14 April 2026
Anew exhibition in Bologna that celebrates and documents the pioneering graphic designer and science educator Marie Neurath has today (13 April) opened at the Bologna Book Fair in the L’Espirit Nouveau,
Marie Neurath led a team of researchers, artists and writers to produce more than 80 illustrated children’s books, from 1944 to 1971. Using infographics and illustrated diagrams to explain scientific concepts, Neurath’s books mark a defining moment in information design for children.
The exhibition, curated by Professor Sue Walker, includes spreads and working materials from book series that Marie Neurath produced, including ‘Wonder World of Nature’ and ‘Wonders of the Modern World’.
Marie Neurath’s Isotype books for children were first published in the mid-20th century. Now, new Italian editions of three titles have been published in collaboration with Italian publishers, Quinto Quarto Edizione. Their launch at the 2026 Bologna Book Fair was very well-received and they are already hitting the shelves in the bookshops.
The first editions of the books are located in the Otto and Marie Neurath Isotype Collection at the University of Reading. They have been reproduced with care and expertise by a team including the Fraser Muggeridge studio and Reading's Professor Paul Luna to retain the authenticity of the originals, with improvements to the typography so that it is easier for children to read.
Professor Sue Walker, University of Reading, who developed the collaboration, said:
“This was a fantastic opportunity to build on growing interest in Marie Neurath’s work and to extend the reach of research deriving from a valued University collection. Collaboration with Quinto Quarto means that we are able to extend the reach of the Isotype children’s books in Italy and beyond.
“Marie Neurath revolutionised science education for millions of children and young people. Her approach to book design involved collaboration and teamwork, with scientists, illustrators and writers. She was involved in all stages of the work, as demonstrated by the remarkable materials in the Otto and Marie Neurath Isotype Collection at the University of Reading.
“The Collection also contains evidence of the books’ reception, including from a young reader who remarked: ‘These are wizard books’. They certainly are, and Quinto Quarto Edizione and I are delighted to introduce Marie Neurath’s work at the Bologna Book Fair.”
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