SPONSOR
DESCRIPTION
OVERVIEW
BOOKBUGS AND DRAGON TALES With just three full years of trading, two of them blighted by Covid-19, Norwich indie Bookbugs and Dragon Tales is the youngest bookseller on this list. In September, as expenses mounted, it launched a crowdfunding campaign and received an unlikely donation from Hollywood star Russell Crowe, leading to a spike in sales and media coverage.
THE BOOK NOOK A three-time Nibbies winner, The Book Nook in Hove reached its teenage years in 2022. There was double- digit trading growth and a big boost in sales to schools. The Book Nook’s energetic team also stepped up their newslet- ters and social media and did a lot of valuable work to support underprivileged local families and refugee children in the area.
THE EDINBURGH BOOKSHOP Remarkably, this Edinburgh indie is shortlisted for a 10th consecutive year—testament to its tireless work for local children and families. It packs an array of author events, clubs and storytelling sessions into just 450 square feet of welcoming and inclusive shop space, and had its biggest ever schools and festivals programmes in 2022.
ROUND TABLE BOOKS Round Table Books, a Brixton- based community interest company founded by children’s publisher Knights Of, appears on this shortlist for the first time. It moved premises in 2022 to get closer to its community and nearly doubled its sales. Events and partner- ships across London supported its efforts to champion books that represent a full diversity of children’s experiences.
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WATERSTONES Waterstones continued the revitalisation of its children’s offer. A new BookTokFest helped it capitalise on the TikTok phenomenon, while A F Steadman’s Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, its Children’s Book of the Year, was a standout performer. “They are unique as booksellers in their ability to shake up the market and make authors’ dreams come true,” said one publisher.
BOOKS2DOOR Online retailer Books2Door, also shortlisted for the Book Retailer of the Year award, has doubled its sales in the past two years, having attracted thousands of new shoppers during Covid-19 lockdowns. Its high-discount box-sets have been attractive options as the cost-of-living crisis mounts, and online marketing, includ- ing great leverage of TikTok, is a core strength.
THE CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP This Muswell Hill institution is the oldest-running children’s bookshop in the country and will turn 50 year in 2024. It will do so in great shape, with close ties with customers, schools, authors and publish- ers alike. Highlights in 2022 included events with children’s publishing A-listers including Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen and Cressida Cowell.
HALFWAY UP THE STAIRS This children’s bookshop is a big part of cultural and family life in Greystones in Ireland and, thanks to growing school orders and subscriptions, beyond the town as well. It ran online book salons as well as several dozen in-person events, and gave a warm welcome to Ukrainian refugees in the region. Window displays are a particular strength of the team.
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