There’s a certain magic about beautifully illustrated children’s books, something that can set your child’s imagination soaring for a life of loving reading. With reading and literacy high on everyone’s list, when a small South African independent publisher wins the Best Children’s Book Publisher Africa at the prestigious Bologna Children’s Book Fair, you know they are doing something right!
Excitement ran high at the official awards ceremony earlier this month in Italy and this being the second year that Bumble Books, (the children’s imprint of Publishing Print Matters) had been nominated, owner Robin Stuart-Clark, had some nail-biting moments!
Winning this award is a huge accolade for the years of creative vision that Stuart-Clark, from Noordhoek, Cape Town, has put into this imprint and in his goal of publishing books that can become a legacy. Bumble Books provides a platform for new South African illustrators and authors to showcase their work internationally, with an emphasis upon fun and entertainment. The range offers exquisitely illustrated stories that leap off the page, capturing the imagination of both children and adults.
Says Stuart-Clark; “This international award not only recognises Bumble Books but more importantly also acknowledges the depth of both the Illustrative and literary talent we have in South Africa: we are world class and we need to think beyond our borders. Our stories can travel, but we’re not using this talent.’
The Bologna Best Children’s Publisher of the Year Prize – BOP – acknowledges the most significant publishers in each of the six areas of the world: Africa, Central and South America, North America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Instituted by Bologna Children’s Book Fair in partnership with AIE – Italian Publishers Association – the prize is awarded to those publishers who have most distinguished themselves for their creative and publishing excellence over the year, showing originality as well as professional and intellectual skills.
Already the delightful Bumble children’s books are making waves with Table Mountain’s Holiday by Lucy Stuart-Clark nominated for the2013 Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrator’s Exhibition, The PossibiliTree by Tamlyn Young voted as one of two best books by Jay Heale – Jay’s Best Books of 2015 and the nomination last year for the Best Publisher Africa at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair – one of five publishers nominated and the only one from South Africa.
“People are not reading less – ebook sales confirm this – they are just reading differently, that is, on electronic devices. Children reading for pleasure don’t want lectures: they get this at school. They want to be entertained; they have imagination.” Comments Stuart-Clark.
In 2014 PPM appointed an international rights agent to represent Bumble Books internationally – sales of language rights to date include Chinese [Simplified Characters], Spanish and Catalan for Annie Learns to Swim by Katrin Coetzer, and Japanese for The Rainbow’s Heart by Richard Latimer. With the Bologna win, the world is most certainly Bumble Books oyster.
PPM was Established in 2005 when Stuart-Clark saw a gap in the market and by focussing on South African art, craft and heritage with a particular bent on those artists, craftspeople and individuals who have been overlooked yet made an impact on South African culture, his burgeoning list of titles offers a glimpse into fascinating lives.
www.printmatters.co.za
Editors Note: All of us at ImagineMag! congratulate Robin Stuart-Clarke on this prestigious award.