Abbey will be using the event to introduce its new look publishing operation, which has recently been expanded to include several new key executives.

Among the personnel attending the festival will be UK and Export Sales Director Donald Smith, who has joined the company from Kingfisher Publications; International Sales Director Judith Tinsley, latterly at Chrysalis Children's Books, and Joint Managing Director James Harding.

Operating from Stand Number B 53 (Hall 27), Abbey's representatives will be at the fair to both sell and acquire programming and to promote the company's growing catalogue of children's brands.

Abbey Home Media's product roster will be spearheaded by the multi media launch of Wide Eye, the Early Learning Programme which to date has sold over a million packs in 30 different countries. Set in Natterjack Forest, a magical place that is home to a delightful cast of unusual and endearing animal characters, the Wide Eye adventures teach skills and concepts in a gentle and child-friendly way. The extensive range of products offers every opportunity for children to read look, listen and do.

Comprising hardback and paperback books, activity books, videos, audios and a whole range of complementary merchandise, the brand will be strengthened still further by the forthcoming Wide Eye television series. Co-produced with the BBC and made by the BAFTA award-winning King Rollo Films (Spot, Maisie), the 26 x 10 minutes 2D animation is due to air on CBBC and BBC2 this autumn.

Aside from the launch of Wide Eye, Abbey Home Media will be actively promoting the following brands at this year's Bologna Fair:

Baby Bright: A revolutionary new infant learning range developed in conjunction with Professor Annette Karmiloff-Smith, Head of the Neurocognitive Development Unit at Great Ormond Street Hospital and one of the world's leading authorities in baby development. Strong on fun and entertainment, the range of books, audios and videos is full of attractive colours, exciting textures, touch, sensation and music designed to maximise babies' attention span and develop their curiosity.

Mother Goose: Created by experts in infant development, this superb range of books, videos, audios and toys uses music to introduce newborn babies, toddlers and young children up to the age of 3 to the world of nursery rhymes and early learning. Music, picture animation, activity and drama build on children's developing ability in physical, listening, visual and verbal skills.

My First Rhymes: Designed for children aged 2 to 4, this enchanting brand comprises two formats: a colorful padded cloth book featuring a collection of fun, interactive, sing-song rhymes that parents and children can share and a novelty board book combining bright bold pictures with plenty of engaging novelty features.

Artyfacts: Aimed at the 6 - 9 year age group, this is an innovative series of art and craft books - with a difference. Titles cover twelve curriculum-linked subjects, from the ever popular world of creepy-crawlies to new and exciting modern technologies and space travel, and each page features not only an informative fact section but step-by-step instructions for exciting art and model-making activities that bring science to life.

In addition to the above, Abbey Home Media will also be presenting the following audio and video products at Bologna: MacDonald's Farm; Fun Song Factory; Lost In the Snow; A Golden Treasury Of Nursery Rhymes and A Day Full Of Songs.

Ian and Anne Miles, the co-founders of the Abbey Home Media Group, have spent 13 years working with television broadcasters to develop award-winning television programming. Recently re-established under these original owners, the company is recognised as one of the UK's most vibrant forces in international children's publishing.