'Most Beautiful Book' shortlist revealed

Two titles from PRH are up for the Most Beautiful Book of the Year award, part of the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards.

On the shortlist of the six most beautifully designed books published in the past year, as selected by bookshops, are: As Kingfishers Catch Fire by Alex Preston & Neil Gower (Little, Brown), illustrated by Gower, designed by Nico Taylor; The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley (Bloomsbury) designed by David Mann; Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (Viking) designed by Nathan Burton; Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris (Hamish Hamilton) with illustrations by Morris, and book jacket designed by the PRH art team; Ravilious & Co by Andy Friend (Thames & Hudson) and designed by Lisa Ifsits; and Tangleweed and Brine by Deirdre Sullivan (Little Island), art directed by Gráinne Clear, with illustrations by Karen Vaughan.

Alan Staton, head of marketing and communications at the Booksellers Association, said: “Books Are My Bag is, at its heart, a celebration of physical books and physical bookshops. Production values have never been higher and books have never been more covetable as objects of desire. This shortlist comprises six books that booksellers themselves cherish.”

Last year's award was won by The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, designed by Pete Dyer (Serpent's Tail).

The Beautiful Book shortlist was voted for by bookshops across the UK and Ireland. The overall winner will be chosen by bookshops and announced at the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards on Tuesday 21st November at Foyles Charring Cross Road, London.

The Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, supported by National Book Tokens, are curated by bookshops, with categories including Popular Fiction, Novel, Non-Fiction, Young Adult (age 12-18), Middle Grade (age 7-11), and Breakthrough Author.