Children’s book fair to launch in Beijing

The organisers of the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) will this August open a dedicated children’s book fair to run alongside the main event.

The Beijing International Children's Book Fair (BICBF) will be held alongside BIBF from 22nd-26th August 2018 at the China International Exhibition Centre.

BICBF has grown out of the increasing success of the children’s hall and rights trading section of the Beijing fair, the organisers said.

“Three years ago, we established a Children's Hall at BIBF and it proved highly successful,” said fair director Liying Lin. “In the same period, IP licensing and cross-media publishing have developed rapidly, especially in children’s books, so we decided to set up a professional exhibition to capitalise on these developments.  

“The Beijing International Children’s Book Fair is a professionals-only fair and the only one of its type, providing the industry with what it needs to take advantage of current market trends.”

Exhibitors at the 14,100m2 event have already signed up from China, Japan, South Korea and France.

Several UK publishers at last year’s BIBF said children’s books were some of their biggest sellers in terms of rights. Pavilion Books' North America and Asia sales manager Rebecca Lake said that children's was the biggest draw for Chinese publishers. "I expect 60-70 titles to sell through into China in rights terms. Offers are up and in childrens, art, craft, drink and popular culture, everything will go to auction," she said.

For Laurence King's Barney Duly, strong areas were children's, graphic design and art, with gift products such as games also finding a market.

BIBCF will be China’s second international children’s book fair. The Shanghai International Children's Book Fair takes place every November.