Candlewick Press
 | |
| Parent company | Walker Books Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Sebastian Walker |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Headquarters location | Somerville, Massachusetts |
| Distribution | Random House Publisher Services |
| Key people | Karen Lotz, Elizabeth Bicknell |
| Publication types | Books |
| Nonfiction topics | Children's literature |
| Fiction genres | Children's literature |
| Imprints | Templar, Nosy Crow, Big Picture Press, Candlewick Entertainment, Candlewick Studio |
| Number of employees | 85 |
| Official website |
www |
Candlewick Press, established in 1991 and located in Somerville, Massachusetts, is part of the Walker Books group. The logo depicting a bear carrying a candle is based on Walker Books's original logo. Candlewick is operated by its employees, including 100 staff members in Somerville, MA and more than 155 authors and illustrators.[1] It is one of the most prestigious publishing houses for books for young readers, known for publishing particularly high literary value and an award-winning design team. Its books have garnered numerous national awards such as Printz and Newbery medals.
Sebastian Walker launched Walker Books from his spare bedroom in his London home in 1978. Walker Books grew and he founded Candlewick Press in 1991. Candlewick Press opened with only six employees and now has one hundred.
Candlewick was first known for picture books but the company's offerings expanded to include board books, novelty books, e-books and middle-grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction. Candlewick is an important children's book publisher thanks to publications such as a series known as the 'Ologies; Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart's pop-up books; the Judy Moody and Stink franchises from author Megan McDonald and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds; Guess How Much I Love You; Martin Handford's Where's Waldo? books; Lucy Cousins' Maisy Mouse books, and National Book Award winner The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Volume 1: The Pox Party by M. T. Anderson.[2] Candlewick's books continue to be in demand as demonstrated by recent The New York Times bestsellers I Want My Hat Back and This is Not My Hat (also winner of the 2012 Caldecott Medal)[3] by Jon Klassen and Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis.
Candlewick Press is home to author Kate DiCamillo, having published her first novel, Because of Winn-Dixie (a Newbery Honor Book), along with The Tiger Rising (a National Book Award finalist), The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses (Newbery Medal winners), The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner), the Mercy Watson series and Tales from Deckawoo Drive series of early readers, and The Magician's Elephant.
M. T. Anderson, author of the revolutionary and award-winning Octavian series of speculative historical fiction, is another of Candlewick's most prominent authors.
Toon Books was an imprint of Candlewick Press from 2010 to 2014.
The Walker Books Group is made up of Candlewick Press, Walker Books UK and Walker Books Australia.[4]
Templar Books
Templar Books is Candlewick's first imprint and is a partnership between Candlewick Press and Templar Publishing in the UK. This imprint publishes picture books, novelty books and board books. Notable titles include Johnny Duddle's The Pirates Next Door and Levi Pinfold's Black Dog which received the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2013.[5]
Nosy Crow
Nosy Crow publishes picture books, novelty books and board books for young readers up to age eight. Notable titles include Axel Scheffler's Pip and Posy books and Benji Davis's Bizzy Bear series.
Big Picture Press
Big Picture Press landed in the Fall of 2013 and publishes illustrated and high-quality books for readers of all ages. The imprint was developed by Templar Publishing in the U.K. as an alternative to digital publishing. Notable titles include Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski and a reissue of Nina's Book of Little Things by Keith Haring.[6]
Candlewick Entertainment
Candlewick Entertainment launched in Spring 2014 and will publish media-related children's books and TV and movie tie-ins including Peg + Cat, Peppa Pig and Shaun the Sheep.[7]
Candlewick Studio
Candlewick Studio will launch Fall 2016 and will publish design-centric books.[8]
References
- ↑ "About Candlewick Press". Candlewick Press. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ↑ "Candlewick Turns Sweet 15: Picture books, then fiction prove a winning formula". Judith Rosen. January 26, 2007. Publishers Weekly Volume 254 Issue 5 01/29/2007. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
- ↑ 2013 Caldecott Medal and Honor Books
- ↑ Walker Books Australia and New Zealand
- ↑ Eccleshare, Julia. "Gardner, Pinfold Win 2013 Carnegie, Greenaway Medals". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ↑ Rosen, Judith. "Candlewick to Launch Big Picture Press". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- ↑ Rosen, Judith. "Candlewick to Add Media-Centric Imprint". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ↑ Rosen, Judith. "Candlewick to Launch Imprint in the Fall". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 18 June 2013.