From 31 March until 3 April, Bologna, Italy, hosts the annual Children’s Book Fair, which is to be attended also by Latvian publishers. Latvia’s participation is ensured by the Latvian literature export platform “Latvian Literature”.
This year’s highlight is the participation of Estonia as an honorary country with focus not only on Latvia’s neighbours, but also on the Baltic states as a whole.
On 31 March at 3:00 PM, the Translators’ Café at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair will host a seminar on the challenges of translating from languages spoken by relatively few people, and Latvia will be represented by Alīse Nīgale from the publishing house “Liels un mazs”. Later, at 4:00 PM, a seminar on children’s literature of the Baltic states will take place at the same venue, with Rita Tura representing “Latvian Literature”.
As every year, the Book Fair also sets up a symbolic bookshelf — “The BRAW Amazing Bookshelf” — which includes the top 100 works submitted for the BolognaRagazzi Award of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. This year, the bookshelf includes three works by Latvian authors: “Uzzīmēsim stāstu?” (“Let's Draw a Story?”) by Elīna Brasliņa, “Es tevi gaidīju” (“I waited for you”) by Maira Dobele (illustrated by Rebeka Lukošus), both published by “Liels un mazs”, as well as “Postaža parkā” (“Destruction in the Park”) by Dace Krēsliņa, published by Zvaigzne ABC.
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair will also host an exhibition “100 Outstanding Picturebooks 2025” organised by the international platform of publishers and agents of picture books “dPictus”, which will also include two books by the Latvian publishing house “Liels un mazs”: “Ceļojošais čemodāns” (“The Travelling Case”) by Inese Zandere (illustrated by Anete Melece) and “Uzzīmēsim stāstu?” (“Let’s Draw a Story?”) by Elīna Brasliņa.
“Every year, we are delighted to see our authors and illustrators shortlisted for these important nominations recognising the world’s greatest talents. It serves as a reminder of the high-quality children’s literature we have to offer the world,” said Rita Dementjeva of “Latvian Literature”.
From 2 April until 11 May, Bologna will host the exhibition “OUT OF THE CAGE: Picturebook Makers Roaming Wild and Free”, in which Latvia is represented by Anna Vaivare and illustrations from her book “Otrais koncerts” (“The Second Concert”) (published by “Liels un mazs”).
On 1 April at 5:00 PM, a reception, supported by the Embassy of Latvia in Italy and the printing house “Jelgavas Tipogrāfija”, will take place at the Latvian stand (Hall 30, Stand E12-F9).
This year Latvia is represented at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair by the publishing houses “Liels un mazs”, Zvaigzne ABC, Jānis Roze, Pētergailis, Baltais valis, Aminori, Jelgavas tipogrāfija, and the Art Academy of Latvia.
The visualisations of the Latvian stand in Bologna were created by artist Reinis Pētersons and designed by Jānis Mercs to incorporate the aesthetic features of the export campaign of “Latvian Literature” — #iamintrovert.
Latvia’s participation at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture of Latvia.
