SCBWI at Bologna Children’s Book Fair

Heading to the 2025 Bologna Book Fair? If so, don’t miss the chance to stop by the SCBWI booth and say hello! We’ve got a jam-packed schedule with exciting activities, including free portfolio reviews, picture book pitches, industry advice, Dueling Illustrators, and more!

You can find us in Hall 30, Booth B55 and at certain times in the Illustrator Survival Corner.

Scroll down to read the full schedule below.

Plus, SCBWI HQ is hosting a special publishing industry party at a local bookstore for our premium members, and we'd love for you to be there! 

If you are a premium SCBWI member attending the Book Fair and want to get a free portfolio review and attend our Party, please email [email protected] with the date you'd like to attend.

All members are guaranteed a FREE review and/or Book pitch.

Learn more about the Bologna Book Fair here: https://www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com/en/home/878.html

11 am - 12 pm in Booth B55, Hall 30

Picture Book Pitches 
Share your story idea with editor Sara Sargent, Senior Executive Editor, Penguin Random House, and other industry professionals. 

1:15 pm - 2 pm at the Illustrator Survival Corner

Panel: Building a Career as an Illustrator

with Sarah Baker, Executive Director, SCBWI; TeMika Grooms, Design and Illustration Manager, SCBWI; Kirsten Hall, Literary Agent, Catbird Agency; Laurent Linn, Art Director, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; and Netta Rabin, Publisher, Children’s Books, Phaidon Press

3 pm - 4 pm in Booth B55, Hall 30

Portfolio Reviews 
with TeMika Grooms, Design and Illustration Manager, SCBWI; Ammi-Joan Paquette, Senior Literary Agent, Aevitas Creative Management; and Netta Rabin, Publisher, Children’s Books, Phaidon Press

3 pm - 4 pm at the Illustrator Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews 
with Sarah Baker, Executive Director, SCBWI

3:20 pm - 4 pm at the Illustrator Survival Corner 
Speaker Elizabeth Dulemba, Director of Graduate Programs in Children’s Literature and Illustration, Hollins University

10 am - 11 am in Booth B55, Hall 30

Picture Book Pitches 
Share your story idea with editor Sara Sargent, Senior Executive Editor, Penguin Random House and other industry professionals. 

10:30 am - 11:30 am at the Illustrator Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews with Netta Rabin, Publisher, Children’s Books, Phaidon Press

11 am - 12 pm in Booth B55, Hall 30

Member Appreciation Hour at the Bologna Book Fair

Calling all SCBWI members with debut books! Join us at our booth for a special opportunity to connect with fellow members and share your exciting new work.

It’s a wonderful chance to celebrate your achievement, build community, and spread your joy with others. We can’t wait to see you there!  

and

FREE Tote bag giveaway!

11 am - 12 pm - Illustrator Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews with Elizabeth Dulemba, Hollins University Children’s Books Illustration Program

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm - Booth B55, Hall 30

Portfolio Reviews 
with Sarah Baker, Executive Director, SCBWI; Elizabeth Dulemba, Director of Graduate Programs in Children’s Literature and Illustration; TeMika Grooms, Design and Illustration Manager, SCBWI; Laurent Linn, Art Director, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Ammi-Joan Paquette, Senior Literary Agent, Aevitas Creative Management; and Netta Rabin, Publisher, Children’s Books, Phaidon Press

4 pm - 5 pm in Booth B55, Hall 30

Ask Us Anything

with Sarah Baker, Executive Director, SCBWI; Dana Carey, International Illustrator Coordinator; Elizabeth Dulemba, Director of Graduate Programs in Children’s Literature and Illustration; TeMika Grooms, Design and Illustration Manager, SCBWI; Laurent Linn, Art Director, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Elisabeth Norton, Assistant International Advisor; Netta Rabin, Publisher, Children’s Books, Phaidon Press; Melanie Rook Welfing, Global Regions Coordinator; and Kim Turrisi, Director, Content and Programming, SCBWI

9:30 am - 10:30 am in Booth B55, Hall 30

Portfolio Reviews

with Sarah Baker, Executive Director, SCBWI; 
Elizabeth Dulemba, Director of Graduate Programs in Children’s Literature and Illustration; TeMika Grooms, Design and Illustration Manager, SCBWI; Laurent Linn, Art Director, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Ammi-Joan Paquette, Senior Literary Agent, Aevitas Creative Management; Netta Rabin, Publisher, Children’s Books, Phaidon Press; and Martha Rago, VP-Executive Creative Director, Penguin Random House

11 am - 12 pm in Booth B55, Hall 30

Ask Us Anything

with Sarah Baker, Executive Director, SCBWI; Netta Rabin, SCBWI Board of Directors; and Kim Turrisi, Director, Content and Programming, SCBWI

11:30 am - 12:30 pm at the Illustrator Survival Corner

Portfolio Reviews

with Laurent Linn, Art Director, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

1 pm - 2 pm in Booth B55, Hall 30

Picture Book Pitches

Share your story idea with editor Sara Sargent, Senior Executive Editor, Penguin Random House and other industry professionals. 

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm in Booth B55, Hall 30

Dueling Illustrators

Watch artists compete live to see how professional illustrators take different approaches to a story with Tita Berredo, Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and TeMika Grooms, Design and Illustration Manager, SCBWI!