Bologna Illustrator Scholarship 2026- Applications OPEN

Would you like to attend the Bologna Children's Book Fair April 13 - 18, 2026? Well, now is your chance! Applications for the SCBWI's 2026 Bologna Illustrator Scholarship are now OPEN!

Also, shout out to Rashin Kheiriyeh, the 2025 winner of the Bologna Illustrator Scholarship!

Check out SCBWI at the Bologna Children's Book Fair!

Click the link to apply for the Bologna Illustrator Scholarship

"Submissions can be found on the MY AWARDS tab in your Member Home. Members must be logged in to scbwi.org to access their Member Home.

The submission should consist of three or four images without text that best showcase your portfolio. Your art style and visual story must be appropriate for one of these two specific audiences/book genres (Choose one):

• Full color, intended for a picture book for 4 to 7-year-olds
• Black and white, intended for a middle grade book for 8 to 11-year-olds
• You must be a current SCBWI member to submit."

Take a chance on yourself and apply today!

ALSO! The Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition is open until November 3! SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES!

"Now in its 60th edition, the Illustrators Exhibition—which will take place as part of the next edition of the fair (13–16 April 2026)—offers the rare opportunity to bring the work of both established and emerging artists to the attention of industry professionals, during the fair and in the months that follow."

Each year, the winning illustrations will be shown in the show as well as be published in the Ilustrators Annual, released and distributed worldwide. Following the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Exhibition will embark on a two-year tour, throughout the world as well will be presented—"either in full or in part"—at various international events in different countries. This is a wonderful opportunity to get your work in front of professionals all over the world!

Mantras of mine:

"You'll never know if you don't try"

"If it's a 'No,' you'll still be where you are. But if it's a 'Yes,' who knows what doors will open!"

"No fear. No judgement!"

Bologna 2023 Wraps With Attendance at Nearly Pre-Pandemic Levels!

The Bologna Children's Book Fair had its 60th anniversary this year, and SCBWI was "in the house!"

SCBWI Instagram post from Bologna with text that reads: 

Portfolio review at the booth. So many talented illustrators that we went overtime to get everyone seen! Thanks to our reviewers @ericarsilverman @dearnetta @ammi.joan.paquette @martharago

#bcbf23 #portfolioreviews #illustratorsofinstagram #illustrationartists #artist

Over at Publishing Perspectives, Porter Anderson reported in this piece, Bologna’s 60th Edition Draws 28,894 Visitors, that the “in-person professional visitor count at Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2023 jumped by 35 percent over 2022... nearly equivalent to pre-pandemic attendance levels."

Read more about the fair here.

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On!
Lee

Trends in Children's and Teen Literature? A Dozen Agents Weigh In On Their Way to the 2019 Bologna Children's Book Fair (from Publishers Weekly)

We all know we shouldn't write and/or illustrate to trends.

Having said that, these brief interviews, compiled by Diane Roback for Publishers Weekly in the article, Trends to Watch for at Bologna 2019, are fascinating.

Check out what Rachel Hecht (of Rachel Hecht Children’s Scouting), Marcia Wernick (of Wernick & Pratt Agency), Mia Roman (of New Leaf Literary & Media), Samantha Fabien (of Laura Dail Literary Agency), Addison Duffy (of United Talent Agency), Josh and Tracey Adams (of Adams Literary), Kelly Farber (of KF Literary Scouting), Ammi-Joan Paquette (of Erin Murphy Literary Agency), Cecilia de la Campa (of Writers House), Molly Ker Hawn (of The Bent Agency), Victoria Wells Arms (of Wells Arms Literary), and Michael Stearns (of Upstart Crow Literary) have to say!

Read the full article here.

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

Only One More Day To Vote For Your Favorite Illustration For The Bologna Illustration Gallery Member's Choice Award!

It's a new award! Out of 500 entries, 43 finalists (selected by Simon and Schuster Art Director and Author/Illustrator Laurent Linn, Author/Illustrator Naomi Kojima & Author/Illustrator Doug Cushman) were displayed at the SCBWI booth at the 2016 Bologna Book Fair.

Now, members get to choose our winner from those 43 finalists. SCBWI members, go here to vote (you'll need to log in first.) Voting end May 31st.

And for everyone interested in seeing some wonderful children's book illustrations, check out all the entries.

Good luck to all the finalists!

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

PW rounds up a baker's dozen of children's and YA agents heading to Bologna

The article is a fascinating snapshot of 13 agents and agencies' take on what's going on in the children's and YA marketplace, both in the US and internationally.

While it's good to know about the movements (like #ownvoices) and trends (like middle grade adventure), it's also fascinating to see that, as with everything in this industry, there's a huge amount of subjectivity: YA is either "hot" or "fatigued," depending on an agent's unique perspective.

Overall, it's well worth reading!

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee