06 Apr 2 Seas Agency Returns to Bologna: Third Consecutive Year at the Heart of Global Children’s Publishing

By Chrysothemis Armefti — Article first published in April 2025

Discover Senior Agent Chrysothemis Armefti’s impressions of the 2025 Bologna Children’s Book Fair!

Overview and Attendance

The 62nd Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) took place from March 31 to April 3, once again positioning itself as the global hub for children’s publishing. Estonia was this year’s Guest of Honor, presenting beautifully illustrated works, following Slovenia’s spotlight in 2024.

Over 33,318 trade visitors have attended the fair, 5% more than last year. Over 1,577 exhibitors were present from some 95 nations and regions; and more than 500 events were curated by the fair and its exhibitors.

Despite current global tensions, organizers and participants reported a sense of optimism, but a lot of them were worried about a decline in published titles and sales. While publishing is still going strong, global conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are influencing many discussions. Various panels at the book fair explored the role of literature in promoting empathy, resilience, and social justice in young readers.

Key Trends in Publishing

As noted in 2024, the demand for shorter, illustrated books continues into 2025, driven by concern over declining reading skills and shorter attention spans among young readers. Publishers are looking for concise books across age groups—from early readers to young adult (YA) fiction, with a strong interest in graphic novels/comics for middle-grade fiction.

YA fiction, and especially romantasy remain a key driver of rights sales, supported by TikTok/BookTok trends. International YA publishers are increasingly interested in non-English titles, due to the high penetration of English imports, especially in countries such as the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Germany, and Portugal.

Even though some publishers are looking for books featuring diverse identities, LGBTQ+ themes, and protagonists from marginalized backgrounds, we still noticed a conservative feedback from Poland and Russia for LGBTQ+ themes in general, or specifically for F/F (or Female/Female) romance from France.

While optimism surrounds many genres, middle-grade remains a challenge. Publishers are looking for fresh and original ideas in shorter books (illustrated or not), or in graphic novel/comic style.

2025 continues the boom in audiobooks and digital engagement. Publishers are investing in podcasts, interactive platforms, and multimedia storytelling to reach digitally-native readers. AI tools are also being integrated into the manuscript evaluation process, streamlining translation and market-fit analysis.

An increasing number of publishers of fantasy and sci-fi titles, from crossover to adult, continue to attend the Bologna Book Fair, as well as editors of commercial fiction (mostly romance) and non-fiction from several countries. The reasons: the Bologna book fair is cheaper to attend than London, and there is a variety of sellers attending.

Notable Highlights from 2 Seas Agency

BRAW Amazing Bookshelf

Two outstanding picture books from our client, Astra Books for Young Readers, were showcased during the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in the BRAW Amazing Bookshelf exhibition. The featured books were Pepper and Me by Beatrice Alemagna and Night Stories: Folktales from Latin America by Liniers.

Expanding the fair’s scope, the Comics Corner featured over 70 comics publishers from various countries, including a few books from our client Toon Books (Astra Books for Young Readers), emphasizing the intersection of children’s literature and graphic storytelling.

2 Seas continued to receive strong interest in longselling and bestselling books, such as: The Academy by T.Z Layton (9 deals + 275,000 copies sold), publishing in several foreign territories in May-July 2026 during the FIFA World Cup; the Breezy Valley at Work series by the illustrator of Paddington Bear, R.W. Alley (13 territories); the Itty Bitty Betty Blob social-emotional learning picture book series by Constance Lombardo (10,000 copies sold in Book 1); the forthcoming middle-grade novel-length comic series Dog Days by German illustrator Claudia Boldt; as well as Rupert Spira’s beautiful picture book I Am Always I on non-duality, with exquisite artwork by award-winning Polish illustrator Zuzanna Celej (now based in Barcelona). There has been also a renewed interest in Barroux’s The Richest Cow in the World (5 territories), represented on behalf of Les Arènes (Dutch & Nordic rights still available).

Conclusion

The 2025 Bologna Children’s Book Fair reaffirmed its status as the preeminent event for children’s and YA publishing, reflecting a dynamic mix of creativity, resilience, and global awareness. In a changing world, publishers are leaning into both emotional resonance and commercial viability, looking for stories that can captivate young minds while navigating complex global narratives. Amid a buzzing fairground filled with rights deals, artistic discovery, and global industry shifts, the 2 Seas Agency continued to deepen relationships with long-time partners and explore exciting new opportunities in a rapidly evolving market.