Ink, Dreams and Wonder: Musings from the BCBF 2024

Allow me to transport you to a magical realm—a place where we shed our grown-up lives and become forever children. Picture a vibrant gathering where imagination meets ink, paper, and dreams. Yes, I’m talking about the @Bologna Children’s Book Fair, a haven for storytellers, illustrators, and book enthusiasts alike.

At the heart of the fair lies the world of Children’s Publishing. There, we step into a place of wonder, where tales come alive and this year, everyone was thriving. If you’ve never experienced it, mark my words: You must! It’s a playground for those who love stories. We are at home there, more than anywhere else.

After the lockdown, the fair lay dormant for a while. But this year, oh, it burst forth in full glory, just as I remembered it! The air buzzed with excitement, and navigating the halls was almost a challenge. The BCBF has returned, and it was more wonderful than ever.

Each year, the fair expands its embrace. From artists to seasoned wordsmiths, we gather to explore partnerships that can lead to anything amazing—from a simple sketch to the lines of an epic saga. And this time, a spotlight shone brightly on women and female founders, thanks to PublisHer . In my decade-long journey since launching Storytime , it’s the first time I’ve met so many like-minded peers. Their booth was a great place to rest, connect, and reset in between meetings.

The Rights Centre was always busy, and the spotlight was on Africa while Slovenia took centre stage as Guest of Honour. At the World Lounge, Storytime connected with friends and partners across continents - from New Zealand to Canada, Kenya to Serbia, Korea to India. The world shrunk, and stories flowed freely.

Amidst the hustle, we championed literacy. Initiatives blossomed, ensuring that reading for all remains the main goal. The IBBY - International Board on Books for Young People initiative aims to join the revolution and provide every child with good books. It's the dream of a better world—one where every child holds a book close, and with it, infinite possibilities.

We clinked cups with illustrators—the great artists who breathe life into our tales—and we sipped too many coffees with old publisher friends.

And then, the pièce de résistance—the greatest pop-up bookshop you can imagine. Rows upon rows of creativity spilled forth. Thousands of us, each with a story to tell, browsed, marvelled, and dreamed. A dear friend asked, “Does the world need more books?” My answer is always… YES! Books are bridges to other worlds, keys to unlock our own.

So, we had a great time @Bologna Children’s Book Fair, and we are already looking forward to 2025. In the meantime, let’s champion books, ink-stained fingers, and digital mastery coming together to make sure storytelling is never short of magic. Because in a world that sometimes forgets to dream, we need more books—more access to wonder, more portals to imagination.

Keep turning those pages. Keep dreaming. ????

#BolognaChildrensBookFair #LiteracyMatters #Childrenspublishing #BCBF2024