Peer recognition is great, but it’s money that feeds the families of struggling authors. A sponsorship opportunity staring us in the face. Any takers?

A Rising Lusophone Voice in African Children’s Publishing

Angolan publisher Kacimbo Kiela has secured a place on the shortlist for the 2026 Bologna Prize for Best Children’s Publishers of the Year (BOP) in the Africa category, marking its second consecutive nomination following a 2025 shortlisting.

Founded in 2020 by acclaimed author Ondjaki (Ndalu de Almeida), the Luanda-based house is the only dedicated children’s bookshop in Angola’s capital and focuses on promoting African authors and Lusophone geographies.

The BOP awards, established in 2013 by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in partnership with the Italian Publishers Association (AIE) and International Publishers Association (IPA), recognise excellence across six global regions.

Kacimbo Kiela joins fellow African nominees Narrative Landscape Press (Nigeria), Dar El Shorouk (Egypt), Éditions Akoma Mba (Cameroon), and Saaraba Éditions (Senegal).

Portuguese Publisher Pato Lógico Earns Fifth Nomination

Portugal’s Pato Lógico receives its fifth BOP nomination, having previously been shortlisted in 2016, 2020, 2021, and 2025. Founded in 2010 by author-illustrator André Letria, the Lisbon-based house maintains a catalogue of approximately 80 illustrated titles by artists including Susa Monteiro, Catarina Sobral, and Ana Ventura, with rights sold across multiple markets.

Previous Portuguese-language winners include Planeta Tangerina (2013) and Orfeu Negro (2019), whilst 2025 African laureate Imaginary House (South Africa) took the continental prize.

The 14th edition winners will be announced during the 63rd fair, running 13–16 April 2026.

The View From The Beach

Unlike many industry accolades, the BOP carries no monetary award. Winners are selected by fellow exhibitors at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair from shortlists compiled by publishers’ associations and reading promotion institutions worldwide.

Peer recognition is great, but it’s money that feeds the families of struggling authors.

A sponsorship opportunity staring us in the face. Any takers?

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.