The Italian Hall at the US Book Show

The Italian Trade Agency of Chicago, in conjunction with its trade mission of the Publishing Task Force, brought 26 Italian publishers and publishing services companies to the inaugural US Book Show, the digital trade show sponsored by Publishers Weekly magazine

The show’s primary focus – similar to the previous Book Expo trade shows – was on new and upcoming titles from publishers that will be released for the fourth quarter of the year: from August to December 2021. The trade show took place from May 25th to May 27th, 2021.

ITA sponsored the Italian Hall, which was comprised of the publishers’ booth and a main booth for the Publishing Task Force.

Visitors to the US BookShow, book professionals from all areas of the publishing industry were able to browse all the latest new book releases from Italian publishers. The titles range across all categories and markets. Visitors to the main booth also had the possibility to preview and experience the greatly enhanced functions of the Italbooks.com website, the interactive platform for the exchange of information and services in the international rights market.

If you are a U.S. publisher, printing company, literary/rights agent, or language translator – or if you are involved in the publishing industry in any way, please contact us at info@italbooks.com. Browse the company and book title databases and create your company profile on www.italbooks.com. As a registered user,  you will be able to research rights availability, auxiliary services, and products posted by our other members of our Italbooks community. In addition, you will be able to interact and identify potential Italian business partners in a safe digital environment. 

The Italian Hall was sponsored by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) offices of Chicago and Rome, in collaboration with the Italian Publishers Association (AIE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Co-operation

Here the companies in the Italian Hall at the US Book Show, 2021

Arte in Fiaba (Bibliolibro’):  Small and growing, environmentally conscious, independent publisher with a curated list of titles focusing on children’s books, including picture books. Imagination and creativity are encouraged along with storylines that both educate and entertain. Authors include Valentina Rizzi, Fer Quirarte and Cristina Marsi
AG Book Publishing:  Small independent press based in Rome, Italy. While publishing both fiction and non-fiction, AG’s focus is on the following categories: nature & the environment, the performing arts, children’s and YA, and social and educational issues. New titles this year include: children’s titles on heart health, Coronavirus, story collections, along with fiction, art & poetry
Atlantyca Entertainment: As a leading transmedia company based in Italy, Atlantyca Entertainment encompasses Production & Distribution, Licensing, Publishing, Foreign Rights Sales, and Atlantyca Live. The company’s high-profile licenses include the Geronimo Stilton, Bat Pat and Berry Bees brands and all of its franchises. The Atlantyca Publishing division has produced more than 400 titles in 10 years, working with some of the largest publishers in Italy – Mondadori, Rizzoli, Fabbri, Piemme, and DeAgostini. The Foreign Rights division is active in securing sales of publishing rights for the Geronimo Stilton franchise and for over 1700 additional titles for other IP-owned properties, with translations in over 50 languages.
Black Cat Cideb Publishing: part of De Agostini Publishing Group, is a world leader in the production of graded readers for the study of foreign languages. Our extensive list includes instruction for English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian as a second language. Formats range from graded readers for secondary school textbook adoption, to the preparation materials for examinations that lead to certification in culture and grammar.
Bonfirraro Editore: Since 1986 has distinguished itself for its quality fiction. In addition, a strong and extensive list has been developed in romance, mystery, historical romance, current events, politics, and contemporary history, with an emphasis on issues of strong social impact.
Corraini Edizioni: With a focus on blending art with book publishing, Corraini Edizioni has flourished over the past 40 years. In its unique position as both an art gallery and a publisher, Corraini has created an extensive list including innovative illustrated children’s books, narrative non-fiction, humor, and art. Inspired by Bruno Munari, Corraini continues to work with contemporary artists, illustrators and designers in publishing to an international audience.
DeA Planeta Libri is a joint venture of De Agostini Editore S.p.A. and Grupo Planeta.  DeA Planeta Libri’s titles include children’s and YA’s literature, Italian and foreign fiction, popular non-fiction, and essays under the imprints DeA, De Agostini, UTET, AMZ, Abracadabra. Major categories include Action & Adventure, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, Mysteries and Thrillers, Narrative and General Fiction, Romance, Historical Romance, and Essays and Popular Science.
Edi·Ermes: Medical-scientific publisher for both the academic textbooks and professional markets. Edi Ermes is a  leader among Italian scientific publishers. The web platform Virtual Campus offers a constantly updated opportunity for learning and navigating through interactive education material. The company also publishes journals in the medical/health fields: Sport&Medicina, a trimonthly journal and leading title in the field of sports medicine, and Il Fisioterapista, a bimonthly publication, well known by rehabilitation sector professionals
Editore XY.IT: Established in 2006 and operating under three different imprints, Editore XY.IT publishes a combination of cultural, fiction, and non-fiction titles across a wide subject range.
 

