Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025: Hopeful signs from the global meeting ground for children’s books

The publishing world gathered in the historic Italian city of Bologna this past week for the biggest event on the global children’s book calendar — the Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF). 

Opening morning at the fair

In four days at the Bologna fairgrounds in the city’s northeast, publishers, agents, authors, illustrators, librarians, booksellers, distributors, printers and many others came from the four corners of the Earth — to promote our authors and illustrators, do business and discuss ways forward in the face of digital and economic challenges. 

This 62^nd edition of the fair brought 1,577 exhibitors from 95 countries, and a total of 33,318 trade visitors — an increase of 5% from 2024. 

New Zealand was there thanks to the collective stand organised by the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ), under its contract for international literature promotion with Creative New Zealand. 

With sharply increased costs for global exhibitions but no increase in the international budget for well over a decade, the New Zealand presence relies on collegiality, much volunteer time, and the support of our freight partner Book Systems International. 

Stand set-up last Sunday: Trace Moroney and Katherine Shanks (above), me with Chris Shaw (below)

Chris Shaw, general manager of Book Systems in New Zealand, was there in person, and together we got our books to our stand last Sunday and helped with the set-up, overseen by the unflappable Katherine Shanks of PANZ. 

 

Oratia was fortunate to have our Rome-based foreign rights manager Maria Leonardi helping me, alongside esteemed colleagues Eboni Waitere and Pania Tahau-Hodges of Huia Publishers and Trace Moroney of EQ Publications. 

Cheers to the Oratia's Italian team: Milan-based Anna Spadolini
(our European agent, left) and Rome-based foreign rights manager Maria Leonardi

Allen & Unwin, Auckram Publishing, Cultural Hub, Illustrated Publishing, Mila’s Books, One Tree House and Scholastic also had their books on display, with Lynette Evans of Scholastic and Rachel Lawson of Gecko Press the fair as well. 

 

Book fair routine is to arrange meetings in half-hour slots at either party’s stand, which calls for a level of fitness and patience to thread through the crowds between the four large pavilions. 

 

A sample of opening day meetings with author/translator Lawrence Schimel (Spain), Alejandra Ramos Henao and team (Enlace Editorial, Colombia), Anjola Ayodeji (Ouida Books, Nigeria), Goksun Bayraktar (Black Cat Agency, Turkey) 

For me that meant almost 40 formal meetings with partners from 26 countries, leading on later each day to various receptions, cocktails and dinners with many others. A lot of talking and a lot of books!

 

Dreaming up more New Bums with our publishing partners from Dover Publications, New York;
from left Patty Sullivan, Theresa Trinder and Betina Cochran

Among other outcomes, those meetings firmed up deals for more in our global hit New Bum Series, translations and distribution of some of our new books, and confirmation of two exciting trilingual publications to publish in 2026 under our international Five Oceans imprint. 

There’s no overnight success in this game: those results comes after years of fair attendance and networking. New entrants need all the help they can get, which is why PANZ mentorship remains key to New Zealand’s export promotion. 

 

Celebrating Five Oceans forthcoming Tamil-Māori-English edition of the classic Thirukkural with Sankara Saravanan (right)
 and Dr P. Shankar of the Chennai International Book Fair

Overall, it’s fair to say that the decline in global reading levels, effects on literacy and authorship of digital media and AI, and the rise of trade protectionism are all weighing on sentiment among book publishers and their partners. 

Always a pleasure to meet up with our sub-agent Shin Su of Bookman, Taiwan

But if anything, that recognition is redoubling the commitment of the children’s book world to re-engage young readers, and stay true to the exchange of books and ideas that fuels cultural expression and international understanding.

BCBF provides a vibrant platform for that trade, with its central malls hosting ample illustrators’ exhibitions and a plethora of panel sessions. 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney in discussion at The Illustrator's Café

Across the fair were illustrators’ and translators’ zones holding non-stop workshops and presentations, a bustling agents’ centre, and the BolognaBookPlus zone where adult publishers also get to share in the rights activity. Amazingly, there are well over 500 separate events during the fair’s four days.

