A tale of books, art and inspiration from the Bologna Book Fair

Samantha Smith, author of Harriet’s Hungry Worms, shares her experience of visiting the most significant children’s book publishing fair which takes place annually in Bologna, Italy.

Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to find myself in the beautiful town of Bologna, home of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. As a children’s picture book writer, attending this Fair had always been on my bucket list, and I’m delighted to report that it lived up to all my expectations.

Stepping inside BolognaFiere was like diving headfirst into a sea of books and creativity—thrilling and mildly overwhelming, a theme that continued for the four days!

The highlight of the Fair for me was seeing my book, Harriet’s Hungry Worms, nestled among the standout titles from EK Books at the Australian Collective Stand. I met with EK’s lovely Foreign Rights Manager, Lucy Wawrzyniak, and learned more about how our books find new homes around the world.

Another memorable moment was attending the Australian Publishers Association’s Stand Party, where we celebrated the Indigenous Literacy Foundation winning the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. It was fantastic to meet fellow writers and illustrators from Australia and abroad and share stories of our creative journeys.

Over the four days, I attended a bunch of inspiring sessions at the Fair. Notably, “Reading for a Healthy Planet” drummed home the importance of empowering kids through books to take action for the environment. Mac Barnett’s talk was also a standout; he made a fantastic case for why children’s books are a serious business.

Not just confined to the fairgrounds, the festival spirit spilled over into Bologna itself with BCBF in the City. I was fortunate enough to catch globally-renowned artist and internationally-bestselling author Oliver Jeffers talk about his artistic journey, against the stunning backdrop of the Accademia Di Belle Arti.

I also explored the enchanting L’Occhio del Mondo (“The Eye of the World”) exhibition at the magnificent Biblioteca Salaborsa, which featured illustrations from twelve independent publishers worldwide, each offering a unique take on childhood.

From the insightful panels to the endless halls of beautiful books and incredible illustrations, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair wasn’t just an event—it was a celebration of the magic that children’s books bring into the world. And I walked away with my creative cup well and truly filled to the brim!

For authors considering attending future fairs, my advice is to do your research and plan your visit carefully. The BCBF website is a treasure trove of information (don’t forget to look for events on outside the BolognaFiere itself), and the Australian Publishers Association provides excellent support for Australian authors. If you can connect with other authors who are attending before you go, it will make for a much softer landing! Importantly though, be prepared to be inspired…and incredibly overwhelmed! These events are not just opportunities to showcase your work but are invaluable platforms for learning, networking, and drawing inspiration from the global children’s book community.