15 April 2024
After the largely successful London Book Fair in March, this past week's Bologna Children's Book Fair confirms that, at least for the books sector, such events are back in business. Bologna is usually both busy and buzzy-yes, the alliteration plays its part-but this year it was positive and energetic too, its new April date providing the longer run-up that London, for some, lacked. As Rebecca McNally, publishing director at Bloomsbury Children's, told me: "I think the timing, being a bit later this year and after LBF, has helped reinforce it as the main event in the children's publishing calendar."