Bologna 2024: A Swinging Spring, But Challenges Remain for Middle Grade

Publishers are eager to return to business as usual after the disruption and lingering effects of the Covid crisis. For Rosemary Stimola, owner of Stimola Literary Studio, "It was my first Bologna in five years, since before the pandemic. Everyone is very happy to see people-it feels so wonderful to see faces and hug people."

Judy Brunsek, sales and marketing director at Canada's Owlkids, said, "We're all trying to figure out, what's the new normal? During the pandemic people were going crazy for books. But now all the funding is gone and sales are flatter. What are we using for comparison year over year? The pandemic is finally behind us and I'm thinking this is the baseline year."