EVENTS Bologna, a World of Books
By Ada Treves
Bologna Children’s Book Fair continues to grow, both in quantitative and qualitative terms and along with the Weekend devoted to young readers it now constitutes a whole week filled with books, presentation, round tables and thousands of visitors, both for professional reasons and for the sheer pleasure of being immersed in literature for young readers. Visitor numbers were up by 9.2% compared with last year: an increase of 16.8 per cent in the number of foreign visitors and of 4.1 per cent in Italian visitors. Figures that came to confirm the key international role of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Illustrators, authors, exhibitors, artists, producers and developers from all over the world have joined the nearly 1,300 exhibitors, arrived in Bologna from 74 countries, for a calendar full of meetings and events of all kinds, followed by 856 accredited journalists from 40 countries. Interesting the comment by Maria Russo, the Children’s Book Editor at the New York Times, who in addition to a great appreciation for the whole of the fair she was visiting for the first time, admitted being struck by how “America is really just a drop in this wonderful sea”.
Exhausted as all those who have spent four exciting and tiring days in the halls of BolognaFiere, days capable of giving energy and ideas for many months, Russo in the hour when all the stands had already been emptied and the few people still present were relaxing wanted to single out one special book: “I’ll go with my mind full of ideas and images, but the one book I found really amazing is the winner of the BolognaRagazzi Award for Disability, “Mallko Y Papà”, by Editorial Oceano de México, written and illustrated by Gusti. It is the poignant diary a father – son relationship, even more touching because of the boy’s Down syndrome”. And also Quentin Blake, the historical writer and illustrator of Roald Dahl books stressed that in the books should appear more illustrations of children with disabilities, an issue that should not be a taboo.
The main prize of the International Book Fair, the one for Young Illustrators, went to another Mexican artist, Juan Palomino, selected by the international jury among 3191 candidates from 61 countries, who presented 15955 illustration, a number that is a record in the history of the competition. Born with the aim of encouraging and supporting new talent, the award is open to young illustrators that have already been selected for the Illustrators Exhibition of the Children’s Book Fair.
The success was notable for Germany, as well, the Country Guest of Honour for this year’s edition. With about fifty events including debates, presentations, workshops, meetings in schools and exhibitions organized both at the Fair and in the city, the programme centred around 42 authors and illustrators, who were invited by the organizers of the German contribution, Frankfurter Buchmesse and the Goethe-Institute in Italy with the support of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A total of over 160 appointments in the halls of the Fair and in the spaces of the Digital Café, Illustrators’ Café, Authors’ Café and Translators’ Café, plus 6 exhibitions at the BolognaFiere Service Centre and many more in the city, 20 prizes in addition to 15 thousand titles from all of the world on sale at the exclusive International Bookshop. Amazing numbers, that add to the 1278 exhibitors from 74 nations and 856 journalists from 40 countries. The 53rd edition of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair saw the best of global publishing meet, debate and discuss the latest developments in the sector and the future outlook. In this vibrant context hundreds of copies of Pagine Ebraiche, with its special pages devoted to children’s literature called as always Leggere per crescere (to read to grow), have been distributed by the organizers, and DafDaf, the Jewish magazine for kids has organized a round table at the Authors’ Café, dedicated to “Integration? All present!”. The title partly comes from a book be Klett Kinderbuch, a German publisher who has in its catalogue many titles that are part of the most obvious trend in the German publishing market, that is beginning to have effects in the rest of Europe. Migrants, refugees, integration stories, but also the difficulties related to the large influx of new Europeans: complex issues, that for this exact reason are even more appealing to young readers. As long as there are people who are able to present them with care and sensitivity.
And, as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair showed once more, there is no shortage of great authors or illustrators, nor of high quality publishers. To educate readers introducing young children to the pleasure of books is a responsibility for all adults. And to live up to it is not a choice but a necessity and a precise duty for anyone who cares about the future.