBer; Marnie Campagnaro, Università di Padova; Fausta Orecchio, Orecchio Acerbo.
Organized by
LiBeR
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Moderator
Chiara Basile, Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Panel
Isabella De Ponti, editrice, Edizioni La Linea; Massimo Pastore, illustratore e graphic designer; Ilaria Rigoli, traduttrice.
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Annie Lionni, Leo Lionni's granddaughter and manager of his work; Leonard Marcus, children's book historian and curator.
With the support of
ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Panel
Mo Willems, author, illustrator; Tracey Keevan, Vice President, Editorial Director, Union Square & Co.
Organized by
Hidden Pigeon Company and Union Square & Co.
The Content Café
HALL 30
Moderator
Ivan Canu, Direttore, Mimaster Illustrazione
Panel
Antonio Sellerio, editore; Marta Vesco, curatrice di Guardie e ladri – Dieci avventure del commissario Montalbano, di Andrea Camilleri, Sellerio; Paolo Verri, Direttore Fondazione Arnoldo e Alberto Mondadori, Lorenzo Mattotti, artista.
Organized by
Bologna Children’s Book Fair
In cooperation with
Sellerio, Fondazione Arnoldo e Alberto Mondadori
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Chang Yeou-Yu, author; Liu Hsu-Kung, author.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Megi Bulla, Content Creator, Art Director e autrice, Italia; Roberta Ferrari, Responsabile Editoriale Rizzoli e Fabbri Ragazzi, Gruppo Mondadori, Italia.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Non una celebrazione, ma parole e figure in pagina per parlare ai bambini e ai ragazzi di Storia e di Memoria, dell’importanza di vivere in un paese libero.
Moderator
Silvana Sola, ISIA Urbino e Cooperativa Culturale Giannino Stoppani
Panel
Flora Monti, staffetta partigiana; Andrea Marchi, Vicepresidente del Comitato Regionale per le Onoranze ai Caduti di Marzabotto; Fulvia Degl'innocenti, autrice; Sara Cimarosti, illustratrice; Federica Seneghini, scrittrice.
Organized by
Edizioni Lapis, Edizioni Piemme-Il Battello a Vapore
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Organized by
PublisHer
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Presentazione del libro Haiku per esplorare il mondo di Silvia Geroldi, Maki Hasegawa, Guia Risari (Giunti, 2025).
Moderator
Chiara Basile, Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Panel
Silvia Geroldi, autrice; Maki Hasegawa, illustratrice; Guia Risari, autrice.
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Moderator
Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna
Panel
Walter Fochesato, scholar of children's literature and the history of illustration, Deputy Director of Andersen magazine; Chris Haughton, illustrator, author, Ireland; Neal Porter, publisher, Neal Porter Books, Imprint Holiday House, USA; Felicita Sala, illustrator, Italia; Gema Sirvent, Founder, Editorial Libre Albedrío.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
Estonian Stand
HALL 30, E8-F5
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Con Alice Bigli e Beatrice Masini
Organized by
Mondadori
The Illustrators Survival Corner
HALL 30
Delve into the Original Art Exhibition, gaining exclusive insights into the 2024 medal winners and their acclaimed works.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Nerrilee Weir, Director, Bold Type Agency
Panel
Agnieszka Rasińska-Bóbr, Deputy Director, Polish Book Institute; Ilvi Liive- Roosipuu, Director, Estonian Literature Centre.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
In cooperation with
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
Sala Vivace
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Panel
Bulgarian Book Association
Sala Wagner
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Moderator
Patrizia Zerbi editrice e direttrice editoriale di Carthusia, Vera Salton libraia e studiosa di letteratura per l'infanzia; Milena Tancredi bibliotecaria e
Panel
Gli autori: Emanuela Bussolati, Maria Ferrario, Loredana Mercadante, Emanuela Nava, Federica Ortolan, Silvia Patelli, Francesco Zamboni, Paola Zannoner, Cosetta Zanotti.
Gli illustratori: Marco Brancato, Paolo d'Altan, Sophie Fatus, Irene Frigo, Lara Kaminski, Keung Chi Jit, Sonia Maria Luce Possentini, Ale Puro, Angelo Ruta, Alessia Roselli, Iris Stetco.
I nostri partner: Rossella Caso, Antonietta Clemente, Francesco Ferroni, Annagrazia Giulianelli, Lisa Pozzan
Organized by
Carthusia Edizioni
Sala Notturno
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Moderator
Monica Tappa
Panel
Nicoletta Bortolotti, Gabriele Clima, Alessandro Q. Ferrari, Daniela Palumbo, Laura Pigozzi (psicanalista)
Sala Ronda
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Panel
Roberta Zumiati, psicologa e psicoterapeuta, responsabile Area Scuola per AbilNova.
Enrica Polato, Ph.D, Ph.D in Scienze Pedagogiche, dell'Educazione e della Formazione. Esperta di libri tattili, è vicepresidente del Concorso Nazionale di editoria tattile illustrata "Tocca a te".
Organized by
Erickson
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Heena Baek, author and illustrator.
