Children’s Publishing

Sales data suggests a return to pre-pandemic normalcy, but backlist dominates and it’s tough for new books and authors to break out.

The children’s writing and publishing community did not take kindly to this opinion and demanded an apology from author Mac Barnett.

Starting this fall, TokyoPop Kids will publish manga, graphic novels, picture books, chapter books, and middle-grade novels.

In honor of Children’s Book Week, Chronicle is accepting unagented manuscripts through May 10.

Alvina Ling Books will release 15–20 titles per year starting this fall, with an emphasis on fiction, from board books to YA.

The new imprint from educational publisher Teacher Created Materials will publish fiction and nonfiction for young readers up to age 12.

Manga publisher TokyoPop has launched TokyoPop Learning, focusing on books and learning materials for young readers ages 10 and up.

Author and educator Lavaille Lavette is partnering on Joyful Pen Books, focusing on inclusive stories that promote empowerment.

DK has launched a new line of children’s books, including fiction, chapter books, and middle-grade books packaged with exclusive Lego bricks.

As part of a restructure, Hachette Children’s Group (UK) has launched three new imprints: Starboard, Tempest, and Blyton Books.

Plata Publishing is launching a children’s imprint that’s an extension of the parent company’s adult nonfiction title, Rich Dad Poor Dad.

Educational publisher BookLife wants to expand its reach into trade (consumer) publishing with the new children’s imprint.

Smith Street Books, an independent publisher of nonfiction, has launched a children’s imprint, Little Smith.

Rocket Fox will publish activity books and commercial nonfiction “from experts on topics that really matter to children and their families.”

Author-illustrator Angela Quezada Padron has launched Dream Jar Publishing, which will focus on diverse children’s books.

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers has announced a new imprint, Sarah Barley Books, which will publish YA and middle-grade fiction.

When your manuscript is 500 words or less, a carefully-chosen word can carry both emotional weight and contextual clarity.

They plan to publish across all ages, including board books, picture books, illustrated fiction and nonfiction, and upper-middle-grade titles.

Three Wishes expects to publish 15 to 20 concepts a year across novelty board books, personalized journals, arts and crafts, and sound books.

Penguin Random House Canada is launching Swift Water Books that will publish widely across all age groups and include graphic novels.

Sourcebooks has launched Stonefruit Studio, a new imprint for children’s books—all ages and formats, fiction and nonfiction.

Heights Press will debut with Hickory Hollow, a six-book series for middle-grade readers, along with a series of video shorts.

Disney will designate three to four children’s books annually as Disney Planet Possible titles.

Two editors from HarperCollins, Ben Rosenthal and Mabel Hsu, are joining Sourcebooks to establish a new children’s imprint.

Publishers Weekly is on the ground in Bologna, and early reports indicate continued challenges in the middle-grade category.