21/04/2026
Reflecting on an unforgettable Bologna Children’s Book Fair 🇮🇹✨
Now that a few days have passed since ended, I’ve finally had a moment to process everything. This year was truly exceptional for me and Etana Editions—it was a whirlwind of four stage appearances, portfolio reviews, and the honor of serving on the Illustrators Exhibition jury.
Running an independent publishing house can sometimes feel like a solitary journey, but in Bologna, I am always reminded that I belong to a much larger global family. 🌍❤️
This feeling of being part of something bigger began already on the flight to Italy when I met some new wonderful Finnish colleagues. It’s a shared journey built on spontaneous hallway conversations, long coffee queues, late-night dinners, and making new friends on the bus. It’s in these small moments where the magic truly happens. And there are no photos of some of the most precious moments, because when you’re truly living the moment, who has time to pose?
MY DEEPEST THANKS to the people who made these days so special: Elena Pasoli, Deanna Belluti, Julie Fox,
Aksel Køie, Valerie Picard, Kati Vas, Sam McCullen, Ulla Saar, Daniela Olejnikova, Riccardo Vecchio, Cho Sunkyung, Alise Nīgale, Hanna Pajunen, Tuomas Sorjamaa, Friederike Ridegh, Saara Tiuraniemi, Sakari Rautiainen, Mirkka Hynninen, Maroy Girls
Thank you to everyone who joined the panels or shared their work during the portfolio reviews. I’ve returned home with a mind full of inspiration and a heart full of new ideas.
See you next year, Bologna! 📚🚀