Organized by
Terre di Mezzo Editore
Sala Bolero
Services Centre - Wing B
L'incontro annuale del Premio Carla Poesio dedicato alla ricerca nel campo della letteratura per l'infanzia. Presentazione della tesi vincitrice del 2025 "Oltre la soglia. Simboli e mito dell'attraversamento come immagine della Trasformazione" di Giulia Piselli.
Moderator
Isabella Del Monte, Bologna Children's Book Fair
Panel
Emma Beseghi, Università di Bologna; Pino Boero, Università di Genova; Lorenzo Cantatore, Università degli Studi Roma Tre; Giulia Piselli, Vincitrice 2025.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Organized by
Chennai International
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Jacks Thomas, Guest Director, Bologna Book Plus, UK
Panel
Jenna Brown, Head of Media Rights, Penguin Random House, UK; Penny Smith, CEO, Doodle Productions, UK; Colin Williams, Creative Director, Founder of Sixteen South
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
BolognaBookPlus
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
The Content Café
HALL 30
80 years after the Liberation, a look at the ways in which reality comics have told the story of resistance, at different historical periods and latitudes. A look at the more political side of the graphic novel and the ability of this language to narrate global conflicts to a young audience.
Moderator
Elettra Stamboulis, curator, writer, Italy
Panel
Lucia Baldassarri, illustrator, Italy; Claudio Calia, comics artist, Italy; Igort, comics artist, Italy; Sualzo, comics artist, Italy.
Organized by
Bologna Children’s Book Fair
In cooperation with
Hamelin
In the framework of
Comics Corner
Estonian Stand
HALL 30, E8-F5
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Moderator
Alizée Dabert, Export Manager, Rights Manager, Helvetiq.
Panel
Anita Lehmann, writer; Jean Baptiste Aubin, scientist; Joonas Sildre, illustrator.
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
Translators Café
HALL 30
Translating and circulating children's books. State of play and way forward. The work of kid lit translators is crucial to foster cultural diversity and language equality and needs to be supported. What are the challenges for the circulation of good children's books? Which best practices and support schemes can help with the process? An international panel debate bringing together translators' associations, booksellers and representatives of literary translation support programmes.
Moderator
Eva Valvo, STRADE, CEATL-European Council of Associations of Literary Translators
Panel
Alexandra Büchler, LIT-Literature across Frontiers, Board ENLIT- European Network for Literary Translation; Julià Florit, Institut Ramon Llull, Board ENLIT- European Network for Literary Translation; Francesca Novajra, President CEATL- European Council of Associations of Literary Translators; Franka Wijers, Kennemer Boekhandel (Netherlands), RISE Bookselling.
Organized by
CEATL
In cooperation with
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Nerrilee Weir, Director, Bold Type Agency
Panel
Anna Nowacka-Devillard, Member of the Board, Polish Chamber of Books, Co-owner of Widnokrąg Publishing House; Kadri Rahusaar, Managing editor and Member of the Board, Koolibri Publishers, Member of the Board, Estonian Publishers’ Association.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
In cooperation with
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
After a behind-the-scenes look at The One & Only Googoosh(Penguin USA), participants will embrace wabi-sabi, the Japanese art of imperfection, by drawing and collaging 30 portraits using a variety of block prints.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Azadeh Westergaard, author and illustrator.
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Presentazione del libro Album per pensare e non pensare di Mariangela Gualtieri (Bompiani, 2025).
Moderator
Beatrice Mașini, Bompiani
Panel
Mariangela Gualtieri, autrice.
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Sala Ronda
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Panel
Guido Sgardoli è uno dei più famosi, prolifici e premiati scrittori italiani di libri per ragazzi.
Fabrizio Silei, scrittore, grafico e artista, è autore di più di sessanta pubblicazioni fra albi illustrati, alfabetieri, giochi grafico-narrativi, romanzi per ragazzi e ragazze e adulti.
Cristina Brambilla, Per Babalibri dirige la collana di prime letture Superbaba e tiene corsi di scrittura alla scuola di Belleville. Ha scritto prodotti
editoriali per internet, progetti televisivi e romanzi.
Organized by
Erickson
In cooperation with
Book on a Tree
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
With Guido Affini, Simonetta Bitasi, Stefania Di Mella, Davide Morosinotto, Paolo Nori, Stefano Petrocchi, Barbara Schiaffino, Maddalena Vaglio Tanet
Organized by
Mondadori
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Una mostra bibliografica. Dopo Subiaco, Carpi e Venezia: Aldo Manuzio, una biografia sognata pubblicata da Il Gatto Verde Edizioni.
Panel
Davide Fischanger, autore; Grazia Gotti, Accademia Drosselmeier
Organized by
Accademia Drosselmeier, Biblioteca Comunale di Subiaco
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Organized by
Bulgarian Book Association
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Sydney Smith, illsutrator
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Linzi Sang, Head of BIBF Marketing and Curator of BIBF Art Book Fair; Neil Packer, Illustrator.
