Germany at the Children’s Book Fair in Bologna
Germany introduces itself as the Guest of Honour at the Children’s Book Fair in Bologna.
For many years now, books for children and young people have played a special role in German publishing. With 8,242 new titles in 2014, this sector ranks third behind fiction and German literature. When it comes to their international popularity, however, children’s and young people’s books take first place: 2,362 out of the total of 6,443 licences sold in 2014 were for children’s and young people’s books.
“Look!” in Bologna
In 2016, Germany is presenting itself as Guest of Honour at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the most important international platform for illustration and children’s and young people’s books, where publishers hopes to gain wider access to the international market. “Look!” is the motto. In a specially curated exhibition, 30 important German children’s book illustrators present their original works – they include prize-winning artists like Jutta Bauer, Anke Kuhl, Philip Waechter and Henning Wagenbreth. The exhibition covers an area of 300 square metres at the main entrance to the trade fair centre and shows how broad the thematic and aesthetic range is – from poetically playful images to very realistic illustrations.
In addition to this, 85 books are being presented. Thirty of them originate from authors who are attending the fair and the rest from internationally recognised artists and illustrators like Aljoscha Blau, Axel Scheffler, Ali Mitgutsch, Rotraut Susanne Berner and Martin Baltscheit. The exhibition has been organised by the Frankfurt Book Fair, and Goethe-Institut is responsible for the accompanying programme in Italy.
Children’s Book Fair from 4 to 7 April in Bologna, Italy
