Bologna: Take Me to the Fair

The Bologna Book Fair 2011:  
Spread throughout multiple "Fiera" buildings, at least five football fields in combined size (really, only five football fields?), the fair is a Function-Junction of children's book publishers, agents, authors, illustrators, marketers (etc.) from around the world.  I was a visitor--no business to transact--so I was able to wander...and wander...and wander...through the hundreds of exhibits.  My experience was a visual one, so I will tell it with photos.


 Thanks to Bridget Strevens-Marzo for this proof of my attendance:

I returned the favor (this is Bridget): 

Bridget's new book (she's the illustrator; the text is by Kristy Dempsey) 

is MINI RACER.

For information on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Racer-Kristy-Dempsey/dp/1599901706/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302739804&sr=1-9

Erzsi Deak (center) was busy wheeling and dealing (and translating):

Angela Cerrito is smiling here because she just received 

her first copy of her book, THE END OF THE LINE, 

published April 1, 2011 by Holiday House:

 

A description of THE END OF THE LINE from Amazon.com:

  "Gripping and suspenseful, this powerful, no-holds-barred novel by an exciting new talent goes deep inside a young boy's mind. Thirteen-year-old Robbie is locked in a room with nothing but a desk, a chair, a piece of paper, and a pencil. He s starving, but all they ll give him is water. He is sure he s in a nuthouse or a prison. Actually, he s at Great Oaks School, aka the End of the Line. Kept in solitary confinement, Robbie must earn points for food, a bed, even bathroom privileges. He must learn to listen carefully, to follow the rules, and to accept and admit the truth: he is a murderer. Robbie s first-person account of his struggles at the school at times horrifying, at times hilarious alternates with flashbacks to the events that led to his incarceration."

Brian Selznick (in glasses, third from left) talked about his new book coming out in September:  WONDERSTRUCK (Scholastic Press). The moderator (left of Brian) asked questions and the other two people translated into French and Italian and English.  As you might imagine, this took a loooong time.

My prize for most imaginative conference room goes to Werkhaus from Germany for their innovative VW bus design:  ( http://www.werkhaus.de )

 And this photo gives a sense of the crowds:

That was the Fair.  More on Bologna in future posts.