Editrice Bibliografica : Founded in 1974, focuses on publishing titles for publishing professionals, communications and research, and a special focus on library science. Founded with the mission of publishing bibliographies and catalogs of active titles, Editrice Bibliografica specializes in titles for professional formation in both library science and publishing. Their growing catalogue also includes essays and general interest level studies of historical events, popular cultural appeal, and science history. They have also expanded to include more general-interest titles with a popular appeal.
Editrice Il Castoro, founded in 1993, this independent publisher has grown to publish across many categories. Since 1999, Il Castoro has been dedicated to the production of children’s books for all ages, including fiction, picture books, and YA novels, and graphic novels. Their children’s books aim to promote the pleasure of reading, to encourage children’s curiosity about contemporary matters, and develop a love of reading for the readers of tomorrow. They are renowned for multi-awarded titles that provide great literary quality and highly original illustrations. They select the very best of Italian children’s writers and illustrators and we are proud to publish many international bestsellers like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork diaries, Pete the cat, Elephant and Piggie. Their Cinema Catalogue includes over 490 titles, published in conjunction with Italy’s major film festivals and institutions (Such as Venice Film Festival and National Cinema Museum of Turin). “Il Castoro Cinema“ Collection, with over 235 titles, represents the world’s most complete series of monographs on filmmakers
 

Emons Italia is an independent publishing house specializing in audiobooks read by some of Italy’s greatest authors and actors, German mystery thrillers, children’s books with audio, and guidebooks.
Edizioni Centro Studi Erickson specializes in school education, special needs, emotional development, psychology, parenting, and social work. Erickson publishes manuals, activity books, educational games, tools, and training courses for teachers, parents, professionals.

 

 
Franco Cosimo Panini Editore, Based in Modena, has been publishing books on art and culture since  1989. It has a comprehensive catalogue, rich in cultural subjects, focusing on the fields of art — including the Mirabilia Italiae series of Italian historical monuments and the facsimile editions of Renaissance titles in the La Biblioteca Impossibile series – and a strong children’s list and the ever-popular Comix series. The children’s list includes popular series for all ages: Ferrari, Pimpa, and Giulio Coniglio series. Franco Cosimo Panini Editore is also the Italian publisher of the Calvin & Hobbes series.

 
Gallucci Editore is an Italian publisher of books for children and young readers, from toddler to young adults. The wide range of titles includes illustrated, pop-up, activity books, and books with CD and DVD. Gallucci has sought, with passion and care, to develop an outstanding list, collaborating with contemporary authors, illustrators, and musicians.

 
The Laura Ceccacci Agency is a full-service literary agency operating in Rome, Italy. The agency represents quality writing in Italy and abroad, working closely with our authors at all stages of their career

 
GRUPPO MONDADORI is a publisher of fiction and non-fiction: Italian and foreign literature, biographies, poetry, art, travel, philosophy, politics, criticism and children’s books. All under six imprints: Mondadori, Rizzoli, Einaudi, Mondadori Electa, Piemme, Sperling & Kupfer

 
Otago Agency, Founded in 2010, Otago is a literary agency based in Bologna, Italy. We represent authors in Italy and abroad, foreign publishers and literary agencies in the Italian market, and we manage the foreign rights of some independent Italian publishing houses.
Photo Travel Editions is an Italian publishing house founded in 2018. The editorial mission focuses on historical non-fiction, contemporary fiction, poetry, photographic books, and the re-edition of rare books.
Simebooks is an Italian publishing company specializing in travel, tourism, cooking, and children’s literature. All of our titles, tourist guides, and our accessory lines of journals, magnets, and postcards are created to amaze and delight the reader through the beauty of the Italian scenery and its extraordinary culture. Many titles are multilingual editions. Simebooks was started by Giovanni Simeone, photographer and founder of the photography studio Simephoto. The focus on high-quality photography is the basis for Simebooks successful publishing program.

 
Storie Cucite SRLS was founded in 2016 by Luisa Carretti and Patrizia Frassinato and identifies itself as a startup in the publishing world. As an independent children’s publishing house, Storie Cucite brings the worlds of enriching experiences to all children, through literature and developmental materials. It publishes illustrated books, and narrative for children of school age, offering nursery rhymes and short stories created with linguistic games to reveal that the Italian language is a wonderful tool for creative freedom ( as in I Logogrifi series); short illustrated stories on issues related to growing up and family life, also written with the support of experts (series Dritto&Rovescio). In addition, Storie Cucite is one of the few publishing houses in Italy to have an accessible catalogue thanks to the publication of Inbook. Inbooks are illustrated books completely expressed in AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) symbols according to the model of the Inbook Study Centre in Milan, created to make reading accessible to all readers
White Star was founded in 1984 and specializes in fine photographic books for adults and with the White Star Kids imprint a line of non-fiction books for children. In addition, the company has launched a new imprint: Vivida, focusing on self-help and esoteric titles.
WriteUp Books is an Italian publisher based in Rome. Starting out as a publisher of scientific research titles for the university community, WriteUp books has greatly expanded. It now publishes in a broad range of categories, including History, Art History, Architecture, Fiction, Children’s literature, Fantasy, Biography, Self Help, and Business.
ZOOLIBRI is an independent publishing house based in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Founded in 2001, ZOOLIBRI specializes in illustrated children’s books and middle-grade readers. The list of titles reflects the dynamic team at ZOOLIBRI with experience spanning animation, illustration, film, cartoon drawing, and graphic design. ZOOLIBRI not only publishes great Italian authors and illustrators but has also been responsible for bringing to the Italian audience such authors as Benjamin Chaud, Gabriel Pacheco, Oliver Jeffers, Klaas Verplancke, Simon James, and Jon Klassen.