BOLOGNA CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR- 2026 ILLUSTRATORS EXHIBITION SUBMISSION

This series features five illustrated posters created as a cohesive submission for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. The works are designed to be read together, united by a single theme: Childhood Posters.

Inspired by the visual language of vintage children’s prints, schoolroom wall charts, and nostalgic storybook imagery, each illustration captures a different emotional or imaginative moment from childhood. Bold compositions, playful characters, and a poster-like format allow the images to stand alone while also functioning as part of a wider narrative set.

Together, the five images explore childhood as a space of curiosity, wonder, and quiet magic — moments that feel both personal and universal. This collection reflects my ongoing practice as a children’s illustrator, blending collage, colour, and storytelling to create work that feels joyful, timeless, and rooted in memory.

This submission was developed with a strong emphasis on thematic continuity. Each illustration builds upon the same visual language, colour palette, and emotional tone, allowing the series to function as a unified body of work rather than isolated images. The poster format supports this approach, encouraging clarity, boldness, and immediate visual impact while maintaining narrative cohesion across the set.

Colour plays a central role throughout the series. The illustrations are intentionally bright, playful, and high-contrast, designed to engage children visually while remaining accessible and readable at a glance. The use of joyful colour combinations and simple yet expressive forms reflects how children encounter images in early learning environments — on walls, in classrooms, and within story-led spaces.

These works were created specifically to meet the Bologna Children’s Book Fair submission criteria. The final selection consists of five images, submitted as a themed series, prepared at 150 DPI and within the 5MB file size limit, in line with the fair’s technical requirements. The submission deadline of 3rd November shaped both the production schedule and final presentation of the work.

Together, this collection represents my approach to children’s illustration: thoughtful, visually engaging, and rooted in storytelling through design. By combining poster aesthetics with a child-focused sensibility, the series aims to communicate warmth, imagination, and continuity a qualities central to my wider illustration practice.