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  


SMALL PRESS OF THE YEAR SWEET CHERRY


THE SHORTLIST HIGHLY COMMENDED


Magic Cat Publishing LONDON


And Other Stories NORTH ENGLAND


Boldwood Books LONDON


Charco Press SCOTLAND


 WALES


Little Toller Books SOUTH-WEST ENGLAND


Merrion Press ISLE OF IRELAND


September Publishing


EAST/SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND


T


he companies on this shortlist show the remarkable agility and resilience of small presses amid the pandemic, and all are winners in their own right


at the regional and country round of the award. Midlands winner Sweet Cherry scoops the


overall prize for a record year of sales and commit- ment to children’s reading through its blend of education and entertainment. Its sales topped £1m for the first time, thanks to the appeal of its books to home-learning children and parents. Exports more than doubled as it pushed into new territories, and its brand licensing programme gathered pace. A range of standout books included children’s TV brands such as NumberBlocks and AlphaBlocks, a new fiction series from Angie Lake, and easy-to-read versions of Sherlock Holmes stories that have been very popular in Asia. Sweet Cherry also shows the small press sector at its most diverse, in terms of output and


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staffing: more than half of its management are from minority ethnic backgrounds. In a region with some of Britain’s lowest literacy rates, it has worked hard to increase equal access to books and raise the confidence of young readers. “Sweet Cherry is entrepreneurial, focused


and dynamic,” said the judges. “It knows its market very well and goes after it brilliantly… it’s a properly diverse business that is absolutely genuine in its desire to get books in the hands of every child.”


HIGHLY COMMENDED in this category is Magic Cat Publishing. Founded by former Templar and Quarto duo Rachel Williams and Jenny Broom, the list made a splash in the children’s market with ideas-led publishing, beautiful production and a keen eye for licensing. “It’s hit the ground running… Magic Cat is going to be a very big deal in children’s books,” said the judges.


MEMBERS OF THE


SWEET CHERRY TEAM RAISE A GLASS ON ZOOM


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