Moderator
Jacks Thomas, Guest Director, BolognaBookPlus
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Paolo Stefi, Fondatore e Titolare, Toad Creative Studios, Italia; Rossella Piccini, Illustratrice, Toad Creative Studios, Italia.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Steven Guarnaccia, illustrator and designer; Ivan Canu, director, Mimaster Illustrazione
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
In cooperation with
Mimaster Illustrazione
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
The Content Café
HALL 30
Feminisms, gender and identity are now part of cultural discourse at all levels. A group of cartoonists and publishers who pay special attention to these issues discuss how they are influenced by political issues, and how to address these topics in fictional stories aimed at different age groups.
Moderator
Maria Russo, Editor at Large, Union Square Kids
Panel
Amélie Fléchais, cartoonist, illustrator, France; Jonathan Garnier, writer, illustrator, France; Marta Tutone, Founder, editor, Liana Editorial, Spain; Francesca Martucci, editor, Diabolo Edizioni, Italy.
Organized by
Bologna Children’s Book Fair
In cooperation with
Hamelin
With the support of
Tunué
In the framework of
Comics Corner
Estonian Stand
HALL 30, E8-F5
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
In the field of children's and young adult literature, new realities, voices, and languages are gaining prominence. This openness has brought tremendous richness, expanding genres and readership. As a result, new characters, settings, and territories are emerging in literature and illustrations, opening up the world to diversity and enriching imaginations
Moderator
Dolores Prades, Founder, Director, editor, Istituto Emília, Brazil
Panel
Carolina Ballester, Executive Director, IBBY; Mary E. Glenn, Chief, Sales and Marketing Section UN Publications, Department of Global Communications United Nations; Daniel Munduruku, author, Brazil; Elisa Ramírez Castañeda, author, sociologist, translator, Mexico; Ed Oner, illustrator, street artist, Morocco; Jöelle Betsey Maestracci, publisher, Editions Vizavi, Editions Pielo, Mauritius; Marit Alette Utsi, Deputy Director of Davvi Girji and Chair of the Board of Sálas - Sami newspaper and publishers association, Norway.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
United Nations Publications, Instituto Emília
With the support of
ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Un progetto realizzato da Conversa, con il contributo della Casa delle Tecnologie Emergenti - CTE NEXT del Comune di Torino, mirato a costruire una piattaforma nazionale per la valutazione della capacità di lettura degli studenti e la costruzione di percorsi didattici ad hoc.
Organized by
Conversa
Sala Vivace
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Organized by
INDIRE - Istituto Nazionale di Documentazione, Innovazione e Ricerca Educativa
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Jacks Thomas, Guest Director, BolognaBookPlus; Nathan Hull, Chief Strategy Officer, Beat Technology; Kelly Garner, Founder and CEO, Treefort FM.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Estonian GoH Area
Services Centre
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
Estonian Stand
HALL 30, E8-F5
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Panel
Donatella Trotta, autrice; Nicoletta Del Giudice, editor, Il Gatto Verde Editore
Organized by
Il Gatto Verde
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
A dive into the heterogeneous visual universe of Joëlle Jolivet, between encyclopedic catalogs of the world and imaginative scenarios, humor and observation of reality, comics and illustration
Panel
Joëlle Jolivet, author and illustrator; Emilio Varrà, Hamelin
Organized by
Hamelin
In cooperation with
Hélium, Les Grand Personnes, Fatatrac, Il Castoro, L'Ippocampo, Orecchio Acerbo
With the support of
Institut Français Italia
In the framework of
BOOM! Crescere nei libri
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Mondadori’s “Leggere le figure” series, together with Leonard Marcus, we will revisit some of the titles that have shaped the history of contemporary picture books over the past 40 years, exploring what makes a picture book a classic.
Moderator
Ilaria Tontardini, Hamelin
Panel
Leonard Marcus, children's book historian, critic, author.
Organized by
Mondadori
In cooperation with
Hamelin, Bologna Children's Book Fair
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Panel
Upon reservation only.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Upon reservation only.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
Panel
Nurgül Şenefe, Social Entrepreneur, Founding President of the Illustrators Platform, Founding Managing Director iP Academy, EIF Board of Directors Member.
In cooperation with
Illustrators Platform Academy
With the support of
ZNN Network
Estonian Stand
HALL 30, E8-F5
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Stefano Cipolla, Direttore di Grafica Magazine, giurato BolognaRagazzi Awards 2025; Ivan Canu, autore, illustratore, Direttore Mimaster Illustrazione.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
The Illustrators Survival Corner
HALL 30
A group of max 20 participants carries out a live sketching session within the spaces of the fair. The images produced will create a visual diary of the fair.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Chiamaka Barbara Chukwu, illustrator; Heimi, illustrator.
The Content Café
HALL 30
Debbie Bibo will talk to Annie Lionni, granddaughter of the legendary author-illustrator and manager of his works, about her role in preserving Lionni's artistic and literary contributions, ensuring that his works remain accessible, relevant, and appreciated by new generations.
Panel
Annie Lionni, Leo Lionni's granddaughter and Manager of his work; Debbie Bibo, literary agent, editorial producer of children’s picture books and illustrated books.
