Scholastic CEO Peter Warwick recently participated in a panel, Global Growth in Graphic Novels, at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, the world’s leading trade fair for the children’s publishing industry, held from March 31 to April 3, 2025.
Moderated by Ed Nawotka, Senior International and Bookselling Editor at Publishers Weekly, Peter was joined by Renata Gorgani, CEO and Publisher, Editrice Il Castoro. You can read the full recap of their conversation in Publishers Weekly: Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2025: Going Graphic.
During Peter’s conversation with Ed and Renata, they discussed the growing significance of graphic novels in children's publishing. Peter emphasized the remarkable success of graphic novels, noting the 20th anniversary of Scholastic's Graphix imprint and that Dav Pilkey's latest book has sold over two and a half million copies worldwide since its release in December.
“Graphic novels have -- and will continue to -- expand storytelling,” Peter explained. “These books expand beyond traditional superhero stories to include a wide range of genres and themes, such as memoirs, historical fiction, science fiction, and social issues. This diversity has and will continue to attract a broader audience and allow for more creative storytelling.”
Additionally, Peter highlighted how the format has proven its worth in developing readers, helping to bridge the gap between screen time and reading. This sentiment was echoed by Renata Gorgani, CEO of Editrice Il Castoro, who shared the transformative impact of graphic novels in Italy. As research from the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™ consistently affirms, kids are increasingly gravitating toward graphic novel and comic book formats. Since 2018, the number of kids who say they want to read graphic novels has risen from 22% to 37%, and our creators intend to follow this trend and continue meeting that demand.
