The 2024 China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair

The 11th edition of the China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair (CCBF) will take place from November 15-17, 2024 in Shanghai.

As the leading event in the Asia Pacific region dedicated to children’s books and content, the 2024 CCBF is expected to host 480 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions, with an anticipated attendance of more than 45,000 visitors across a 25,000-square-meter exhibition area.

The CCBF is approved by the Shanghai Press & Publication Administration and organized by Shanghai Xinhua Distribution Group Co., Ltd., China Education Publishing & Media Group Ltd., and China Universal Press & Publication Co., Ltd., with co-organization by Ronbo BolognaFiere Shanghai Ltd. and support from the BolognaFiere Group.

As a pivotal bridge connecting Eastern and Western cultures, CCBF is dedicated to maintaining its role as a trendsetter in the children’s book industry. The Fair will strengthen its relationships with both domestic and foreign publishing institutions and continue to promote Chinese original titles globally. CCBF cordially invites colleagues from the global industry and friends who love to read to join in this vibrant and innovative celebration of children’s books!

@Licensing Magazine at CCBF

Licensing Magazine will also be present at CCBF with a Masterclass dedicated to illustration and publishing, entitled Commercial Illustration and the Licensing Market, on 16 November at 3.45pm.

You can find the full Fair programme here.

Celebrating Global Diversity and Creativity in Children’s Publishing

CCBF 2024 will showcase a wide range of genres and themes, emphasizing the diversity and creativity of the Asia Pacific children’s book market. The Fair is an essential platform for discovering new trends and content in the children’s publishing industry.

Countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States will participate. Key sections like the Bologna Best Children’s Publishers (BOP) Lounge, Strega Prize Lounge, Asia Pacific New Entry Lounge, and Rights Centre will return.

The BOP Lounge will feature publishers from Asia, Europe, South America, North America, and Oceania, including Baobab (Czech Republic), Corraini Edizioni (Italy), EK Books (Australia), Fukuinkan (Japan), Libros Silvestres (Argentina), Poplar Publishing (Japan), Solisluna (Brazil), and Yambow Al Kitab (Morocco). The Strega Prize Lounge will host winners and shortlisted publishers from the Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi, Italy’s premier children’s literary award, including Italian publishing houses such as Camelozampa, Edizioni EL, Giunti/Bompiani, Adriano Salani Editore , Terre di mezzo Editore , Topipittori, and Tunué . The Asia Pacific New Entry Lounge will feature Sekaibunka-sha Group (Japan), Five Mile Press (Australia), and Wizard Within (Malaysia).

Notable international institutions like Bayard (France), Clavis Publishing (Belgium), La Coccinella (Italy), Gloyeon (Korea), Hachette Children’s Group (UK), Hungry Tomato (UK), Oxford University Press (UK), and VLP Agency (Chile) will also be present.

Chinese publishing houses such as Shanghai Century Publishing Group, China Children’s Press & Publication Group, China Education Publishing & Media Group, CITIC Press Group, 21st Century Publishing Group, Jieli Publishing House, Phoenix Juvenile and Children’s Publishing Ltd., New Buds Publishing House, and Xinjiang Juvenile Publishing House, along with Post Wave Kids, Dandelion Children’s Book House, Lelequ, Caldecott Book, and Jojo Reading, will engage in enlightening discussions.

The 2024 CCBF promises a stellar lineup of distinguished guests, including luminaries such as Cecile Alix, Alessandro Barbero, Anne Crahay, Ivan Canu, Cai Yidong, Gui Tuzi, Jon Klassen, Maeva Rubli, Emily Sutton, Wu Bingrong, and Xiong Liang.

Leverage Professional Expertise and Discover Innovative Trends

CCBF is hosting eight professional Conferences and Seminars aimed at fostering cross-cultural exchanges. Some will explore original content from around the world, while others will present industry outlooks. The children’s book market, the largest segment in the book industry, will be closely examined in the “2024 Chinese and Global Children’s Book Retail Market Analysis.” The “Award Winners’ Series” will feature discussions with renowned authors, exploring the inspiration behind their creations. The “New Channels of Children’s Book” conference will gather industry leaders to discuss opportunities in emerging channels for children’s book publishing. The “Challenge and Opportunity of AI in the Children’s Publishing Industry” session will provide insights into the evolution of AI. The “Social Emotional Books” conference will explore how children’s books can support emotional intelligence, empathy, and social development.

Children Plus: A Fabulous Wardrobe

As one of the highlights of the CCBF program, Children Plus identifies a different category of books each year, relevant from both international and local perspectives. In collaboration with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, this year, Children Plus will spotlight fashion-themed picture books with the special exhibition “Children Plus: A Fabulous Wardrobe”, curated by a professional team.

An international collection of 150 captivating picture books will invite readers of all ages to explore stories celebrating the everyday magic of clothing, ancestral memories woven into threads, the wonders of fashion history, and the enduring power of textiles. The exhibition invites children to feel like authors, creators, and seekers of their own style, voice, and way of participating in the great game of fashion design, bridging memory and unexpected visions.

Marco Polo’s Legacy: A Journey Through Books and Cultures

In commemoration of the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death, CCBF is partnering with the Cultural Office of the Italian Consulate General in Shanghai to host a special event. The centerpiece will be an exhibition of 50 children’s books chronicling Marco Polo’s legendary journey, accompanied by a series of themed lectures. Featured speakers include Professor Dario Rinaldi, Director of the Cultural Office at the Italian Consulate in Shanghai; renowned historian Professor Alessandro Barbero; and Ivan Canu, Director of the Mimaster Milan International Illustration School. Together, they will delve into the rich history of cross-cultural exchanges between Europe and Asia.

Spotlight on the Next Generation of Illustrators

The Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition (Golden Pinwheel) is an international illustration contest held annually as part of CCBF. Since its creation in 2015, the competition has provided a platform for emerging illustrators to showcase their talent. It aims to build bridges between them and children’s publishers, both locally and globally. In 2024, Golden Pinwheel received 2,584 valid submissions from 72 countries and regions across six continents, representing 2,228 illustrators. The jury, composed of eight international experts—Yukiko Hiromatsu (Japan), Jon Klassen (USA), Morgane Vasta (France), Xiao Aozi (China), Yao Hong (China) as Book Publishing jurors, and Hadi Barkat (Switzerland), Giacomo Benelli (Italy), Tango (China) as Commercial jurors—made the final selection of 66 exceptional finalists, which will be showcased at CCBF. Additionally, their works will be featured in the 2024 Golden Pinwheel Yearbook, to be published in November.

The Illustrators Survival Corner, in partnership with Mimaster Illustrazione, will feature 10 masterclasses, 9 creative workshops, and 27 one-on-one portfolio reviews, empowering young illustrators to showcase their skills, improve their craft, and engage in valuable exchanges.

Registration Now Open for Professional Visitors

Online registration for professional visitors is now open. Professionals in children’s book publishing, education, entertainment, and related fields are invited to attend free of charge. Visit www.ccbookfair.com/en.