Finalists in the category share their joy with PreschoolNews.net ahead of Thursday’s virtual extravaganza.
Finalists for Best Preschool Publishing Range are excitedly counting down the hours until the Progressive Preschool Awards, which are taking place virtually from 6.15pm on Thursday November 12.
Juliet Matthews, colour publisher at HarperCollins Children’s Books, told PreschoolNews.net that the company was “thrilled” to be nominated for its Bing Publishing Range.
“HarperCollins is thrilled to be nominated for the best preschool publishing range at the Progressive Preschool awards; it tops off a truly fantastic year for the Bing publishing which kicked off so brilliantly by representing the preschool slot at World Book Day with our specially created book Bing’s Splashy Story,” Juliet commented. “Our Bing adventure has gone from strength to strength since then with great sales performances for Bing’s Big Surprise and The Rainybow Song in particular and we are delighted that sales are up 57% year on year in the UK, despite the pandemic context.”
Meanwhile, Dan Grant, licensing director at Danilo, said that the whole team is “really pleased” to have two products in the shortlist.
“This is the first time we have reached the finals so it’s a great achievement to be recognised at this stage and hopefully we can go onto win an award on the night,” Dan said. “Danilo have worked hard to develop new product formats over the past three years and so it’s great to see our effort and ambition is being rewarded. Looking forward to the award ceremony.”
Amy Griffiths from Child’s Play (International) told us: “We’re honoured that Rosa’s Workshop is a finalist in this year’s Progressive Preschool Awards. We hope that Rosa’s resilience will inspire children during this challenging year. We’re looking forward to this year’s digital announcement event, which promises to be just as convivial as usual.”
The Pat-A-Cake team at Hachette is also celebrating the Peek-a-Boo Baby range making the shortlist this year. “2020 has been a very strange year, not least for those with new additions to their families,” a spokesperson told PreschoolNews.net. “We are delighted that our books can bring joy, spark laughter and help carers and children bond, especially in the absence of many of the usual new baby activities and experiences.
“We’re very proud that this has been recognised in such a prestigious shortlisting for our fun, bright books that bring the universal game of Peek-a-Boo to life.”
Kidcentral’s Nicola Barnett said the company was “over the moon” about the nomination for Lulu & Jo Dolls and Board Books. “There are so many dolls out there but this one is extra special; it’s suitable from newborn and its Waldorf inspired which means its extra soft and cuddly with a neutral expression, its designed to to encourage and develop child with child imagination and creativity though doll play,” Nicola said. “This Canadian brand put so much thought and effort into developing beautiful products it would mean the world to us if we won.”
Meanwhile, Dawn Pottier of Lulujo Baby made this special video below to convey her excitement.
This year’s event is completely free to attend and will be taking place as a virtual ceremony on Thursday 12 November, from 6:15pm. It is already shaping up to be the most fun you’ve had from the comfort of your own home this year.
The full list of finalists for Best Preschool Publishing Range is:
Baby Shark My First Calendar from Danilo
Baby Shark Range from Centum Books
Bing Publishing Range from HarperCollins Children’s Books
Fantastic Funworld Magazine from Signature Publishing
Lulu & Jo Dolls and Board Books from Kidcentral
Peek-a-Boo Baby range from Hachette Children’s Group
Rosa’s Workshop range from Child’s Play
The Gruffalo’s Child Musical Advent Calendar from Danilo
Sponsors of the PPS Awards 2020 include: Amscan, Aykroyd & Sons, Azaria PR, BBC Studios, British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA), CentumBooks, Fundamentally Children and The Good Toy Guide, Harrogate International Nursery Fair, Hippychick, LicensingSource.net, Misirli, Poetic Brands, Rainbow Designs, Redan Publishing, RH Smith & Sons (Smiffys), Toymaster, ViacomCBS, Vista PR, Walker Books.
Click here for more information on the awards and how you can sign up to join in with Thursday’s fun. It takes just a few seconds and we’ll even send you a reminder on the day.
