After being divided in 1993, Ideals Children's Books (ICB) and Ideals Publications are being reunited under the ownership of Guideposts. Ideals sold ICB to Hambleton-Hill Publishing eight years ago, while last July Guideposts acquired Ideals Publications (News, July 31, 2000). And in a deal completed last month, Guideposts bought ICB from H-H. Having both ICB and Ideals Publications under the same roof "should mean less confusion in the marketplace," Marty Flanagan, v-p of Ideals, said.
The imprint, which had been in Nashville, will move to Ideals' own Nashville offices under the direction of Flanagan, although no personnel will be joining Ideals. ICB's backlist has approximately 260 titles, headed by The Littlest Angel, which has sold more than seven million copies. Ideals will retain the ICB imprint name, joining Candy Cane as the company's two children's imprints. Flanagan said Candy Cane will now focus on board books, with all other children's titles published under the ICB imprint. He said Ideals plans to hire three or four editors to "repackage and reinvigorate" the ICB line. Flanagan anticipates publishing 15 to 20 books a season, with the initial titles centered around updated editions of P.K. Hallinan's works.
In addition to its two children's lines, Ideals has three adult imprints that publish gift books and cookbooks, and the company, prior to the ICB purchase, had a backlist of more than 350 titles.
