Unity Books, Gecko Press shortlisted for LBF International Excellence Awards

New Zealand bookshop Unity Books and Wellington-based publisher Gecko Press have been shortlisted for the London Book Fair (LBF) International Excellence Awards.

Unity Books Auckland is shortlisted for the bookstore of the year award, after Unity Books Wellington was shortlisted in 2019. The Auckland shop is nominated for this year’s award alongside Estonian bookshop Rahva Raamat AS and Yemen Bookstore in Yemen, while independent children’s publisher Gecko Press was nominated for the literary translation initiative award in a shortlist that also includes Mozambique-based publisher SM Traduções and the Yiddish Book Centre in the US.

The awards, which are held in partnership with the UK Publishers Association, are presented in 16 categories, including academic and scholarly publishing, audiobook publishing and educational publishing, alongside awards for library of the year and literary festival of the year.

The US leads the shortlists with five nominations, followed by India and Egypt with three apiece. A record number of 29 countries are represented on this year’s shortlists.

The winners will be announced on 10 March at the beginning of the London Book Fair.

Category: Awards Local news