Organized by
Bologna Children’s Book Fair
With the support of
ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Moderator
Jaanika Palm, researcher, Estonian Children's Literature Centre.
Panel
Reeli Reinaus, Young Adults writer, folklorist; Marja-Liisa Plats, ALMA Award nominee, illustrator; Anna Nowacka-Devillard, publisher, Wydawnictwo Widnokrąg.
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Tina Jürgens, Co-CEO, Zebralution.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Lance Fitzgerald, Senior VP, Content and Business Development, PRH US.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
The Content Café
HALL 30
Panel
Margit Walsø, NORLA -Norwegian Literature Abroad; Elena Pasoli, Director, Bologna Children's Book Fair.
Organized by
Bologna Children’s Book Fair, NORLA Norwegian Literature Abroad
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Con Amalia Maria Amendola, direttrice della biblioteca Antonio Baldini di Roma e curatrice dei titoli di Italo Calvino (Marcovaldo, Il sentiero dei nidi di ragno) editi da Mondadori Education; Daniele Aristarco, autore di Una bella Resistenza, Come essere vento (Mondadori), L'arte della pace (Mondadori Education) e Federica Seneghini, autrice di Salvate il soldato Jack (Il Battello a Vapore).
Organized by
Mondadori
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Cristina Angelucci, Editor-in-Chief, Licensing Magazine
Panel
Federica Pasini, Funzionario e Referente CNA Professionisti e CNA Cinema e Audiovisivo e Responsabile progetto Ciak Reloaded, CNA Emilia-Romagna; Fabio Abagnato, Responsabile Cinema, Film Commission e Sviluppo del Settore Audiovisivo, Regione Emilia-Romagna; Marianna Panebarco, CEO e Produttore, Studio Panebarco, Italia; Simona Cornacchia, animator e storyboard artist, Italia; Anna Russo, regista e sceneggiatrice, Italia.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Sala Ronda
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Moderator
Paola Parlato
Organized by
Pepeverde
Translators Café
HALL 30
A translator opens her translation workshop to discuss challenges and findings in translating from German.
Panel
Valentina Freschi, translator
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Presenting two years of the first magazine of poetry for children in Italy.
Moderator
Chiara Basile, Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Panel
Chiara Armellini, illustrator; Valeria Biasin, illustrator; Simone Massoni, illustrator; Sarah Mazzetti, illustrator; Camilla Pintonato, illustrator; Ilaria Rigoli, editor-in-chief, Junior Poetry Magazine; Laura Simonati, illustrator; Francesca Zucchi, Art Director, Junior Poetry Magazine
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Sala Bolero
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
The dictionary, the first of its kind to be published in Italy, presents an articulated and composite overview of today's literature for children and adolescents through more than 80 headwords arranged alphabetically, in its constituent elements and the issues that run through it, in its historical dimension and in its future projections, also contemplating a plurality of transversal themes, with attention to all languages of communication.
The individual entries are written by national and foreign scholars of various backgrounds and disciplinary affiliations, giving the work international status.
The Dictionary, edited by Angelo Nobile, a lecturer in the subject at the University of Parma, is a work with an interdisciplinary slant, offering itself as an agile and functional but not superficial tool for consultation, information and critical in-depth study of themes and issues pertaining to the discipline.
Moderator
TIZIANA MASCIA, Università di Urbino
Panel
Piercesare Rivoltella, university of Bologna; Elisabetta Lippolis, Ibby Italy; Angelo Nobile, university of Parma. Speech by Peter Hunt, university of Cardiff (UK).
Organized by
Schole (Editrice Morcelliana)
In cooperation with
PAGINE GIOVANI Rivista di letteratura giovanile
Sala Allegretto
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Moderator
Jessica Ferreri
Panel
Evelyn Daviddi e Monica Monachesi
Organized by
Scuola Internazionale di Comics - sede di Reggio Emilia
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Organized by
PublisHer
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
La Toscana ha accolto le proposte di Off Fair con grande interesse. La storia racconta di un legame profondo fra la città di Firenze e la Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Ora è il tempo delle restituzioni. Le donazioni dei libri stranieri sono legate a progetti di formazione, di mostre e di workshop. Cina, Silent Book, Donne, Arte, Toddler, sono solo alcuni dei temi e dei percorsi. Tante le biblioteche coinvolte: Barberino, Calenzano, Galluzzo, Impruneta, Oblate, Pistoia, Scandicci, Villa Bandini.
Panel
Grazia Gotti, Accademia Drosselmeier, Sara Wang, CEO, Sìdee Cultural Communication; Paola Biondi, Biblioteca Ernesto Ragionieri Sesto Fiorentino.
Organized by
Accademia Drosselmeier
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Moderator
Aya Tanura, Japan Foundation
Panel
Laura Peh, Cinnamon Art Publishing, Singapore; Le Thu Phuong Quynh, Crabit Kidbooks, Vietnam; Wing Yan, Odonata Publishing, Malaysia; Kuerkamol Niyom, Saan Aksorn Publishing, Thailand.
Commentator: Yukiko Hiromatsu, picture book writer, critic, and independent curator.
