Showcasing our children’s books on the global stage
If you are into children’s books, there is no doubt that going to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF), the world’s biggest children’s book fair, is an absolute must. At some point in your career as a children’s book publisher, author, or illustrator, you need to fly to Bologna because the BCBF is truly the best way to appreciate the breadth and depth of children’s literature around the world (and Bologna is the best place to have tortellini en brodo—but this is for another article).
I remember when I first visited the book fair more than 25 years ago; it was enough to convince me to leave my corporate job and leap into the world of children’s book publishing.
With over 1,500 exhibitors from all over the world, and 33,318 trade visitors, this year’s book fair is truly a barometer for the state of children’s book publishing today. Held on last March 31 to April 3, the BCBF was made more special by the fact that for the second year in a row, the Philippines had a national stand. The orange and ube national stand this year was masterfully designed by Liza Flores and featured playful paper-cut figures by Pergy Acuña. Visitors were treated to postcards designed by members of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan.
The National Book Development Board (NBDB), together with the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) and the International Board on Books for Young People-Philippines (IBBY PH), curated a collection of 120 Filipino children’s books. This collection not only included excellent children’s books produced in the last two years, but also titles that have won various national children’s book awards. The books tackle various themes: Philippine culture, sense of self, sense of others, diversity, the environment. There are titles for early readers, middle grade, and young adults. The goal of the Philippine delegation to the book fair is not just to showcase the creativity of Filipino authors and illustrators, but also to expand Filipino publishers’ network with their foreign counterparts through rights selling.
No ordinary year
Unlike our local book fairs that are mostly retail-based, the BCBF is a rights-selling fair, featuring a lot of talks and master classes for publishers, editors, authors, and illustrators for children.
This is no ordinary year for Philippine publishing, as the Philippines is also the Guest of Honor at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, the world’s oldest and largest book fair. Our participation in Bologna is part of the run-up to Frankfurt, further intensifying the spotlight on Philippine literature and bookmaking.
And who made up the Philippine delegation to the BCBF this year? Heading the group was the dynamic executive director of the NBDB, Charisse Aquino-Tugade, ably accompanied by two members of the NBDB’s governing board, Yvonne De Mesa and Mary Ann Ordinario, and the very dependable NBDB staff. Board members Frances Ong and Liza Flores represented PBBY. Also in attendance were members of the core committee in charge of the Philippines’ Guest of Honor stint at the Frankfurt Book Fair: Neni Sta. Romana Cruz and Nida Ramirez.
The NBDB provided grants to seven very special people for them to attend the book fair: illustrator Fran Alvarez, illustrator and art director Eli Camacho, writer and illustrator Faye Chelabian, publisher Sophia Garduce, author Liwliwa Malabed, publisher Isa Songco, and editor Ergoe Tinio. Some Filipinos were also at the book fair as fellows under the Italian Trade Agency: Gladys Doronila of OMF Literature, Aria Chelabian of Kawangis Komiks, Andrea Pasion-Flores of Milflores Publishing, and Paolo Herras of Komiket. Publishing CEOs Edgar Trono of Hiyas Books and Jun Matias of Lampara Books were also at the book fair. All of these delegation members attended business meetings and capacity-building sessions at the fair.
Aria Chelabian and I were fortunate enough to be invited to speak at panels during the book fair. Aria spoke at a panel on bringing comics to the classroom, while I participated in a panel about gender representation in children’s books.
First time
For the first time in BCBF history, a presentation of seven Filipino illustrators was done by PBBY for a group of rights editors and agents.
Besides the business to be had at Bologna, there was also the overwhelming experience of children’s book art. It was virtually impossible to view everything in a day. The famed Illustrators Exhibition featured 77 illustrators from 29 countries (from the 89 countries that submitted). I enjoyed the artistic range of this year’s Guest of Honor, Estonia, and also the exhibit on Chinese excellence featuring contemporary Chinese children’s book art. My personal favorite was the exhibit of the fair’s Silent Book Contest that features wordless narratives. This year’s roster of Silent Book Contest finalists featured Filipinos for the first time: illustrators Bealuz Villavicencio and Dandin Espina.
I doubt that anyone who attended the Philippines’ country reception will forget it. I overheard someone say that “the Philippines really knows how to throw a party.” Aside from our signature overflowing food and drinks (including the very popular ube liqueur that’s always a hit at our book fair stands), our country reception reflected who we are as a people: warm, fun and always open to connecting with others. Our reception was graced by no less than Ambassador Nathaniel Imperial who came all the way from Rome, and our Consul General in Milan, Elmer Cato. The crowd could not be contained in our national stand and spilled over to the hallways.
There is children’s book magic at the BCBF. There’s a chance you will bump into one of your idols like Beatrice Alemagna or Chris Haughton or even a legend like Mo Willems. There’s a big chance you’ll strike up a conversation with another children’s book creator from another part of the world as you ride the bus to the book fair, while you order your first cappuccino of the day or as you line up for yet another portfolio review by a renowned children’s book editor. And the magic extends beyond fairgrounds: There are exhibits at lovely local art spaces like Zoo, and intimate book signings at children’s bookstores such as the historic Libreria Giannino Stoppani.
How thrilling it was for me to experience this magic—more than 25 years after I first visited BCBF. It may have taken quite some time for the Philippines to showcase the wealth of our children’s books on the global stage, but we’ve truly arrived.
