Betsy Goes to Bologna: Now With Less Pregnancy
Eleven years ago I wrote an article for School Library Journal which ended up sporting the title Betsy Goes to Bologna: Why attend the world’s largest children’s book fair? In the piece I explained why this international rights fair is worth a trip, should you ever wish to plan a truly unique vacation. I was also, I should note, seven months pregnant at the time.
Now the Bologna Book Fair is opening up for the first time since the start of the pandemic. No longer virtual, people are streaming in from all over the world. People, apparently, like me.
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Folks, for the next five or so days I’m going to be reporting to you directly from Bologna. I’ll alert you to the international trends, what I’m seeing, what I’m not seeing, the works. I had not planned on attending a fair in the midst of such international strife, but no doubt that will affect the tenor of the trip to a certain extent.
Have questions? Queries? Let me know and I’ll try to answer them. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy a gelato or two in my absence, as I try to wrap my head around that great big entity known as “Bologna”.
More soon!
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About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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Oo! I’ve been there! Long ago when I lived in Germany, I made it to Bologna Book Fair a couple times (and Frankfurt Book Fair many times). Hope you have an amazing time!
Waiting for you!
Do you have to be “sent” by an institution or can ordinary citizens just attend? How much does it cost to go?
Anyone can come! But yes, you’d have to pay for the plane ticket, hotel, and cost of the fair. I believe their website would say how much. But I went as an independent citizen on my own 11 years ago. It’s easy!