2017 international book fair ends this evening

The 5th China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (CCBF) opened Friday at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center and will run through the weekend.

With the theme of "Embrace the World, Embrace the Future", this year's book fair brings together more than 360 publishers and 1,000 authors, illustrators and professionals of the print industry from home and aboard. Over 60,000 new books will be exhibited at the book fair with 100-plus events.

It's the first time for UK-based publisher I Am a Bookworm to attend the CCBF, which could also be its first step in entering the Chinese market.

"I'm excited, this is the first year I've come here," said Nick Ackland, the publisher's managing director. "We are a new publisher so it's an exciting chance to try to grow our business in China."

US-published children's magazine Highlights is a novice CCBF exhibitor, having attended the event for three years. This is its first year with a booth at the fair.

"We have been working in China for about ten years — we really enjoy the Chinese population and their love of good books," Vandana Agrawal, director of Highlights' international department told Shanghai Daily. "[Especially] Shanghai, it's such a good city and population that wants the same thing US citizens want like good books, a good education and a good future for their children."

Besides printed books, more new types of children's books have emerged in the market, such as e-books and animated books. More than an e-book, the animated book can turn a real book into an animation with the use of computer technology to make the characters speak and move. Some interactive games are also planted in the online animation to help children to think.

Ellabook, a domestic animated book developer, announced cooperation with popular American artist Misha Blaise, releasing the animated version of her book This Phenomenal Life: The Amazing Ways We Are Connected with Our Universe.

Some special events are also being held at the book fair. 

Three winners of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Awards each bring 60-plus illustration works as a featured exhibition. Winners of the 2017 Chen Bochui Awards, which were announced Thursday, present at the book fair as well.

The shortlisted illustrations of Golden Pinwheel International Young Illustrators Competition are also displayed.

A mother surnamed Wang, who was wandering around the book fair with her 4-year-old son, told Shanghai Daily that they are frequent visitors of CCBC. "He likes reading books," Wang said. "Although now it's cheaper to buy books online, we still enjoy coming here for the release of new books and getting the signatures of his favorite authors."