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THE SHORTLIST
W
ith judges unable to separate the top contenders, this award is shared between the UK’s biggest high street
children’s bookseller and a dynamic indie in London. Waterstones, a winner for the first time since
2019, is recognised for the rejuvenation of its children’s bookselling. It took a good share of the year’s biggest children’s books and has jumped on the TikTok phenomenon, including through a BookTokFest. But it was work with new voices that most caught the eye, which was boosted by its Children’s Laureate, Book Prize and Book of the Month and Year initiatives. They all make an enormous difference, not just
to children and Waterstones’ own performance but to authors and publishers. “If anyone doubted the importance of Waterstones to the children’s book market, the reopening of the high street in 2022 proved them wrong,” said one publishing
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sales director. “Their all-round performance was fantastic,” agreed the judges. “They break books in a way no one else does.” Round Table Books, the Brixton-based commu-
nity interest company founded by children’s publisher Knights Of, is only four years old but has already done a huge amount to diversify children’s books by race, sex, disability and more. It took the bold decision to move location in 2022 to be closer to its community and was rewarded by a substantial increase in sales—though the shop has always been about much more than commercial results. Outreach included school events, a festival with Spread the Word and a pay-it-forward bookshelf to gift books to under- privileged children. “Round Table Books is a truly amazing business
with incredible passion and commitment,” said the judges. “They have set their mind on what they wanted to achieve—and they have done it.”
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