CCBF Debuts in Shanghai

In Search of the Next Harry Potter

SHANGHAI, Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In the spring of 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone debuted at a children's book fair in Bologna. An American publisher bought the copyright, and a magical wind swept across the world soon after, causing the Harry Potter series to enter into the Publishing Hall of Fame.

Now the Asia Pacific, a region boasting a huge population of young readers, will welcome the debut of its own children's book event. The first CCBF is to take place at the Shanghai Mart Exhibition Center 7-9 November this year, greeting professionals and book fans home and abroad. The industry professionals are keen to witness the birth of any new super bestseller at the event.

Children's book copyright trading in AP

Statistics in the 2012 Publishing Industry Analysis Report by The State Administration of Radio Film and Television of China (SARFT) showed that 9,000 more titles of children's books were published in China in 2012 than the previous year, representing an annual increase of 40.4%, offering a stronger performance than the average 12% increase of overall published titles. Since 2013, 47,000 titles of children's books have been filed at SARFT, accounting for 20.9% of total filed titles in the country. Now the continued strong momentum of children's books represents a key part of China's publishing industry.

CCBF, jointly launched by the Shanghai News and Press Bureau, CEPMG, China Universal Press & Publishing Co. Ltd. and managed by Reed Exhibitions as a sister event to Shanghai Book Fair and London Book Fair, will usher in the first major children's book fair in AP covering books, audio/video, entertainment, and education products and linking up copyright trade, authors, and reading activities.

A golden key to open up great possibilities in China and the world at large

CCBF is expected by the industry to be the golden key to open up huge possibilities for Chinese authors to embrace the world and for the world to make sorties into the Chinese market.

Hubei Children's Press and six leading children's books publishers in East China will join hands and launch the Yang Hongying Zone at the event. Yang is the hottest children's author in China. Her leading work Diary of a Smiling Cat has sold more than 20 million copies, a marketing feat that shook the industry. The influence of her works is also growing beyond China, with Harper Collins and The Egmont Group buying up her copyright and publishing her works in multiple languages. It is expected that Yang's works will expand even wider into international markets on the strong copyright platform of CCBF.

"Now we are witnessing a boom of children's books publishing in China," said New Buds Publishing House chief Ma Mei. "There are many players in the market. Globalization boosts cultural exchange. Children around the world think in the same way; therefore there is no huge cultural difference in children's world. This fact helps boost the import and export of children's books."

New Buds Publishing House will showcase a range of new books at the event, including Chinese Ethic Groups' Mythology Illustrated, Traditional Chinese Tales Illustrated, and Discovery Journey. The publishing house looks to new breakthroughs in terms of working with partners from other industries and better linking up with the global publishing industry.

For foreign publishers, the Chinese market offers huge potentials. In 2012, children's books accounted for 52 of the top 100 bestselling general books in China.

Though still several months away from the event in November, overseas enthusiasm is gaining strong momentum already. Dozens of children's book publishers from the U.K., the U.S., Australia, Spain, France, Belgium, India, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia, including leading industry players such as the U.K. Publishers' Association, CENGAGE Learning, McGraw-Hill Companies, Oxford University Press, Harper Collins, Hachette S.A., Garnet Education, and Benesse have all registered with the event. On top of bringing with them leading international children's titles, they also hope they can find the next Harry Potter in this ancient oriental land.

CCBF Best Children's Book Awards

China's most popular children's literature author Yang Hongying has taken over Mo Yan, the Chinese Nobel laurite, as China’s top market value author of 2012, a signal that children's books are seeing a golden age of development. Against this backdrop, looking for good titles and authors at CCBF, the vantage point of a strategically important AP region, is the natural choice of the industry.

CCBF launches the CCBF Best Children's Book Awards, where leading authors and publishers across the world will honor 20 titles based on content, design, overall quality, and unique features. These titles are sure to attract the attention of publishers and children book fans alike.

The selection activity attracts leading players to the event, all bringing their latest and best works. The event also provides an opportunity for close-range contact with leading publishers, authors, translators, and illustrators home and abroad. You are welcome to witness a new boom in the hottest children's titles.

For more information on CCBF, please visit www.ccbookfair.com