Organized by
The Japan Foundation
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Il nuovo libro di Reggio Children Creta. Tecniche, esperienze, immaginari, dedicato al linguaggio della creta nei nidi e nelle scuole dell’infanzia di Reggio Emilia, presenta numerosi progetti, offrendo informazioni tecniche e molte suggestioni educative.
Panel
Maddalena Tedeschi, pedagogista e collaboratrice di Reggio Children.
Organized by
Reggio Children
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
During the workshop we will create a fanzine based on a script that will guide us in telling the story we have in mind. We will do this through intuition and spontaneity or by repeating objects much like a beautiful collection of curiosities.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Helena Malvido, graphic designer and illustrator; Raisa Alava, illustrator.
Organized by
Euskal Irudigileak
In cooperation with
Etxepare Institutua
With the support of
Gobierno Vasco
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Annuncio del libro vincitore nella categoria "Narrazione per immagini".
Moderator
Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Fondazione Bellonci
The Content Café
HALL 30
Nuovo appuntamento dei mestieri del fumetto, il ciclo di incontri dedicati a esplorare le molteplici sfaccettature che i tradizionali profili professionali delle case editrici assumono nel contesto del fumetto. Grazie all’esperienza dei professionisti coinvolti, in questa occasione sarà approfondito il ruolo della traduzione, partendo dalla prospettiva dei traduttori di fumetti per arrivare a quella delle case editrici che si occupano della loro pubblicazione.
Moderator
Enrico Fornaroli, Direttore Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna
Panel
Andrea Toscani, traduttore, Panini; Martina Petrucci, editor, Tunué; Matteo Gaspari, traduttore ed editor; Valerio Stivè, traduttore.
Organized by
AIE - Commissione Comics & Graphic Novels
In the framework of
Comics Corner
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Book publishers, audio publishers, studios and all in the audio space are wrestling to serve the ever-growing appetite for the spoken word. What are the main challenges, opportunities and trends with rights, across the general and children’s markets, when seeking to grow catalogues and distribute internationally?
Moderator
Edward Nawotka, Publishers Weekly
Panel
Colin Hauer, CEO, Hörbuch Hamburg; Sonia Draga, CEO, Draga; Heather Alexander, Audible.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
From Text to Storyboard: The design and creative experience of a group of Nigerian illustrators starring in the "Make a picturebook" workshop, made possible thanks to the support of BCBF, curated by Mimaster Illustrazione and in collaboration with Book Buzz Foundation. During the presentation, the winning project, destined for publication by the publisher Tanja, an imprint of Ouida Books, Nigeria, will be announced.
Moderator
Giacomo Benelli, course leader, Make a Picturebook Course, coordinator, Mimaster Illustrazione
Panel
Lola Shoneyin, Director, Book Buzz Foundation; Francesca Chessa, illustrator and course teacher, Make a Picturebook Course; Kayode Onimole, graduated, Make a Picturebook Course; Chiamaka Barbara Chukwu, graduated, Make a Picturebook Course.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Book Buzz Foundation, Mimaster Illustrazione
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Olympe Challot, Project Manager and Community Manager, Spielfabrique, Germany
Panel
Gordon Vogel, Founder, Rivers and Wine Studios, Germany; Aksel Køie, Founder and CEO, PIBOCO, Denmark.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
Spielfabrique
In the framework of
International Kids Licensing Days
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Con Alice Bigli, allenatrice di lettura, autrice di Leggere piano forte fortissimo, coautrice di Esploratori di storie. Come creare gruppi di lettura a scuola e fuori (Mondadori) e curatrice dell'antologia Mondadori Education E tu splendi; Lodovica Cima, editor, traduttrice, formatrice e autrice di Jack&London, La voce di carta (Mondadori) e L'estate del tesoro nascosto (Mondadori Education) e Luisa Mattia, autrice di Segui la tigre (Battello a Vapore), Circe (Mondadori Education) e coautrice di
Organized by
Mondadori
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Giunto alla sua IX edizione, il Premio Luigi Malerba per l'albo illustrato si conferma punto di riferimento per la segnalazione di opere rivolte all'infanzia e all'adolescenza di particolare rilievo dal punto di vista letterario, artistico e formativo. La crescita - qualitativa e quantitativa - del settore editoriale dei picture book è confermata dalle opere giunte al concorso, i cui vincitori saranno resi noti nel corso di questo incontro presso BCBF.
Panel
Paola Vassalli, esperta di illustrazione; Gioacchino De Chirico, giornalista; Chiara Lepri, Docente Università Roma Tre; Simone di Biasio, Docente Università Roma Tre.
