Oratia Books the sole NZ publisher shortlisted for BOP Bologna Prize for Best Children's Publishers of the Year

Oratia Books is honoured to be among the 30 world finalists for the 2021 BOP — Bologna Prize for the Best Children’s Publishers of the Year.

Oratia is the only New Zealand publisher to make the shortlist for the Oceania section of the award this year, alongside four Australian publishers.

Congratulations to all the other finalists — the full list is on the Bologna Children's Book Fair website. 

The BOP Prize is described as “an extraordinary occasion to highlight publishers at the forefront of innovation in their activity for the creative nature of the editorial choices they have made during the previous year.”

Exhibitors who participate in the online edition of the Bologna Children's Book Fair are eligible to vote for their preferred publisher over the coming two weeks. 

Winners will be announced during the fair, which this year runs from 14–17 June.

          

Oratia shortlisted for 2020 BOP Bologna Prize, Best Children's Publisher in Oceania

Covid-19 may have caused the cancellation of this year's Bologna Children's Book Fair but the show goes on, with a virtual fair and rights exchange starting online from 4 May — and a continuation of its prestigious prizes.

It's thus a thrill to see Oratia Books shortlisted in the Oceania section of the BOP – Bologna Prize for Best Children's Publishers of the Year.

The prize is described as “an extraordinary occasion to highlight publishers at the forefront of innovation in their activity for the creative nature of the editorial choices they have made during the previous year.”

Six prizes are awarded by geographical area. This year Wellington's Huia Publishers is shortlisted with Oratia in the Oceania section, alongside three Australian publishers. 

Click here to see all the regional shortlists.

Exhibitors who were to take part in the 2020 fair are able to vote for their favourites in the award in the next ten days. 

Winners will be announced online on 4 May. 

Books from shortlisted publishers including Oratia on display at Bologna in 2018

Congratulations to the team who make our children's book shine, led by Editorial Director Carolyn Lagahetau, with designers Cheryl Smith and Sarah Elworthy.

Thank you to the talented children's authors and illustrators whose new books we published in 2019: Trish Bowles, Melanie Drewery, Tracy Duncan, Gordon Ell, Sarah Ell, Darryn Joseph, Ross Kinnaird, Dawn McMillan and Munro Te Whata.

And a special note of appreciation to Elena Pasoli and her amazing team at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, who have worked incredibly hard during the terrible days of epidemic in Northern Italy to ensure the spirit of the fair lives online. Siamo con voi!

— Peter Dowling, Publisher, Oratia Books

Congratulations to Scribble Books, BOP Bologna Prize Oceania winner

The BOP Bologna Prize for Best Children's Publishers of the Year were announced at the Bologna Children's Book Fair overnight.

Our hearty congratulations go to Melbourne's Scribble Kids' Books, which took out the Oceania section this year.

Scribble headed off Oratia, EK Books and Scholastic Australia to take the prize. 

Well done to the Scribble team, as well as to the winners of the other regional prizes. A list of the winners can be viewed here.

Oratia shortlisted for 2019 BOP Bologna Prize, Best Children's Publisher in Oceania

For the second year running Oratia Books has been shortlisted in the Oceania section of the prestigious BOP Bologna Prize for Best Children's Publishers of the Year.

Organised by the Bologna Children's Book Fair, the BOP Prize highlights the editorial projects, professional skills and intellectual qualities of work produced by publishing houses all over the world – and fosters the mutual exchange of knowledge and culture between different nations.

Six prizes are awarded by geographical area. Oratia is the sole New Zealand candidate for Oceania this year, alongside several fine Australian publishers. Click here to see all the regional shortlists.

The award will be decided by voting from exhibitors attending the Bologna Children's Book Fair from 1–4 April 2019, and announced at a ceremony in Bologna on 1 April.

Votes can be placed in the reserved area for exhibitors until 15 March.

Books from shortlisted publishers including Oratia on display at Bologna in 2018

The shortlisting is a tribute to our authors and the team that make Oratia's children's book list, led by Editorial Director Carolyn Lagahetau, with Cheryl Smith of Macarn Design overseeing most of the book design.

Thank you to the talented children's authors and illustrators whose new books we published in 2018: Martin Bailey, Rosie Colligan, Melanie Drewery, Tracy Duncan, Vanessa Hatley-Owen, Ross Kinnaird, Dawn McMillan, Giulia Malerba, Malcolm Paterson, Febe Sillani and Nikki Slade Robinson.

While we won't be at Bologna ourselves this year, eight other Kiwi publishers will be on the Publishers Association of New Zealand stand there, and we wish them every success at this mecca for children's books.

— Peter Dowling, Publisher, Oratia Books

Exhibitors can get to vote through a link to the book fair website:

Express your vote on the reserved area at this link

Please log in using your Exhibitor username and password and choose your candidates.
Do not forget, you will be able to choose only one candidate for each geographical area.

Please take note that the poll service is available until March 15 2018.

Oratia shortlisted for Best Children's Publishers of the Year, Oceania

It's a nice surprise to receive news that Oratia Books has been nominated in the Oceania section for the Bologna Prize for Best Children's Publishers of the Year, alongside four very worthy nominees.

The BOP Prize is awarded each year to highlight the editorial projects, professional skills and intellectual qualities of work produced by publishing houses all over the world. It aims to foster the mutual exchange of knowledge and culture between different nations.

Six prizes are awarded by geographical area. Oratia joins fellow New Zealand publisher OneTree House, and Australian publishers Magadala Books, Scribble Kids Books and Windy Hollow Books, on the shortlist for Oceania. Click here to see the full shortlists.

The award will be decided by votes from exhibitors attending the Bologna Children's Book Fair from 26–29 March 2018.

Children's books make up approximately 40% of our annual publication list, with a focus on evocative picture books, Māori culture and, increasingly, non-fiction for children and young adults.

Carolyn Lagahetau, Editorial Director

As Publisher, I'd like to give credit for this nomination to Carolyn Lagahetau, Editorial Director of Oratia Media and a long-time champion of children's literature in New Zealand.

Carolyn's guiding hand, author relations and professionalism have given rise to a collection of books that are fun, informative and produced to the highest standards.

Our appreciation to the Bologna Children's Book Fair for this honour. The winners will be announced at the official opening of the fair — the world's premiere gathering of children's books — in Bologna, Italy on Monday 26 March.

— Peter Dowling, Publisher, Oratia Books

Exhibitors can get to vote through a link to the book fair website:

Express your vote on the reserved area at this link

Please log in using your Exhibitor username and password and choose your candidates.
Do not forget, you will be able to choose only one candidate for each geographical area.

Please take note that the poll service is available until March 8th 2018.