Taiwan Pavilion Opens at Bologna Children's Book Fair, Showcasing Creative Energy with 'Story Forest'

The Bologna Children's Book Fair (BCBF), held from April 13-16, is a major platform for children's books, comics, and graphic novel rights matching. Taiwan's Representative to Italy, Tsai Yun-chung, and Taipei Book Fair Foundation Chairman, Hao Ming-yi, attended the opening. Tsai Yun-chung emphasized the Taiwanese government's efforts to promote cultural exchange with Europe, with Italy being a key focus. The "Story Forest" theme symbolizes Taiwan's creative energy. Liu Xugong, a National Taiwan University Civil Engineering graduate, became a picture book author ("Orange Horse"). He noted differences in focus between Western (art/image) and Eastern (story content) children's books. Zhou Yifen, founder of Ho-Ying Publishing, authored "Grandma Xueying's Story" and the "Mimi Series," which has 14 language licenses. She focuses on developmental psychology in children's literature. Lin Xiaobei's "The Practice of Goodbye" gained international attention, leading to a Spanish publication in Mexico. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is considered the "Nobel Prize of Children's Literature."