Particularly busy were the stands of 2025 guest of honour Estonia, and Chile and the Philippines (both upcoming countries of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair). 

Having this honour status turbo-charges business and cultural opportunities; we’ll be following up on productive discussions with the Philippines in particular.

 

At left Eli Camacho, illustrator and publisher of Manila-based Adarna House, with colleague from the National Book Development Board Philippines

The attention shown to Mila’s Books, after it took out the BOP Bologna Prize for Best Children’s Publisher Oceania, demonstrates the value of a physical presence here (only those who exhibit are eligible). That win continues a string of successes for New Zealand publishers in the awards (Huia won last year, while Oratia scooped the prize in 2021).

 

Hearty congrats to Dahlia Malaeulu of Mila’s Books, who’s also the author of Oratia's book Moana Oceania: Sāmoa. 

Great supporters of Mila Books and our Moana Oceania series: David and Sarah DeLuca of Bess Press, Hawai'i

To all the Oratia authors and illustrators, we couldn't be here without you and hope that exposing your work to the world will make a difference. 

Sincere thanks to the PANZ council and team – Katherine on site and Courtney Sina-Meredith and Gemma Finlay back in Auckland – for their hard work to keep Aotearoa in the international game.

And a big grazie mille to the fair's brilliant director Elena Pasoli, her fab team (special mentions to Deanna Belluti and Irene Rinaldi), and BolognaBookPlus organisers Jacks Thomas and Sheerin Aswat, for making this such a productive and stimulating few days. 

Viva Bologna!

 

— Peter Dowling, Publisher

Northland author-illustrator debuts with a universal 'tail ' about who we are – or think we are

I'm a Submarine

Nigel McHardy

Hello whale!’

‘Whale? I’m not a whale. I’m a submarine.’

 

A seagull is a seagull, and a whale is a whale. 

Seagull knows a thing or two about sea creatures and submarines. But after meeting Whale, Seagull learns that things are not always what they seem!

 

Whale tries hard to convince Seagull that he/she may look like a whale, but is actually a submarine!

When a storm arrives, Seagull gets to put Whale’s claims to the test, acting like an avian Jonah and finding that with a little imagination, we can be who we want to be.

 

In this highly original debut book, designer and nature enthusiast Nigel McHardy takes young readers on a fun journey that is all about the joy of pretending and questioning what you see. 

As an illustrator and designer, Nigel had been mulling over the idea of a book for over a decade. A redundancy finally pushed him to get serious and flesh out the concept, and Oratia Books agreed to take on the project.

While the primary characters in the book are a seagull and a whale (or is it a submarine?) the beautifully illustrated story is as much about identity as it is the ocean. 

“It’s also about how people perceive the world differently. While people may look similar on the outside, we’re certainly not the same on the inside. That idea was very much on my mind when I developed this story.

 

“I wanted to share the idea that we should have the freedom to choose our own identity,’ says Nigel. “Having kids myself encouraged me to put this into a book.”

 

Another inspiration is his father’s shipwreck. In 1968, he was aboard the Maranui when it sank off the coast of the Coromandel in a terrible storm. Only a third of the crew survived. It’s something Nigel only learned about in the past few years, and it had a profound impact on him. 

There’s a shipwreck in an underwater scene in the book, and Nigel used photos of the Maranui as a subtle tribute to that part of his family’s history.

  

The author

Nigel McHardy lives in the countryside with beautiful views over the Whangarei Harbour that inspire his stories. A professional designer by day, he enjoys dreaming up new projects inspired by his love of nature, and spending time with his family. This is his first book. To find out more, visit https://www.nigelmchardy.com 

Publication: 3 April 2025  |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004280-5 | RRP $21.00

Paperback, 230 x 215 mm portrait, 32 pages, colour

New edition of classic history returns to print ahead of Anzac Day

The Anzac Experience: New Zealand, Australia and Empire in the First World War

Christopher Pugsley

Revised edition of much-praised history examines the Great War experience of New Zealand, Australia and Canada

‘One of the best works of Australasian military history I have ever read.’ 

– Allan Converse, The Journal of Military History

 

One hundred and ten years on from the Gallipoli campaign of 1915, a new era of wars in the eastern Mediterranean obliges us to consider the role of the military in human history. 

