Capstone Publishing Group, which has been aggressively expanding beyond the school and library markets with the launch six months ago of its Capstone Young Readers trade imprint, is adding picture books to the list this spring. Thirteen picture books in print format will be released initially under the CYR imprint; after the first list, the imprint will release four to six picture books each year.
The initial list includes two standalone picture books: Flood by Alvara F. Villa (Feb., $15.95), which tells a story completely through illustrations and without text of a family’s struggles in the aftermath of a flood; and Goodnight Baseball by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Christina E. Foshay (March, $14.95), created in partnership with Sports Illustrated Kids, a tale told in rhyme of a day at the park. The other titles for this season are part of three new series with fairy tale themes: four volumes in the Princess Heart series by Molly Martin (Feb.); two volumes in the Other Side of the Story series by Nancy Loewen (Feb.); and five volumes in the Animal Fairy Tales series by Charlotte Gullain (Feb.). Initial print runs range from 5,000-25,000 copies.
“We’re selecting topics and formats that resonate with children and parents, and address important and relevant subjects for emerging readers in whom we hope to inspire a love for books and reading,” explained Ashley Andersen Zantop, Capstone Group publisher and general manager.
Capstone Publishing Group has previously published picture books for the educational and trade markets under its Picture Window imprint and will continue to do so; this is the first time the company is publishing picture books under the CYR imprint. Thus far, board books, chapter books, and hobbies and crafts books have been published under the CYR imprint, which is overseen by senior product manager John Rahm and editorial directors Michael Dahl and Nick Healy.
“We believe that quality illustrated titles provide an important stepping stone to reading and an opportunity to inspire imagination, creativity and a love for good books,” Andersen Zantop added.
