Barmy About Bologna!
The Bologna Book Fair should be number one on any children’s book creator’s bucket list. Why? Liz Anelli shares all...
It's not just for illustrators.
Barring a few international flight issues, everybody is there. Remember how great it was to meet in person during the first few months after lockdown? This is forefront of the Bologna vibe. Having always wanted to go, this was my first time. It was tiring but wonderful. When people advise you to "wear comfortable shoes," they mean trainers. True, there is a lot of walking, standing, queuing. But it is totally worth it.
Over the three and a half days, I looked at gorgeous books, met old and new friends, dropped postcards off at publishers’ stands, went to dinner with my agent, had portfolio reviews, and pitched a new picture book. I found myself greeting people I follow on social media like old friends, and got to know the faces behind the SCBWI International team.
So what happens, when, and where? 30,000 professionals – publishers, agents, creatives, and others – congregate in a set of vast conference halls situated a bus ride out from Bologna city centre. Some come to trade foreign and licensing rights, some come to tout for work, others just come to look.
It takes place early April every year. Bologna is easily accessed by plane or train, but booking early reduces costs.
In the Publisher Halls, the big and the small publishing houses from all corners of the world showcase their new releases, hold meetings, and sometimes welcome the attention of illustrators.
It is of utmost importance to be polite, not pushy. These are busy people, and their first commitment is to their internal business deals.
Saying this, they do often have time to welcome portfolios and conversations. After all – they are human too.
There are hundreds of events – talks, panels, exhibitions, masterclasses, launches, and parties. The primary language is English, with some talks in Italian.
Admittedly, when the Official Events Programme comes online a week before the fair opens, it is a bit of a bun fight to book anything, let alone your top event. But all is not at all lost, as it is often possible to turn up anyway and find a place. I sat on the floor for Mark Janssen’s ‘Mastering Light & Shadow in Picture Books’ masterclass, and learnt exactly what I needed to know about tone and contrast.
In ‘Sketching the Fair: A Collaborative Visual Diary-Workshop with Toni Galmés and Francesca Corso’, we stepped outside our comfort zones to make a four-frame visual narrative – and felt all the better for it.
Bologna is a place of possibilities. Perhaps you missed out on your favourite reviewer, but there's a good chance you will meet them while queuing for the toilet or coffee, or at an impromptu party.
SCBWI has its own stand where PAL members are guaranteed access each day to portfolio reviews, along with opportunities to pitch their books. Associate members must queue, but it is worth knowing that there is usually a discount if you join our organisation whilst at the fair (I made a couple of recruits on the morning bus). See the SCBWI at Bologna page.
There is a lot of talk about the ‘Illustrators Wall’: not one, but about seven white boards that start the Fair empty but then rapidly fill up – with illustrator’s cards, posters, and gimmicks for all to admire, take photos, and gain contacts.
Again, a place for polite respect. You never know who might be standing behind you!
Nearby is the Illustrators Exhibition, the Fair’s long-standing annual competition designed to showcase new trends and talent in children’s illustration. From over 20,000 entrants, 300 finalists gain free entry to the fair, and are guaranteed access to the Thursday morning Portfolio Marathon. The 75 winners have five framed pieces on exhibition, both here and on an international tour, as well as inclusion in the Book Fair catalogue and the chance to be invited to design the next year’s Fair identity.
In fact, even if you cannot visit the Fair, you can get your work noticed – there's a Virtual Illustrators Wall with a scrolling carousel of images, which stays online until 31 August.
If all this sounds daunting, do not fear. Take a tour around the Book Fair website, sign up for the newsletter, and start preparing for 2027.
And let's not forget the varied programme of concurrent events in the city. There is simply not time to do everything. Best to sit down, quaff a big plate of pasta, and finish with a delicious gelato.
The 2027 Bologna Children’s Book Fair will take place from 5th to 8th April – one week earlier than this year’s event, with Poland as guest of honour country. Watch the excellent ‘SCBWI BCBF Prep’ video on YouTube, presented by SCBWI International Illustrator Coordinator, Tita Berredo.