My Bologna Children's Book Fair: Belinda Rasmussen

This is my 27th Bologna! But I know I will enjoy it just as much as my first, I always do. It is my favourite book fair.

It is different from how it used to be, of course. There was more actual deal-making at the fair before emails. People would sign contracts on the stand. I remember selling 10,000 copies of a Where’s Wally?-style book about history to a Danish publisher, just like that…! There were more smaller publishers fully in charge of their budgets who would act immediately. We even had auctions running during the fair. We have become boringly sensible since. 

Physical fairs are important, because in publishing it is all about people—and in children’s it is about collaboration as well, whether between author and illustrator, editor and designer, editor and agent etc. Ideas and innovation are sparked by spontaneous meetings and conversations. That sense of excitement, energy and passion just can’t be replicated on screen. Also, pragmatically, a lot of the books we publish are in tactile formats: these are books you need to touch, experience and play with.

The books I’m most excited about this year? I am very excited about Pari Thomson’s middle-grade novel Greenwild: The World Behind the Door, which is gathering enthusiastic fans and is positioned to deliver a top ranking in the international bestseller lists. Her story is reminiscent of Katherine Rundell and Eva Ibbotson; a classic in the making. In books for the very young, we have a new series, Babies Laugh by Dr Caspar Addyman. It is based on scientific research about why babies laugh and is excellent in supporting a baby’s social and emotional development. We have also concluded a major deal with Sylvanian Families, and a personal favourite is Victor: The Wolf with Worries, Catherine Rayner’s perfect sequel to Arlo.

As always, I look forward to seeing the publishers we work with internationally. It’s impossible to mention them all, but Petra Albers from Beltz, Hedwige Pasquet from Gallimard Jeunesse, Rei Uemura from Tokuma Shoten, Orietta Fatucci from Edizione E L and many, many others.

The best Bologna party is always the Moomin party, no question! There is lots of dancing until the early hours with our Scandinavian partners.

One of my most memorable Bolognas was the year we had a big, framed whiteboard that anyone could write or illustrate on. At one point Axel Scheffler, Rod Campbell and Chris Riddell were all illustrating... That felt very special! I also remember once hiding in a box that had contained dummy books on the day of setting up—out of pure exhaustion because of that very early morning flight.

My favourite place to eat? Having an ice-cream on Piazza Maggiore after the fair.

To have a successful Bologna, just go with the flow and enjoy it. The big ideas come when you least expect them.