Tundra Book Group Receives Bologna Prize for Best Children’s Publishers of the Year

The Bologna Prize aims to recognize publishers leading in innovation through their editorial choices over the past year. Tundra Book Group, Canada’s oldest English-language children’s book publisher, has seen significant growth in nearly 60 years, recently launching Swift Water Books and achieving various accolades. In 2025, Tundra won a Governor General’s Award for Young People’s Literature for Heather Smith’s *Tig*, received recognition on the New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Books of the Year list for X. Fang’s *Broken*, and was honored with the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for Jashar Awan’s *Towed by Toad*. Additionally, they surpassed seven million copies sold for Ben Clanton’s *Narwhal and Jelly* series.

In the North America category, Tundra faced competition from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Tra Publishing, Orca Book Publishers, and Milky Way Picture Books. Winning can be regarded as a significant achievement, alongside other winners from around the globe: Saaraba Éditions from Senegal for Africa; Bronze Publishing from Japan for Asia; Lecturita Ediciones from Argentina for the Caribbean, Central, and South America; Éditions La Doux from France for Europe; and Messy Press from New Zealand for Oceania.

Children’s publishing has always been a cornerstone of Penguin Random House Canada’s mission, contributing to the company’s growth by creating exceptional books for young readers while also engaging parents and educators. Tundra’s publishing program fosters a love of reading, supports early literacy, and offers stories that educate and delight. The leadership in children’s publishing represents both a responsibility and an opportunity, which Tundra is honored to advance further, as highlighted by this prestigious award.