 

To understand how New Zealand and Australia first developed their response to global conflicts, The Anzac Experience is an important primer. This gripping book captures the evolution by trial and error of their respective armies, alongside that of Canada, from the Boer War in South Africa to involvement in the First World War. 

 

It tells the story of citizen soldiers becoming professional as they learned the lessons of Gallipoli and applied these to the Western Front — earning them the status of the fighting elite in the British armies in France. 

Richly illustrated with photographs and maps, The Anzac Experience blends social analysis and military history in a compelling combination. In its research and writing, Christopher Pugsley walked every New Zealand battlefield on Gallipoli and the Western Front. 

 

This revised edition features a new cover and updates to the text. 

 

The author

Christopher Pugsley is recognised among the first rank of military historians. A retired Lieutenant Colonel in the New Zealand Army, he was a lecturer in military studies in New Zealand and Australia, and retired in 2012 as a Senior Lecturer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Among his recent works are the fifth edition of Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story and Le Quesnoy 1918. He lives with his wife in Waikanae.

Publication: 1 April 2025  |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-00-1 | RRP $49.99

Paperback, 240 x 170 mm portrait, 356 pages, b&w

Finding a new bum and finding Easter eggs in hilarious new picture book

 

Easter Bunny Needs a New Bum!
Dawn McMillan
Illustrated by Ross Kinnaird

Easter egg-citement awaits in seasonal addition to the hit New Bum! series

 

As children are gearing up for Easter egg hunts and trying to spot the Easter Bunny, here comes the book to spark their egg-citement!

And when Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird are in cahoots, you know there’ll be plenty of laughter (and probably some bums too)! 

Easter Bunny needs a New Bum! is the newest addition to the hilarious hit series that cracks up readers around the world. 

Early one morning, Red Pants Boy spots Easter Bunny in his garden – but something’s amiss: Easter Bunny is missing his tail! 

Well-versed in bum-related emergencies, our hero comes to Easter Bunny’s rescue with an egg-celent idea. 

He equips him with fashionable Easter undies and off they hop to hide the eggs: ‘Hoppity hoppity, cannot stoppity.’

But will they be able to sort out Easter Bunny’s bum issues or will he forever be wearing undies?

Number ten in the bestselling New Bum! series publishes on 13 March in New Zealand and Australia, and is already available in the UK and Ireland through Scholastic.

The author

Dawn McMillan is the much-loved author of many children’s books, including  I Need a New Bum!, My Bum is SO SPOOKY!, There’s a Crab in my Castle and Colour the Stars. She lives in Waiomu, north of Thames. 

The illustrator

Ross Kinnaird is an illustrator and graphic designer whose books have been published in many countries, many of them in collaboration with Dawn. He lives close to the water on Auckland’s North Shore.

Publication: 13 March 2025  |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004278-2 | RRP $21.00

Paperback, 230 x 215 mm portrait, 32 pages, colour

The Treaty of Waitangi — everything you need to know

The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Ross Calman

Highly topical addition to The NZ Series spans the past, present and future implications of the Treaty of Waitangi 

With The Treaty of Waitangi headlining political news in recent months, understanding its meaning and history has never been more important.  

 

In this engaging addition to The NZ Series, author and editor Ross Calman demystifies Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and unravels its complexities — offering a fresh, well-rounded perspective.

 

Opening by exploring the context for the treaty’s drafting, Calman tracks its signing around the country, and then delves deep into the text and translation that caused so much contention in the following years.

By exploring the political role that the Treaty has played, through to the formation of the Waitangi Tribunal and recent protests, The Treaty of Waitangi goes beyond history to offer a lens on today’s society.

Using extensive photos, fact boxes and quotes, the book views New Zealand’s founding document from a range of modern perspectives. It touches on the Treaty’s role in popular culture, treaty settlements, and the debate and promise of reconciliation it inspires.

It brings the Treaty story up to the present day with consideration of the highly controversial Treaty Principles Bill now before Parliament.

This eighth book in The NZ Series — a non-fiction resource for general readers and schools that introduces complex subjects in concise terms — publishes in time for Waitangi Day 2025. 