Organized by
Associazione Letteraria Luigi Malerba
In cooperation with
MuSed - Museo della Scuola e dell'Educazione, Università Roma Tre
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Organized by
PublisHer
Sala Allegretto
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Moderator
Jessica Ferreri
Panel
Rebecca Valenti e Dario Sostegni
Organized by
Scuola Internazionale di Comics - sede di Torino
Translators Café
HALL 30
Translating children's literature has always meant facing the problem of how to overcome taboos and censorship, sometimes struggling with publishers to convince them to respect authors’ choices. In recent years, however, old debates about the appropriateness of keeping coarse language, sex scenes and explicit violence in translations have been joined by new ones, mainly related to the concept of political correctness, wielded like an axe against supposedly impassable boundaries and much feared by publishers. Recently the “content warning” has also popped up, but… is it a solution? We will discuss all this during the first TableT hosted at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Panel
Laura Cangemi, Alba Mantovani, Giovanna Paterniti, Roberta Scarabelli, Loredana Serratore.
Organized by
AITI, StradeLab
In cooperation with
FAAM Lab
The Illustrators Survival Corner
HALL 30
Delve into the Original Art Exhibition, gaining exclusive insights into the 2024 medal winners and their acclaimed works.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Harriet Birkinshaw, Chief Editor, Post Wave Berlin Studio; Marc Majewski, Art Director, Post Wave Berlin Studio.
Organized by
Post Wave Berlin Studio
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Ahmed Riwehel, Co-Founder, Arabookverse.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
BCBF hosts every other year the winners of two prestigious children's book awards in the arts, the BIB - Biennial of Illustration Bratislava and the Hans Christian Andersen Award, to create the Illustrators Annual cover: the catalogue collecting all the works of the artists selected for the Illustrators Exhibition. The 2025 Illustrators Annual cover has been created by Sydney Smith, Canada, winner dell’H. C. Andersen Award 2024.
Panel
Sydney Smith, illustrator, Canada; Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Organized by
Fondo Sergio Silva Libri Illustrati
AIE Theatre - BBPlus area
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Shurooq Kamal, Publishing Manager, ELF Publishing
Panel
Maitha Al Khayat, author; Ebtisam Al-Beiti, author.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
The Content Café
HALL 30
Panel
Grazia Gotti, Accademia Drosselmeier; Henrique Moreira, illustrator, winner of the International Award of Illustration BCBF - Fundación SM 2024.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Accademia Drosselmeier, Kids Comics, Rete Bibliotecaria Bergamasca
In the framework of
Comics Corner
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Jon Watt, Head of Commercial and Audio, Bonnier Books
Panel
Laure Sageet, MD Audiolib, Hachette; Ani Atamian, Founder, LEM; Hugo Rayne, General Manager Europe, Eleven Labs.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Moderator
Elisa Salamini, autrice, formatrice e Co-founder, Mamamò, Italia
Panel
Valentina Mazzola, Docente, autrice, sceneggiatrice e script editor, Italia; Cristiana Buzzelli, COO, Movimenti Production, Italia; Paola Francesca Corsini, Licensing e Dramatic Rights Specialist, Editrice Il Castoro, Italia.
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
In cooperation with
Mamamò
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Panel
Ivan Canu, autore; Davide Calì, fumettista.
Organized by
Salani Editore
Sala Melodia
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block B
Panel
Con Guido Affini, libraio e coautore del libro Fuori dal rifugio (Il Battello a Vapore); Mariella Martucci, scrittrice, sceneggiatrice, traduttrice e insegnante di scrittura creativa, autrice della raccolta Scintille di futuro (Mondadori Education) e Silvia Russo, psicologa del Policlinico di Milano e consulente per l'orientamento e l'educazione all'affettività di Mondadori Education.
Organized by
Mondadori
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Portfolio Review with Francesca Zucchi, Art Director of Junior Poetry Magazine.
Panel
Francesca Zucchi, Art Director, Junior Poetry Magazine.
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Sala Vivace
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block D
Moderator
CLAUDIA CAMICIA - GSLG
Panel
Angelo Nobile, Università di Parma; Cosimo Rodia, saggista: Renato Ciavola, fumettista; M. Mari, Editrice Festina Lente.
Organized by
GSLG- ASS. DI PROMOZIONE SOCIALE
In cooperation with
Rivista di letteratura giovanile "Pagine giovani"
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Naoko Takano, Editor & International Publishing Coordinator.
Organized by
The Japan Foundation, JBBY
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Panel
Mariana Feged, GM Spanish Markets, France & EMEA Bookwire.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
BolognaBookPlus Theatre
HALL 29 MALL 1
Moderator
Nathan Hull, Chief Strategy Officer, Beat Technnology
Panel
Clara Ferrari, Chief Content Officer, YouScribe; Miriam Spinnato, Commercial Director, Mondadori; Fabio Uehara, AYA Books.
Organized by
BolognaBookPlus
The Content Café
HALL 30
What opportunities does the school world offer to comics publishers interested in reaching early readers? Publishers from very different countries discuss the cultural mission of bringing comics into schools through pedagogical projects, educational publications and editorial strategies.
Moderator
Dolores Prades, Founder, Director, Instituto Emília, Brazil.
Panel
Aria Chelabian, General Manager, Kawangis Publishing, Philippines; Emanuele Di Giorgi, publisher, Tunué, Italy; Marcello Fontana, editor, Trem Fantasma, Brazil; Kevin McCloskey, editor, cartoonist, TOON Books, USA.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Hamelin, Instituto Emília
In the framework of
Comics Corner
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Susie Morgenstern is one of the cornerstones of world children's literature. Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur and Officier of l’Ordre national du Mérite for her contribution to the arts for children, she has added to the numerous awards received over the years the prestigious Grande Ourse at the last Montreuil Book Fair. On the occasion of her magnificent 80th birthday, BCBF pays her a well-deserved tribute.
Moderator
Ilaria Tontardini, Hamelin
Panel
Susie Morgernstern, writer; Beatrice Masini, writer; Sylvie Vassallo and Nathalie Donikian, Salon du Livre et de la Presse Jeunesse en Seine-Saint-Denis.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Hamelin
With the support of
Salon du Livre et de la Presse Jeunesse en Seine-Saint-Denis, Institut Français Italia, ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Area
HALL 30
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Organized by
Society of Illustrators
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
After fifty years in children's publishing, legendary U.S. editor Neal Porter has stepped away from his full-time Publisher role to become Publisher Emeritus of the imprint he founded, Neal Porter Books, part of Holiday House/Walker Books. As he and the imprint move into this new era, Neal will be talking with Maria Russo, Editor at Large at Union Square Kids and former New York Times Children's Books Editor, about the enduring global appeal of the picture book form, sharing insights into the books that plant themselves in readers' hearts and "travel well" between markets and cultures.
Panel
Maria Russo, Editor at Large, Union Square Kids; Neal Porter, Publisher, Neal Porter Books, Imprint Holiday House.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
With the support of
ITA-Italian Trade Agency and MAECI-Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Workshop Area
HALL 30
An opportunity to discover the art of oriental calligraphy. Following a presentation of this traditional practice, you will try your hand at tracing your first strokes, discovering their basic shapes and rules.
Upon reservation only on Eventbrite
Panel
Qi Jiaona, illustrator.
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
The threads of fabrics, stories and figures in the pages of picture books show - between material and symbolic elaboration - directions of meaning toward a possible mending, narrative and unexpected, of individual and collective tears.
Moderator
Francesca Mignemi, Children's Literature independent researcher.
Panel
Marcella Terrusi, Professor, University of Bologna; Isol, author and illustrator; Haya Halaw, illustrator.
Organized by
Logos Edizioni, Carocci Editore
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Panel
Margaret Anne Suggs, author and illustrator, Board of Directors from Illustrators Ireland; Renate Harbinger, author and illustrator, Programme Designer, Das Kindersbuch Haus.
Organized by
Peace of Cake Project - 2023 International Jury from the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava
With the support of
IBBY International
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
Organized by
Chennai International Book Fair
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Panel
Heena Baek, author and illustrator.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Terre di mezzo Editore
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Masterclass Area
HALL 30
Moderator
Dolores Prades, Founder, Director, editor, Istituto Emília, Brazil
Panel
Bruno De Almeida, author of the 2025 BCBF Visual Identity, Brazil; Henrique Moreira, winner of the International Award of Illustration BCBF-SM Brazil.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Sala Concerto
Services Centre - Wing D
Programme and registration: IBBY Europe | IBBY's sections in Europe
Organized by
IBBY Europe - International Board on Books for Young People
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Next Chapter Café
HALL 29
How to reinterpret a classic? Creating a new aesthetic, a new imagery, means being able to see a classic through the eyes of one's own history, experience and personality. The search for a resonance between oneself and the words and main concepts of the story creates new and unexpected paths, gives new life to a story and helps us connecting to the world and to ourselves.
Panel
Francesca Dell’Orto, illustrator; Yaiza Llamas, publisher, Diego Pun Ediciones.
Organized by
Diego Pun Ediciones
Sala Allegretto
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Moderator
Caporrella Nadia
Panel
Ravioli Serenella, Caporrella Nadia, Costa Roberto, Cortese Paola Francesca, Posta Laura, Osti Susi
PublisHer Area
HALL 29, B38-C43
Book a session with leading lady in the industry.
Organized by
PublisHer
International Bookshop
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Organized by
Corraini
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
In occasione dei 20 anni di BeccoGiallo, un incontro per riflettere su noi stessi e sui pregiudizi che a volte inconsapevolmente ci portiamo dietro. Perché, diciamolo, il più delle volte sono gli adulti a trovarsi in difficoltà di fronte a ciò che non conoscono.
Panel
Marina Cuollo, scrittrice; Angelo Enrico Emili, Professore di Didattica e Pedagogia speciale, Università degli Studi di Urbino, Carlo Bo.
