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From 20 February, Bologna Children’s Book Fair will be featuring at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York with the exhibition Turning the Page on Change. Children’s Books Inspiring Action for the Global Goals More than 170 illustrated books selected from the world’s best works on the topic of sustainability
Milan, 17 February 2026
Since March 2019, Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) has been partnering the United Nations in the Sustainable Development Goals Book Club, a project based on the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development created to explore the 17 sustainable development goals through a selection of books for children and young adults. This relationship has been cultivated over the years and has grown even stronger during the last two editions of the fair, which hosted a number of panel discussions about topics related to sustainability organised in collaboration with the UN.
To crown this partnership and the shared commitment to promoting and fostering a culture of sustainability, BCBF is now crossing the Atlantic to bring to the United Nations headquarters in New York its sixty plus years of experience researching and supporting the best children’s literature. On February 20, on the symbolic occasion of UN Kids Day, the fair will open the exhibition Turning the Page on Change. Children’s Books Inspiring Action for the Global Goals, which will run until March 13.
Presented by Bologna Children’ Book Fair/BolognaFiere in collaboration with United Nations Publications and supported by ITA - Italian Trade Agency and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the exhibition brings together a selection of 173 illustrated books – with a focus on around 30 Italian titles – from all over the world, chosen from the best candidates in the special Sustainability category of the BolognaRagazzi Awards 2025.
The BolognaRagazzi Awards are the Bologna Children’s Book Fair accolades that have been assigned every year since 1966 to the most stunning and innovative illustrated books published worldwide. Over sixty years these awards have accompanied the evolution of the global publishing market, becoming one of the most prestigious prizes for children’s publishing worldwide, boosting publishing opportunities around the world for the winning titles and recipients of special mentions. At the same time, these awards are a historical source that charts the path of international children’s publishing through six decades of change and transformation.
Selected from hundreds of entries and including picture books, graphic novels, and other publications, these 173 publications represent examples of imaginative storytelling, artistic excellence, and cultural diversity, focusing on one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as defined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Demonstrating how literature can help young readers navigate global challenges and recognize their own role in building a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable future, the exhibition highlights the power of children’s literature to promote awareness, empathy, and concrete action.
Mary Glenn, Chief, UN Publications: "UN Publications is proud to join the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in presenting this remarkable collection of children’s books dedicated to sustainability. These stories reflect the imagination, curiosity, and resolve that young people bring to the global challenges embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals. Showcasing this exhibition at United Nations Headquarters underscores our shared belief that books can spark awareness, inspire action, and empower the next generation to shape a more resilient and equitable world. Through this collaboration, we celebrate not only the creativity of authors and illustrators but also the transformative role that children’s literature plays in fostering a culture of sustainability across all societies.”
Elena Pasoli, Exhibition Manager of Bologna Children’s Book Fair: “BCBF is proud and grateful to have seen its collaboration with the United Nations grow over time, enabling us to develop projects of great value and international visibility together. Bringing this exhibition that stems from the work of Bologna Children’s Book Fair to the UN headquarters is a meaningful validation of the path we have forged over the years, testifying to the fair’s ability to bring books for children and young adults – and their publishers – well beyond the confines of the bookfair to the most authoritative institutional settings. This is proof of the universal nature of children’s literature, which has always been an essential tool for intercultural dialogue and a valuable vehicle for educating future generations.”
The initiative will be accompanied by a meeting scheduled for February 24 with three authors whose titles are featured in the exhibition – Elizabeth Zunon, Hannah Salyer, and Patricia McCormick – in conversation with Maria Russo.
Selection curated by: Bologna Children’s Book Fair
In collaboration with: Accademia Drosselmeier (Bologna)
Graphic design: Chialab (Bologna)
Organization by: Laboratorio delle Idee (Bologna)
Exhibition setup: Henoto
