From Monday, March 31, to April 3, the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair will take place in Italy, with Estonia as this year’s Guest of Honour. This event is also one of the key highlights of the Year of the Estonian Book. The opening day will be attended by the President of the Republic of Estonia, Alar Karis, and Minister of Culture, Heidy Purga.
“As the Guest of Honour, our main goal is to introduce Estonian children’s literature to the world and to establish partnerships for publishing our books in other countries. We believe we have something remarkable to offer, as contemporary Estonian children’s literature is both modern and surprising in its themes, features distinctive and diverse illustrations, and is published to the highest quality standards,” said Triin Soone, Director of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre.
The Guest of Honour programme includes over 25 events, featuring 10 panel discussions on current topics in children’s literature with speakers from Estonia and abroad, meetings with authors, and several exhibitions of illustration and books. In total, the works of nearly 100 Estonian authors and illustrators will be presented at the fair. The main exhibition, Hello! Tere!, located in the central hall, will showcase the works of 40 Estonian book artists, including both renowned masters and emerging illustrators who have made a name for themselves with just a few books.
Beyond the book fair, Estonian children’s literature will also be featured in the city-wide festival Boom! Crescere nei libri in Bologna. Local children will have the opportunity to meet Estonian authors, participate in illustration workshops, and visit Cittadini Creativi, an exhibition curated by Bianka Soe at Palazzo d’Accursio in the heart of the city. This exhibition presents the diverse work of Estonian illustrators and animators through an interactive and innovative format—creating a “small city” within the big city, where characters from books step beyond their pages to meet visitors. Cittadini Creativi will be open from March 29 to April 13 at Sala d’Ercole in Palazzo d’Accursio and will be accompanied by guided tours and workshops.
The official programme of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Guest of Honour can be found at estonia2025bologna.com.
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair is the largest and most prestigious event in children’s literature, bringing together thousands of authors and publishing professionals from around the world every spring. Estonia has participated in the fair since 2008. Each year, one country is selected as the Guest of Honour to present its children’s literature to a global audience. Estonia will take on this role for the first time in the spring of 2025. The Guest of Honour programme and Estonia’s representation at the fair are organized by the Estonian Publishers’ Association and the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, with funding from the Estonian Ministry of Culture.
