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Quirky Kid attended the Bologna Children’s Book Fair for the first time in 2014, marking an important early step in taking its psychology publishing work into international markets.
The 51st Bologna Children’s Book Fair ran from 24 to 27 March 2014. Quirky Kid joined Australian publishing colleagues at the fair to learn about international rights, distribution and children’s publishing while presenting its growing range of therapeutic and educational resources.
An official Bologna Children’s Book Fair report records more than 30,000 trade visitors, around 1,200 exhibitors and participation from approximately 74 countries at the 2014 event.
Testing Quirky Kid’s publishing work internationally
At the time, Quirky Kid’s publishing arm was still developing alongside its psychology clinics. The organisation had begun producing therapeutic resources for children, parents and professionals and was exploring how those materials might reach audiences beyond Australia.
Bologna offered direct exposure to publishers, agents, illustrators, rights professionals and distributors working across the international children’s market.
Learning from the global children’s publishing industry
The 2014 visit gave Quirky Kid firsthand experience of rights trading, international distribution and the way specialist children’s content is positioned within a global publishing marketplace.
Australian industry activity at Bologna was supported through initiatives such as Hello! from Australia, which showcased Australian children’s books, illustration and publishing internationally.
For Quirky Kid, the visit helped clarify where psychology-informed resources could sit within the broader children’s publishing sector.
The first of several Bologna milestones
The 2014 fair became the beginning of a longer relationship with Bologna. In 2015, The Best of Friends® was selected for the Hello! from Australia exhibition and catalogue.
Quirky Kid returned again in later years, including 2018 and 2019, as its publishing catalogue and international profile continued to grow.
The first Bologna visit remains an important marker of the point when Quirky Kid began treating international publishing as a sustained part of its growth strategy.
