A highlight at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair: Translation, curiosity, and stories that travel
The Translators Café once again proved to be a vibrant meeting place for dialogue across languages and literary cultures. One of the highlights was NORLA’s panel discussion bringing together author Jostein Gaarder, author and illustrator Kristin Roskifte, translator and lecturer in Norwegian Andrea Romanzi and NORLA Director Margit Walsø.
The conversation revolved around key questions shaping today’s international book landscape: How do stories cross borders? What role do translators and publishers play in shaping literary exchange? And how can children’s literature contribute to greater diversity and understanding?
A central theme throughout the panel was the importance of curiosity: both in writing and in reading. Literature, the panelists agreed, should not only tell stories but also invite questions. This idea was powerfully illustrated by Jostein Gaarder, who reflected on the unexpected global success of Sophie’s World. Originally written in just three months, the book’s international breakthrough began in Bologna, where it first attracted the attention of a foreign publisher (Germany’s Hanser Verlag). More than 30 years later, it remains a testament to how stories can resonate far beyond their original context.
NORLA-Director Margit Walsø emphasized the crucial role of translating children’s literature. Stories written for young readers are not only essential for developing reading skills, but also for opening doors to new perspectives at an early age. In this sense, translation is not simply a technical process: it is a cultural bridge.
Andrea Romanzi highlighted the dynamic exchange that translation enables. As a translator and lecturer, he pointed to the importance of building strong networks between countries, allowing literature to travel and evolve. Through translation, Norwegian literature finds new audiences abroad, while at the same time being enriched by the perspectives of other cultures. He also stressed the need to support and train the next generation of translators, ensuring that this exchange continues.
Kristin Roskifte offered a visual perspective on storytelling. With her internationally acclaimed book Everybody Counts, translated into more than 40 languages, she demonstrated how images can transcend linguistic barriers. Her work shows that even without many words, stories can remain open, inclusive, and universally engaging.
Across all contributions, one message stood out: stories are inherently universal, but they rely on translators, publishers, and readers to truly come alive across languages and cultures. In a time when international dialogue is more important than ever, children’s literature – and those who bring it across border – play a vital role in connecting people.
The session at the Translators Café not only highlighted the power of storytelling, but also celebrated the collaborative effort behind every translated book. It was a reminder that literature does not simply travel: it is carried, shaped, and reimagined by those who believe in its importance.
