Embracing the seasonal theme of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, which will take place from March 31 to April 3, the Taiwan Pavilion—organized by Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) and co-organized by the Taipei Book Fair Foundation —introduces the concept of “Taiwan Story Picnic,” showcasing Taiwan’s vibrant stories and illustrations in a lively and inviting atmosphere, reminiscent of a spring picnic.

The pavilion will feature seven outstanding authors, including Yeou-Yu Chang and Hsu-Kung Liu, both of whom have been nominated for the 2025 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA). Their participation is a testament to the growing recognition of Taiwanese illustrated storytelling on the global stage, and the Taiwan Pavilion is set to celebrate this moment with international publishers and readers alike.

Taiwanese Illustrators and Writers Make Waves in Bologna and ALMA

The Illustrators Exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair is a prestigious global platform for emerging talents. This year, 14 Taiwanese illustrators made it through the initial selection, with Hsiaochi Chang (Three Orange Dots) and Ballboss (Maybe Trees Remember) ultimately winning spots in the final showcase.

Meanwhile, the Swedish Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA)—one of the world’s most significant prizes for children’s and young adult literature—has recognized three Taiwanese creators for the first time in history. The nominees include: Chih-Yuan Chen, internationally acclaimed for his picture book Guji Guji; Yeou-Yu Chang, a dedicated writer in young adult fiction; Hsu-Kung Liu, previously honored with the IBBY Peter Pan Prize for The Orange Horse. To celebrate their achievements, Chang and Liu have been invited by TAICCA to attend the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, where they will share their creative insights, and Liu will also lead a hands-on picture book workshop.

A Lush, Vibrant Taiwan Pavilion – A Storytelling Picnic for All

This year, the Taiwan Pavilion will be located in Hall 25 (Booth B118), covering 128 square meters. The pavilion’s visual identity has been designed by artist Page Tsou, centering around the theme “Taiwan Story Picnic.”

The color scheme features various shades of green, symbolizing Taiwan’s diverse landscapes and rich ecosystems, while cheerful red plaid patterns evoke the joyful spirit of a picnic. Visitors are invited to engage in discussions with publishers and illustrators, and experience a delightful springtime literary gathering.

Taiwan Pavilion: A Dynamic Showcase Both Online and On-Site

The 2025 Taiwan Pavilion will feature 41 participating publishers, showcasing a total of 284 books. The on-site exhibition is divided into multiple sections to highlight the richness of Taiwanese children’s literature and comics:

• “Award-winning Titles” – Featuring the latest recipients of Golden Tripod Awards, Golden Comic Awards, and TiBE Book Prize in the children’s and YA categories.
• “Recommended Titles” – A curated selection of high-quality Taiwanese children’s books and picture books published in the past three years.
• “Featured Authors” – Showcasing seven spotlighted creators, with their biographies, illustration displays, and key works prominently presented to enhance their international visibility.
• “Exhibitors” – Highlighting 122 titles from 10 Taiwanese publishers, all chosen for their strong international licensing potential in children’s books, picture books, and comics.

A dedicated meeting space, Rights Matchmaking Area, is designed for industry professionals to network and negotiate rights deals, with pre-scheduled table bookings available to enhance efficiency during the fair.

To maximize global visibility, a digital Taiwan Pavilion has been created, offering a virtual exhibition divided into key sections such as: “Recommended Titles”, “Featured Authors”, and “Rights Business Zone”.

This online platform provides a comprehensive digital presentation of the Taiwan Pavilion’s highlights and allows users to download the official catalog. The initiative aims to extend licensing opportunities beyond the physical fair.

🔗 Visit the Online Taiwan Pavilion: https://taiwan-bcbf.taicca.tw/

Taiwan Pavilion to Open on March 31, as Rights and Illustration Events Take Center Stage

The Taiwan Pavilion promises an exciting lineup of industry events and creative activities. On March 31 and April 1, two publishing rights-focused sessions will take place: “The Rise of Emerging Markets in Asia: Licensing in Taiwan” and “Big Brands & Indie Voices: Exploring Taiwan Children’s Publishing”. These sessions will provide international publishers with insights into Taiwan’s illustration licensing industry and the children’s book publishing landscape. At Illustrator’s Survival Corner, Hsu-Kung Liu will lead a handmade picture book workshop, along with a special talk featuring the two creators, “Stories & Imagination: A Creative Dialogue with Yeou-Yu Chang & Hsu-Kung Liu”.

On April 1, illustrators Arrmeeow, Dong Dong, Wei-Ting Lin, and Hsiaochi Chang will come together for a ” Drawing Picnic with Taiwan & Italian Illustrators.” On April 2, Hsu-Kung Liu, Hsiaochi Chang, and Ballboss will join forces to mentor and discuss artworks with emerging illustrators from around the world.

With a diverse range of activities combining business expertise and artistic exchange, the Taiwan Pavilion at Bologna 2025 is set to create even more success stories on the international stage.

Taiwan Pavilion – Events Schedule

Date	Time	Event	Venue	Moderator/Speaker
3/31(Mon)	14:40-15:20	The Rise of Emerging Markets in Asia: Licensing in Taiwan	Licensing Conference Room	Theodore Huang (TAICCA), Alice Lee (Sunthingood), Jeannie Yong (Jimmy S.P.A. Plus), Yu Shi (Dreamland Image)
	16:00-17:00	Opening Party	Taiwan Pavilion (H25 B118)
4/1(Tue)	09:30-11:00	Let’s Make a Little Book Together!	Illustrator’s Survival Corner	Hsu-Kung Liu
	14:45-15:30	Big Brands & Indie Voices: Exploring Taiwan Children’s Publishing	BBPlus Theatre (The Mall, H29)	Rhea Lin (PaPa Publishing), Sheryl Ho (CommonWealth Education)
	16:00-17:00	Drawing Picnic with Taiwan & Italian Illustrators	Taiwan Pavilion (H25 B118)	A-Meow, Dong Dong, Wei-Ting Lin, Hsiaochi Chang
4/2(Wed)	10:30-11:15	Storytelling and Imagination: A Talk with Chang Yeou-Yu and Liu Hsu-Kung	AIE Theatre, Italian Pavilion, BBPlus (The Mall, H29)	Lucia Obi (Internationale Jugendbibliothek), Hsu-Kung Liu, Yeou-Yu Chang
	15:00-16:00	Portfolio Review with Award-Winning Illustrators from Taiwan: Hsu-Kung Liu, Hsiaochi Chang, and Ballboss	Taiwan Pavilion (H25 B118)	Hsu-Kung Liu, Hsiaochi Chang, Ballboss