Toronto-based Groundwood Books was named best North American children’s publisher of the year at the 2016 Bologna Children’s Book Fair on April 4.

“We’re thrilled,” says Groundwood president and publisher Sheila Berry. “We are able to win a prize like this because we work with such brilliant authors and illustrators and have such a talented and dedicated team in-house.”

The prize is administered by the fair and the Italian Publishers’ Association, and recognizes excellent kidlit publishers in six regions: Africa, Asia, Central and South America, North America, and Oceania. South Africa’s Bumble Books, United Arab Emirates’ Kalimat, Venezuela’s Ediciones Ekaré, and New Zealand’s Book Island were the other winners, respectively. Also nominated in the North American category were Toronto’s Kids Can Press and Second Story Press, along with U.S. publishers Abrams and the Creative Company.

Recipients are selected by publishing houses taking part in the fair, as well as publishers’ associations and other international literacy and book institutions.