The author

Courtesy Auckland Libraries

Ross Calman (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa, Kāi Tahu) is a distinguished author and editor who has written widely on the Treaty of Waitangi and the New Zealand Wars. With Oratia Books his works include He Atua, He Tangata: The World of Māori Mythology and Favourite Māori Legends. He lives in Ōtautahi/Christchurch.

Publication: 21 January 2025  |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004277-5 | RRP $29.99

Paperback, 240 x 160 mm portrait, 100 pages, colour

Activities galore in book that extends the fun of the hit New Bum! series

I Need a New Bum! Activity Book
Betsy Ochester and Dawn McMillan
Illustrated by Ross Kinnaird

The newest addition to the global phenomenon that is the New Bum! series aims to get young readers engaged and having fun.

Responding to demand from families around the world, the I Need a New Bum! Activity Book offers amazing mazes, word games, bum puzzles, drawing challenges, code crackers, jokes and more.

The cheeky young hero from the Bum books takes readers through an awesome bunch of activities to keep kids cracking up for hours. 

Open the pages to help him slide through a sand dune maze, blast into outer space in the best seat in the house, and figure out the punchlines to a load of bum jokes. There’s even a song to compose – ‘The Broken Bum Blues’!

Author and illustrator dream team Dawn McMillan and Ross Kinnaird partnered with US puzzle expert Betsy Ochester to bring this fun-packed book to bum fans around the world.

With the zany drawings and silly humour of the New Bum! series, this activity book will keep the kids — and the whole family — entertained for hours.

The authors

Dawn McMillan is the much-loved author of many children’s books, including  I Need a New Bum!, My Bum is SO SPOOKY!, There’s a Moa in the Moonlight and Colour the Stars. She lives in Waiomu, north of Thames. 

Betsy Ochester is an editor, writer and puzzle creator for children. Betsy has worked on more than 200 puzzle, activity and non-fiction books for children. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

The illustrator

Ross Kinnaird is an illustrator and graphic designer whose books have been published in many countries, many of them in collaboration with Dawn. He lives close to the water on Auckland’s North Shore.

Publication: 5 November 2024  |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004246-1 | RRP $21.00

Paperback, 230 x 215 mm portrait, 48 pages, black & white

Multicultural picture book with Kiwi Indian main character tells the importance of people's names

 

What’s in a Name?
He aha tō te Ingoa?

Renisa Viraj Maki

Illustrated by Isobel Joy Te-Aho White

Translated by Hona Black

Heart-warming story for children explains the importance of  understanding and pronouncing people’s names 

Kiwi-Indian author Renisa Viraj Maki’s newest book tells a gentle and beautiful story about the mana our names carry. 

In a school that reflects modern, multicultural Aotearoa New Zealand, pupils from diverse cultures have names that might seem difficult to say – a situation that many children encounter. 

Priyanka definitely is worried when she is tasked with reading out the students’ names at the end-of-year assembly. Wanting to pronounce them correctly, she goes around the school yard to find her classmates and learn about their names.

Knowing how important the names are to her friends and their whānau, she practises hard to pronounce Arihia, Xinze, Somachandra, Sean and Tausa’afia – will she be ready for the big day?

Colourfully illustrated by award-winning artist Isobel Joy Te Aho-White and translated by bestselling author Hona Black, this is a book to read and reread at home and in school.

This bilingual book is available from all good booksellers. A free Teacher Resource is available from the Oratia website.

The author

Renisa Viraj Maki is a Kiwi-Indian leadership consultant and artist who is a graduate in art history. She is dedicated to writing stories that reflect cultural diversity; her first book The Grandmothers of Pikitea Street was a Storylines Notable Book. She lives in Auckland. 

The illustrator

Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Ngāti Kahungunu, Kāi Tahu, UK, Denmark) has won many awards for her illustrations in children’s books. She lives in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington.

The translator

Hona Black (Tūhoe, Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) lectures on teaching for Māori-medium schools at Massey University and is the author of three popular books about te reo. 

Publication: 5 November 2024  |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004263-8 | RRP $22.99

Paperback, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pages, colour