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Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025
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).
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 62nd 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.
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I’m a Submarine
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.
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Finding a new bum 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!
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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.
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