For us, the fair has two main objectives: to provide an overview of the cultural diversity of children’s literature and the latest trends in illustration; and to advance business opportunities by connecting with authors, agents and publishers. The BCBF is primarily a picture book fair, focusing on illustration and book artistry, and is open exclusively to professionals. Children and families – the main target groups for such literature – are not present at the event.
Estonia has been participating in BCBF since 2008 in order to promote our original children's literature to the world and to foster partnerships with international publishers. Our involvement has been jointly organised by the Estonian Publishers’ Association and the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, with funding from the Ministry of Culture.
Each year, one country is chosen as the guest of honour to showcase its children’s literature
to industry professionals and the public as part of the event. Estonia will be doing just that for the first time this spring. Such status gives us the main stage and heightened visibility, offering better opportunities to promote our children’s literature and its authors. Estonia’s presence will extend beyond the fair to Bologna more broadly, as we participate in the‘BOOM! Crescere nei Libri’ cultural festival.
We’re convinced that Estonia has a lot to offer the world, because Estonian children’s literature today is fresh and surprising in its themes, it is visually diverse with a strong artistic identity, and it is printed to a very high level of quality. This is reflected in our growing partnerships with foreign publishers, with over 40 Estonian children’s books reaching publication in foreign languages every year.
Estonia has more than 25 events in its programme, including illustration and book exhibitions, author talks, discussions and workshops. In the main hall of the fair, we’ll be exhibiting ‘Hello! Tere!’, showcasing the work of 40 active Estonian book illustrators, from long-established masters to rising stars who have quickly gained international recognition with just a book or two. The exhibition will be accompanied by videos introducing the illustrators, a catalogue, postcards and a display of books illustrated by the featured artists. Estonia’s stand at the fair will showcase a wide range of books, from classics and award-winning titles to the latest releases. In total, nearly 100 Estonian writers and illustrators will be represented at the fair.
The residents of Bologna will also get to experience Estonian illustration for themselves – Bianka Soe is curating an exhibition to showcase the versatility of Estonian illustrators and animators using a dynamic, innovative and interactive approach. She invites viewers to notice that images don’t have to be confined to book covers or gallery walls, but can live anywhere around us – sometimes independently, or in dialogue with characters from other books, forming new stories. This city exhibition will be playful and versatile in feel, reflecting the vibrant nature of modern Estonian illustration. Following BCBF, the exhibition will tour in Estonia and internationally.
You can find out more about the Guest of Honour programme on the Bologna 2025 website at estonia2025bologna.com.
See you in Bologna this spring!
