SPONSOR
DESCRIPTION
OF THE YEAR
THE SHORTLIST
T
he Bookery’s triumph here is part of a very special double, alongside its Independent Bookshop title. Owned by its Crediton community
since 2013 and run as a not-for-profit social enterprise, The Bookery epitomises the role of high-street indies at the heart of children’s and parents’ lives. It grew its kids’ book sales by more than 50% in 2021, and ran a host of in-store author events, reading groups and writing sessions after lockdowns eased. This is a shop that reaches further than local
PICTURED THE HUB AT THE BOOKERY, WHICH OFFERS CREATIVES SPACE TO WORK
book enthusiasts. It works with schools on author visits, workshops, book fairs, library selections and much more. In a wide rural catchment with large areas of social deprivation, it makes events accessible, and is particularly good at encouraging reluctant or hesitant young readers. A big virtual World Book Day event engaged around 3,000 children, and with support from publishers,
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local businesses and crowdfunding campaigns, it gave away more than a thousand books in 2021. “The Bookery could inspire any other bookshop
that wants to be led by the community and go beyond the usual base of customers,” said the judges. “It knows the power of books to change children’s lives, and absolutely nails everything it does.”
HIGHLY COMMENDED in this category is Retford’s Wonderland Bookshop. Like The Bookery, it goes way above selling books, with passion- ate support for children’s literacy and love of reading. “Inclusivity is in the shop’s DNA,” said the judges. “Children’s bookshops should be magical spaces—this one absolutely is.” Judges noted the exceptional strength right
across this category, and applauded retailers’ resilience during all the challenges of 2020 and 2021: “These are all fantastic businesses.”
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