Tag Archives: BCBF

DU in Italy: SOIS Students at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair

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In early April, an intrepid group of SOIS students set off on a trek across the globe in search of the newest and best literature for young people. Sounds exciting, right? Well, it is! New books and gelato around every corner. Getting to meet world famous authors and stuff yourself with tortellini. Learning from and with a group of passionate book-people and exploring a new country with your colleagues.

Maybe you’ll join us in 2027? Here’s what you can expect…

Exploring Bologna: Gorgeous Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and home to the oldest university in the world (University of Bologna was founded in 1088!). Known as the Fat City (for mouthwatering food), the Red City (for the red-tiled roofs and leftist politics), and the Learned City (for the university), Bologna has something for everyone’s tastes. Explore the endless list of restaurants and markets, but be sure to try the tortellini or Bolognese that the region is known for. Wander the very-walkable city for amazing architectural sites spanning from the Etruscans to modern times. The stunning Biblioteca Salborsa (main library) and associated city government buildings are some of my favorite spots to explore. Or spend your first day in one (or many) of the free museums dotting the city—occupying your mind and belly is a great way to fight the first day jet lag!

Small cup of green gelato
Vegan pistachio gelato–yum!
Libreria Per Raggazi, Bologna (my favorite children’s book store in the city.)
This excavation is hiding right under the main library, with ruins going back to the the 1st century BC.

Excursion to Florence: Bologna is a great jumping off point to explore the region. In past years, DU students have ventured to Modena, Verona, Florence, Ravenna, and more. This year, the group decided on a day in Florence to explore museums, gardens, churches, and more. The ItaliaRail express train gets you there in just 37 minutes and gives plenty of time to get your 20,000 steps in before heading back to Bologna.

A visit to the Pitti Palace
Famous sandwiches of Italy 🙂
View of Florence from the Boboli Gardens

BCBF Day 1: Then to the main event—book fair day. The class joined thousands of book industry professionals in a celebration and exploration of kid lit from around the world for the 63rd year of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Did you know nearly 40% of all international kid’s book rights are bought and sold right here? The scope and scale of the event are massive, spanning five halls of the sprawling Bologna Fiere conference complex. Day one highlights include: the lovely opening ceremonies, early childhood reading experiences through play and fairytales, and a fantastic program focusing on children’s reading habits from around the world (and what we can learn from each other’s data).

BCBF Day 2: More to see and do with the global community of book lovers! The fair includes awards, programming, author and illustrator presentations, visual showcases, and publisher booths (for showing off and the buying/selling of international book rights). Day two highlights include: the new BBPLUS AI Summit, programming focused on reading promotion, and Jacqueline Woodson’s in conversation with Maria Russo on “The Global Majority and the Future of International Children’s Publishing.”                                                      

Some familiar DU faces at an early literacy event.

Individual travel: SOIS students branched out on their own this year too, exploring Rome and Venice on their free day or before/after the official class travel. If you’re already headed to Italy, you should check some extra things off the bucket list while you’re traveling, right?

Sneak Peek at 2027: Keep an eye out for an official Information Session in Fall 2026 to discuss the Spring 2027 course, including coursework, itinerary, associated costs, and more. And save the date for travel—BCBF 2027 will take place April 5-8, 2027, with Poland as the guest of honor country. Are you an SOIS alum or interested in participating as a student at large? Reach out to butler@dom.edu with questions. Arrivederci, friends!

Mark Your Calendar: Spring events with BCLC

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Spring is here! And while it may be the cold and drizzly version at the moment, the leaves and flowers phase is just around the corner, right? (RIGHT???)

As we await the outdoor blooms, there are lots of interesting things popping up around the Butler Center and beyond to keep us busy in the meantime.

Butler Scholarship

Are you a DU SOIS student from an underrepresented group in librarianship? Studying youth literature? Committed to serving the kids in your community or school library? Applications are being accepted for the Butler Youth Services Scholarship until May 29, 2026. For more information, head to the BCLC website or contact us at butler@dom.edu.

A Chat with Donna Seaman

Join us as the DU English Department and Butler Children’s Literature Center welcome Donna Seaman, Editor-in-Chief and Adult Books Editor for Booklist, for a talk about and readings from her memoir, River of Books: A Life in Reading. Seaman will discuss her work for Booklist and the American Library Association, books and book reviews, and anything else that arises in the Q&A portion of the program.

About Donna Seaman:

Donna Seaman is Editor-in-Chief and Adult Books Editor for Booklist, published in Chicago by the American Library Association. A recipient of the Louis Shores Award for Excellence in Book Reviewing and the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award, Seaman is on the Content Leadership Team for the American Writers Museum and an adjunct creative writing professor at Northwestern University. Seaman’s author interviews are collected in Writers on the Air: Conversations about Books and she is the author of Identity Unknown: Rediscovering Seven American Women Artists and River of Books: A Life in Reading. 

Register here to join us (in person or via Zoom). Dominican students and alumni receive first consideration for admission.

2026 Butler/Follett Lecture

Dominican’s School of Information Studies and Butler Children’s Literature Center are thrilled to welcome Dr. Lorena Camargo Gonzalez for a combined Butler/Follett Lecture: “From Abuela’s Stories to Tomorrow’s Shelves: Latinx Children’s Literature Across Time” 

Dr. Camargo Gonzalez will examine the historical and cultural trajectories of Latinx children’s literature, beginning with intergenerational oral traditions and moving through key publishing milestones to contemporary movements for representation and equity. By analyzing themes of identity, language, diaspora, and activism, this lecture highlights both the progress made and the ongoing challenges shaping the field’s future. 

*Registration for this event opens March 16, 2026.

  • Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. with a dessert reception to follow
  • Location: Dominican University, Chicago Campus (Pilsen)
    1805 S Paulina St 
    Chicago, IL 60608
    *Street parking available on 17th, 18th, and 19th Streets

About Dr. Lorena Camargo Gonzalez

Lorena Camargo Gonzalez [she/her/ella] is an Assistant Professor of Undergraduate Studies in Education and Gender Equity at Sacramento State University and the 2025-2026 Follett Chair for the School of Information Studies at Dominican University. She earned her Ph.D. in Education from UCLA with a focus on Race and Ethnic Studies and is a proud first-generation college graduate and immigrant. Her interdisciplinary research centers on Latinx children’s literature, particularly questions of representation, identity, and storytelling. She also examines the role of Latinx librarian activism in advancing racial justice and supporting culturally sustaining learning spaces for young readers. Her work appears in publications such as the Handbook of Latinos and Education, Urban Education, and the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education.   

Bologna Children’s Book Fair

In mid-April, join us (via social media) as SOIS and the BCLC explore the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and beyond. Students will engage with publishing and youth literature experts from around the world to celebrate the newest and best in global youth literature.

Follow the adventure on:

Butler Children’s Literature Center

                                                                           

    


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