As ever, we're choosing our Publisher of the Year 2019 across three categories (Picture books, chapter books and comic / graphic novels) - so let's take a dig into the stats and see who came up with the most "Book of the Week" wins in those categories, thus establishing themselves as our Publisher / Imprint of the Year.
It was a very hard-fought contest last year, with a total of:
98 Picture Book of the Week Winners
39 Chapter Book of the Week Winners
19 Comic / Graphic Novel of the Week Winners.
Once again, as in 2018 it was fantastic to see some new publishers and imprints shouldering some of the big guns out of the way, but there was a clear winner in each category, so let's take a look at each in turn.
Our Picture Book Publisher of the Year.
In third place: Four publishers / Imprints held joint honours with 4 Picture Book of the Week Wins Each. They were:
- Orchard Books
- Two Hoots Books
- Wide Eyed Editions
- Frances Lincoln Children's Books
So our Bronze Picture Book Award and congratulations to you!
In Second Place - Again three publishers / imprints duked it out for our Silver Award with 5 Picture Book of the Week Wins, and they were:
- Templar Publishing
- Flying Eye Books
- Chronicle Kids
Again, huge congratulations on such a hard-fought contest.
Our clear winner in the Picture Book of the Year category with 8 Picture Book of the Week wins was:
- Studio Press!
...with a fantastic range of books catering for all our geeky and diverse interests. Congratulations to the team at Studio Press for a fantastic win!
Now to our Chapter Book of the Year Publishers and a Bronze to a publisher who notched up 3 Chapter Book of the Week wins, as well as doing fantastically in the picture book category. Bronze honours and congratulations to:
- Nosy Crow Books
Our Silver award in the Chapter Book Category goes to a publisher who notched up FOUR Chapter Book of the Week wins in 2019. Congratulations to:
- Chicken House Books
Last but by no means least, our Publisher of the Year for Chapter Books pretty much ruling the field with 8 Chapter Book of the Week wins in 2019 is:
- OUP / Oxford Children's Books
Huge huge congratulations to a hard-working team who are really producing some of the most glorious chapter books for emergent solo readers, middle grade and YA.
Finally an extra category this year, celebrating the best in Comics Publishing. We have had 19 Comic / Graphic Novel wins this year so who got the Bronze?
In Joint 3rd Place this year, two mighty publishing powerhouses from my home town duke it out with 3 Comic / Graphic Novel of the Week wins for 2019. Huge congratulations to:
- David Fickling Books
- Rebellion Publishing
...for once again not only producing some of the brightest and best kid comics out there, but preserving the rich history of Brit comics for future generations to come. Congrats all!
In 2nd Place, nabbing our Silver Award with 4 Comic / Graphic Novel of the Week wins:
- Dark Horse Comics
Finally, the gold for Comic / Graphic Novel Publisher of the Year probably comes as no surprise to anyone. It's the mighty...
- Marvel
...notching up 5 Graphic Novel / Comic of the Week wins and only just edging ahead of Dark Horse.
A huge cheer, massive congratulations and kudos to all our winners, a colossal thanks for all the brilliant books and we look forward to working with you all again in 2020. Here's the full breakdown from the blog in Spreadsheet format to tickle and entertain you (click on the image to see the large version):
