Children’s book becomes highlight of 24th Beijing International Book Fair

Visitors enjoy children's books at the Children and Education Hall of the 24th Beijing International Book Fair, running from August 23 to 27. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

The 24th Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), which concluded on August 27, attracted over 2,500 exhibitors from 89 countries and regions. Nearly 300,000 people visited the five-day book fair and 5,262 copyright deals were made between Chinese and overseas publishers, up by 4.9 percent on a year-on-year basis.

One of the most popular themed halls this year was the Children and Education Hall, in which thousands of kids from different age groups and their parents were seen making the most out of the book fair.

Visitors enjoy children's books at the Children and Education Hall of the 24th Beijing International Book Fair, running from August 23 to 27. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

According to a staff member from China CITIC Press, many parents carried boxes of books home. “The books were sold out on the first day. We had to replenish immediately and add two more cashiers,” he said.

“This is my first time at the fair. I want to let my son feel the world through picture books,” a young mother of a one-and-a-half-year-old child told People’s Daily Online.

Visitors enjoy children's books at the Children and Education Hall of the 24th Beijing International Book Fair, running from August 23 to 27. (Photo/People's Daily Online)

What is more, many international publishing experts of children’s books have gathered together and shared their experiences and opinions at the BIBF International Children’s Publishing Forum.

Nicola Usborne, deputy managing director of Usborne, the largest independent children’s book publisher in the UK, described their intention to make their books appear “delicious” in order to educate and inspire as many children as possible. Humor and other child-friendly visual designs are usually used to tell good stories.

Chinese publishers have shown determination to promote better original children’s book as well. Bai Bing, chief editor of Jieli Publishing House, said they have recently published several highly-commended picture books, such as “Don’t Let Frogs Skip Rope,” “Little Red Riding Hood Out of the Forest,” and “Turtle Family to See the Sea.” More efforts to broaden local children’s international horizon will be made from now on.