The Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy is the world’s only fair devoted to children’s books. Authors of children’s books and picture books, as well as illustrators, gather here every year to meet their readers.
Taiwanese illustrator Liu Bor-leh:
I’m living in Taiwan, drawing things about Taiwan, and thinking about Taiwan. But today I have the opportunity to come to Bologna and to see all kinds of picture books from around the world. That was really amazing.
Titles by Taiwan authors were not absent at the book fair’s 51st edition. Up-and-coming illustrator Hung I-ching’s work was selected for the book fair’s Illustrators Exhibition. She was chosen from more than 3,000 cartoonists in 78 countries.
Taiwan illustrator Hung I-ching:
People come to the fair for picture books, for illustrations, and images. I can feel that Bologna is an open place full of potential. One can read freely and let their imagination run wild here.
Taiwan’s Grimm Press also won the Bologna Prize for the 2014 Best Children’s Publisher in Asia. Although the publisher humbly attributed the prize to good luck, the honor is certainly recognition of its efforts.