Bologna back to 'business as usual' despite lower international presence

Though some foreign publishers have stayed away, it “absolutely feels like business as usual” at Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2023 according to publishers and agents, yet some noted the extended gap between Bologna and April’s London Book Fair meant some of the international contingent had to choose between the two events.

Penguin Random House (PRH) UK’s children’s rights director, Zosia Knopp, said: “People are making up for the last few years, and there is a palpable energy.” This was echoed by several others, with The Bent Agency’s Molly Ker Hawn stating: “It does feel like things are returning to normal […] and everyone is so happy to see each other.” 

UK indie Knights Of returned to Bologna for the first time in four years with m.d. Aimée Felone saying that the consensus during conversations with international publishers and agents has been that “the energy of the fair and meeting in person has been missed”. 

Simon & Schuster Children’s publishing director Ali Dougal agreed that the fair is “much more buzzy” than last year’s iteration, with “back-to-back meetings and a full schedule of dinners and drinks”. Similarly, ASH Literary founder of Alice Sutherland-Hawes and Pushkin Children’s editor-at large Sarah Odedina had “packed” meeting schedules, while the Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB) and The Bent Agency teams have been as busy as they were pre-Covid.  

On attendence numbers, Odedina noted that “quite a few publishers I have spoken to are sending fewer people while maintaining a strong presence”. She added: “Maybe it is a little bit less about seeing the fair as a ‘jolly’ and very much focusing on the business.” HarperCollins brought 80% of its team compared to 2019’s numbers.

Felone noticed that "the Americans who have chosen to come out have brought much smaller teams”, but most people are not feeling a drop in attendance.

In terms of international fairgoers, PRH was seeing all its usual contacts with the exception of “slightly fewer attendees from China". However, MCB m.d. Belinda Rasmussen reported that “more American colleagues and customers here than ever”. She added: “Asia is back and we even have meetings with a few Ukrainian publishers.” 

Events seem to be “happening in full force” too, said Knopp. PRH hosted a cocktail party at the Carlton Hotel on Sunday with over 300 guests as well an international publisher partners dinner for Beth Lincoln’s The Swifts series on Monday and a Bluey "global summit" at the fair on Tuesday. 

HarperCollins Children’s Books also launched Ken Wilson-Max’s new imprint, Kumusha Books. Felone spotted “a fair few authors milling about” (including Knights Of’s own Elle McNicoll) though “perhaps fewer than previous years”. MCB invited authors Pari Thomson and Camilla Reid along to the fair and Rasmussen felt that there were “more events than ever” taking place. She said: “What could be a better way to show that we are all back?”