Ukraine will participate in the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2024, which will take place from April 8 to 11 in Bologna, Italy. Last year, the fair attracted over 1400 exhibitors from around 90 countries worldwide. Publishers, illustrators, graphic designers, literary agents, authors, translators, printers, audiobook specialists, book sellers, librarians, and teachers all gather at the event each spring to immerse themselves in the world of books. This year, Slovenia is the honored guest of the fair.
Ukraine will be represented with a national stand featuring 20 publishers: Mamino, Vivat, My Bookshelf, Chitariyum, Tyanachu, NK-Bogdan, Books 21, George Publishing House, IRIO, Old Lion Publishing House, Vidavnitstvo Publishing House, Calamar, Ranok, ASSA, Parasol, Better Time Stories project, Free Wind, Crocus, Little Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and Literary Agency OVO.
The basis of the design of the Ukrainian national stand at the Bologna Children's Book Fair is illustrations by Oleksandr Shatokhin from the "Quiet Book" "Yellow Butterfly." This visual representation will be complemented by postcards containing information about Ukrainian children who were killed or deported by Russia, about writers and translators who died in or because of the war, about cultural infrastructure objects destroyed by the Russian army, including libraries. Additionally, materials about Ukrainian publishers whose books will be presented at the national stand will be available.
"The Ukrainian Book Institute has been participating in the Bologna Children's Book Fair since 2018. We are here to make our voices heard by as many people as possible in Europe and around the world. We are also here to showcase the incredible power of Ukrainian book publishing, which creates wonderful books for the youngest generation of readers despite the terrible war," says Oleksandra Koval, Director of the Ukrainian Book Institute.
As part of the Bologna Children's Book Fair program, an event titled "Tales of EUkraine: intermediate results" is planned, with speakers including Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Book Institute for International Cooperation Olena Odynoka and Deputy Director of the European Publishers Federation Enrico Turrin.
Partners: Bologna Children's Book Fair, Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Embassy of Ukraine in Italy, Ukrainian Association of Publishers and Distributors, Ukrainian Library Association, European Publishers Federation, Book Arsenal, Old Lion Publishing House.
