Capstone Publishing Group, a company best known as a publisher of books for the school and library markets since 1991 that’s been moving into the trade in recent years, expanded its reach by launching a trade line called Capstone Young Readers. CYR, which will be formally introduced to the trade at BEA, will launch in August with 160 titles released under all of Capstone’s five imprints: Capstone Press, Stone Arch Books, Picture Window Books, Heinemann-Raintree, and Compass Point Books. While some CYR releases will be original publications, others will be modified editions of books originally published for the education market.
CYR releases will be produced in both paper-over-board and paperback formats and will include board books; chapter books; fiction, including early and middle grade series; graphic novels; and nonfiction titles, including paper novelty and craft books, as well as drawing books produced through a licensing agreement with the Smithsonian Institution. The company also intends to produce CYR titles through their licensing agreements with Sports Illustrated Kids, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, and DC Entertainment.
Lead CYR titles on the first list include Hocus Pocus Hotel by Michael Dahl; Troll Hunters by Dahl; Echo and the Bat Pack: Treasure in the Graveyard by Roberto Pavanello; and Katie Woo Rules the School by Fran Manushkin.
The CYR line will be headed by Ashley Andersen Zantop, Capstone Publishing Group’s publisher and general manager since 2011. Andersen Zantop is based in the Bloomington offices of the company, which is headquartered in Mankato, Minn.
In May Capstone will launch a Web site to promote its new CYR line, www.capstoneyoungreaders.com. CYR titles will be available in digital formats as well as in print. While only select Capstone Publishing titles for the educational market are available in digital formats, beginning in fall 2012, all of Capstone’s trade titles will be available in both print and e-book formats.
Correction: Capstone is calling its new trade venture a line, not a division, as a previous version of this story stated.
