Candlewick Press' New Imprint To Stand in both UK and US Markets

‘Candlewick Studio’ will be carried by both Walker’s US and UK imprints, as well as by Walker Books Australia.

‘A Shared Umbrella’

Demonstrating confidence that print sales will continue to grow, Candlewick Press has announced the debut of a new imprint featuring “beautifully produced, design-driven books for book lovers” this fall.

Candlewick is part of the international Walker Books Group Walker that comprises Walker Books UK, Walker Books Australia, the Walker Group Licencing division, and Walker Productions, developing Walker content for other media platforms, including Hank Zipzer for BBC.

Candlewick Studio will offer readers “titles characterized by elegant, engaging design; captivating, well-presented concepts and content; the highest quality illustration; and superior production values.”

Karen Lotz

In a statement, Karen Lotz, President and Publisher of Candlewick Press and Managing Director of the Walker Books Group said:

“We hope that even from across a bookstore, Candlewick Studio titles will entice book-lovers of all ages to come close – and that in the hand, the books will offer tactile appeal, fascinating content, and beautiful images to return to again and again — all of which Candlewick has been known for before.

“The exciting opportunity now is to bring these one-of-a-kind books together under a shared umbrella.

“This imprint will be an expression of our love for the printed book.”

Senior Editor Katie Cunningham is quoted as saying said that the four titles on Candlewick’s fall 2016 list includes four debut titles: a large-format book of animals from a “prominent Swedish designer”; a board book that “invites the reader to interact with pieces of its illustrations”; and an alphabet book by noted illustrator Norman Messenger.

“These books are all very different,” Cunningham says, “but they are unified by their innovation and their respect for the reader. They invite you to explore them on your own terms, and then bring those discoveries with you into the world around you-just as the best books always do.”

Candlewick Studio will launch simultaneously with Walker Studio in the UK. Both imprints are to be carried by Walker Books Australia. The imprint will feature authors and illustrators who have appeared on Candlewick’s list in the past, plus some international debut talents.

While the US and UK lists will share some of the same titles, they’ll also be allowed to diverge by market as appropriate.

About the Author

Dennis Abrams

Dennis Abrams is a contributing editor for Publishing Perspectives, responsible for news, children's publishing and media. He's also a restaurant critic, literary blogger, and the author of "The Play's The Thing," a complete YA guide to the plays of William Shakespeare published by Pentian, as well as more than 30 YA biographies and histories for Chelsea House publishers.