Children’s publisher of the year moves HQ to Bishopston!
July 13th, 2016
The Arnolfini Bookshop was recently filled to the brim with picture book enthusiasts and members of the local Bristol community, all celebrating the arrival of internationally-acclaimed publishing house Book Island.
Publisher Greet Pauwelijn and her family travelled 12,000 miles from New Zealand to set up shop in Bristol. Stationed just off Gloucester Road, their picture books are now finding a home in the city’s much loved independent bookstores, art galleries and gift shops.
When looking for a UK city in which to expand their business, the independent character and community feel of Gloucester Road provided all the impetus the publisher needed to make the move. “Being a small independent business ourselves, we like to work with and support like-minded people,” says Greet. “During our first visit we immediately felt Bristol was the right place to move to, as the people here are very friendly and open-minded. They think out of the box and that’s something we find very important.”
At the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair last April, Book Island won the Prize for Best Children’s Publisher of Oceania. The impact of this prize has been enormous and Book Island is thrilled to announce that “it’s given our business such a boost, that we are now looking for an experienced Sales & Marketing Manager based in the Bristol area to help us build our brand in the UK.” Applications can be sent to greet@bookisland.co.nz.
Book Island source picture books from abroad and have them translated in English, and so do not originate their own titles or accept manuscripts or artwork.
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