From March 31 to April 3, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair took place — one of Europe’s key book events. The fair’s specificity lies in the fact that it is closed to visitors under 18 years old — it is a purely professional event. For publishers, it is an opportunity to hold negotiations, buy and sell book rights, meet partners, attend professional discussions, and arrange collaborations with cultural institutions from around the world. This year, the fair was attended by 33,318 industry representatives. At the exhibition sites, 1,577 exhibitors from about 95 countries and regions presented their books. More than 600 events took place during the fair.

The Ukrainian stand featured 25 publishers and literary agencies. Besides the collective Ukrainian stand, there were four additional Ukrainian stands at Bologna. The Old Lion Publishing House had its own stand, as did the comics section; Projector Publishing presented a stand as the winner of the Talking Pictures Award at last year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair; and there was a stand of illustrators organized by Mystetskyi Arsenal and Pictoric, showcasing the exhibition “Ukraine: Yesterday and Today.”

Within the framework of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair program, two events were held by the Ukrainian Book Institute in cooperation with foreign partners, featuring Ukrainian and international speakers:

• “Tales of EUkraine: Everyone Deserves Their Own Story.” Speakers: Anna Bergman-Tahon and Enrico Turrin (Federation of European Publishers), Piero Attanasio (Italian Publishers Association), Olena Odinoka (Ukrainian Book Institute), Maryana Savka (Old Lion Publishing House), Kateryna Mikhalitsyna (Ukrainian writer, translator, PEN Ukraine member).
  
  
• “EURead. Children in the World of Disinformation: How Reading Shapes Critical Thinking.” Speakers: Valentina Stoeva (co-chair of EURead, founder of Children’s Book Foundation and Reading Foundation Bulgaria), Olena Odinoka (EURead member, Deputy Director for International Cooperation at the Ukrainian Book Institute).
  
  

“A few decades ago, we lived in an era of opportunities when it was easy to say ‘yes’ to all new prospects. Today we live in a time of fast information, excess of opportunities, and a situation where the world is learning to say ‘no’ to this excess. This excess is dangerous because it tires information consumers. That is why people eagerly use AI and ChatGPT — they provide clear-cut answers. For the same reason, people listen to influencers and fall into the trap of propaganda and advertising. This problem is shared by Ukraine and the entire world. As people of books, we believe that reading can help filter consumed information because it shows a diversity of views and stories. Books are a vaccine against disinformation. And we must vaccinate our children from an early age, teaching them to be critical of information. Only then can they grow into conscious and resilient adults, resistant to propaganda influences,” shares Tetiana Petrenko, Head of PR at the Ukrainian Book Institute and literary critic.

The Ukrainian Book Institute expresses gratitude for the consistent support and cooperation of its partners: Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy.