Candlewick Press and Walker Books Group have acquired English-language rights to four forthcoming picture books from Italian children’s publisher minibombo. The first two titles, to be launched simultaneously in the U.S., U.K., and Australia in fall 2015 are Black Cat, White Cat, and The White Book, books that Candlewick senior executive editor Sarah Ketchersid feels “fit perfectly on our list alongside Chris Haughton, Lucy Cousins, and Taro Miura,” she said in a release.
This is the beginning of a new partnership between the two houses; plans call for them to publish two additional titles, in spring 2016 entitled Near, Far and Now You See Me, Now You Don’t. The books will carry minibombo’s logo, and Walker is working to expand the brand beyond the page with an interactive English-language website with downloadable content for young readers, to be launched ahead of the picture books this year.
Ketchersid added in the release that minibombo’s “inclusive, intelligent picture book making for little ones” is simple in design with few or no words at all, with a stylish yet accessible graphic art style that the house hopes will appeal to young children and the adults who read with them. “We look forward to introducing this series to readers all over the world.”