Organized by
BeccoGiallo
Sala Ronda
Services Centre, 1st Floor, Block C
Moderator
Vichi De Marchi
Panel
• Daniele Ara, Assessore Scuola del Comune di Bologna
• Vichi De Marchi, scrittrice e curatrice dell’Atlante dell’infanzia a rischio
• Nicoletta Gramantieri, responsabile dei servizi e delle attività per bambini e ragazzi della biblioteca Salaborsa di Bologna
• Arianna Lazzari, prof.ssa associata Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Educazione UNIBO e consulente gruppo di Lavoro ECEC della Commissione Europea
• Claudio Mangialavori, Associazione Culturale Pediatri – Ambulatorio di pediatria di gruppo
Organized by
Save the Children Italia ETS
In cooperation with
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Translators Café
HALL 30
Some insights into understanding Korean culture in Italy through songs, comics and TV series
Panel
Ivan Canu, Mimaster director.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
The Content Café
HALL 30
Il Kamishibai è un originale e efficace strumento per l'animazione alla lettura, è un teatro d’immagini di origine giapponese utilizzato dai cantastorie. In questo incontro racconteremo le origini di questa valigia dei racconti e leggeremo insieme le nuove storie proposte da Edizioni Artebambini.
Panel
Mauro Speraggi, editore, Edizioni Artebambini; Ylenia Mellini, atelierista, Edizioni Artebambini.
Organized by
Edizioni Artebambini
In cooperation with
AKI - Associazione Kamishibai Italia
Illustrators Café
Services Centre
Quest’anno Piemme festeggia 25 anni di grandi successi in compagnia di Geronimo Stilton. Il celebre topo giornalista, nato da un’idea di Elisabetta Dami, rappresenta un’eccellenza italiana con numeri da record che dal nostro Paese ha raccolto l’amore di milioni di ragazze e ragazzi in tutto il mondo, grazie alle sue avventure al contempo buffe, intelligenti, spiritose, istruttive, divertenti.
Panel
Enrico Racca, scrittore; Elisabetta Dami, scrittrice; Pierdomenico Baccalario, scrittore.
Organized by
Piemme, International Character
The Book Lovers' Café
GALLERY HALL 25-26
Per un ascolto condiviso, rilassante e intenso, all'altezza dei bambini. Un "teatro a occhi chiusi", accessibile a tutti. Presentazione e lettura dal vivo dal doppio LP Il drago di K e altre fiabe polacche.
Moderator
Silvana Sola, ISIA Urbino e Cooperativa Culturale Giannino Stoppani
Panel
Tanja e Daniele Fior, Locomoctavia Audiolibri; Ania Jagiello, responsabile sezione arte e teatro dell'Istituto Polacco di Roma.
Organized by
Locomoctavia Audiolibri, Istituto Polacco di Roma
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
The Illustrators Survival Corner - Portfolio Licensing
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids
Poetry Corner
Hall 25, A177
Free verse for all. Come read a poem!
Organized by
Junior Poetry Associazione Culturale
Translators Café
HALL 30
The jury will provide an overall feedback to participants in the translation competition from Korean
Panel
Vincenza d’Urso, Università Ca’ Foscari, Venezia; Min A Jeong, Università Cà Foscari, Venezia e Università di Bologna
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
The Content Café
HALL 30
Moderator
Ilaria Del Gaudio, Professor of Art Pedagogy and Didactics, Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna, Italy
Panel
Giovanni Ferrara, Editorial Director, Coconino Press - Fandango, Italy; Joëlle Jolivet, cartoonist and illustrator, France; Sylvie Vassallo, Director, Salon du Livre et de la Presse Jeunesse en Seine-Saint-Denis, France; Noemi Vola, comics artist and illustrator, Italy.
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
In cooperation with
Hamelin
In the framework of
Comics Corner
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Letteratura per l’infanzia e gioco da tavolo hanno spesso vissuto in terre di confine, lontano dai mondi che sembravano più titolati di loro a far cultura o intrattenimento di valore. Un dialogo sulle possibili narrazioni, mondi e personaggi che potrebbero felicemente migrare dall’una all’altro, (e viceversa) e di quali vantaggi ci potrebbero essere nel creare un mondo comune di storie, giochi e intelligenze.
Upon reservation only.
Panel
Pierdomenico Baccalario, writer, Founder, Book on a Tree.
Organized by
Play - Festival del Gioco
Translators Café
HALL 30
Organized by
Bologna Children's Book Fair
Translators Café
HALL 30
This third edition of the experimental Honyaku Dōjō will focus on picture books for younger children, filled with onomatopoeia. Translators, illustrators and editors are invited to join us to find interesting solutions for translations in Italian.
Panel
Maria Elena Tisi, Bologna University; Ayami Moriizumi, researcher
Organized by
Japan Foundation/JBBY
Estonian GoH Area
Services Centre
Organized by
Estonia Guest of Honour 2025
In cooperation with
IBBY Estonia
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Dalla realizzazione di giochi specifici all'utilizzo di prodotti commerciali, quali sono le intersezioni tra il mondo del gioco e quello della scienza, sia in termini di ricerca, che in termini di disseminazione, divulgazione e didattica
Upon reservation only.
Panel
Game Science Research Center
Organized by
Play - Festival del Gioco
Licensing Conference Room
HALL 29 MALL 2
Cosa c'è dietro l'ideazione di un gioco da tavolo condito da curiosità e aneddoti
Upon reservation only.
Panel
Walter Obert, game designer; Luca Borsa, game designer, SAZ italia.
Organized by
Play - Festival del Gioco
OPEN UP
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GLOBAL RIGHTS EXCHANGE
FAIRTALES