The Bologna Children’s Book Fair is the oldest and largest children’s literature event, bringing together thousands of children’s book authors and creators from around the world every spring. Each year, one country holds the status of the fair’s Guest of Honour to introduce its domestic children’s literature to a wide audience. Estonia will have this unique opportunity in spring 2025.
The fair’s primary goal is the sale and purchase of international publishing rights, but it also provides an excellent overview of the cultural diversity of children’s literature and trends in illustration art.
“Bologna Children’s Book Fair is the pinnacle event in the field of children’s literature, and taking on the role of the Guest of Honour is a great responsibility and challenge. We are delighted to step onto the global stage to showcase our latest children’s books and their authors,” said Triin Soone, director of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre. “Above all, it is a picture book fair with a focus on illustration. Having participated for 15 years with our national stand alongside other countries and reflected ourselves in the vast array of books, we have received confirmation that Estonian illustration art is distinctive and diverse today, and we have stories to tell to the world in both words and pictures.”
Recently, Elena Pasoli, the director of the Bologna Book Fair, visited Estonia and the Tallinn Illustrations Triennial. The purpose of the visit was to get to know more about Estonian children’s literature and illustration art and to explore the best collaboration opportunities with the organizations leading these efforts for presenting Estonian children’s literature in Bologna.
The Guest of Honour programme is extensive, featuring illustration and book exhibitions, author presentations, as well as discussions and workshops in both the fair halls and the city of Bologna. The programme is developed in collaboration between the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre and the Estonian Publishers‘ Association, funded by the Ministry of Culture.
Photo: the director of the Bologna Book Fair, Elena Pasoli, visiting Estonian Children‘s Literature Centre in november, 2023
For more information:
Triin Soone
Director, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
triin.soone@elk.ee
+372 5919 0363
