September 12, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rob Sanders, Publisher of award-winning nonfiction publisher Greystone Books, announced today that the company will launch their new children’s publishing programme, Greystone Kids, in the UK.
“The time had come,” said Sanders, “for Greystone to reach out to younger readers about matters we consider to be important in the world today. The inspiring and visually compelling books cover the topics of inclusion, global issues, science, the environment, and nature themes, which have been so well received in our Adult Publishing Programme, and are at the forefront of current trends in children’s publishing.”
“All of us at Greystone have been very pleased with the response to our list in the UK over the past few years. Now—with the help of some very experienced and talented UK children’s publishing advisors––we are excited to introduce our first children’s list in the United Kingdom.All the titles have good national curriculum connections and we are confident that they are being launched into a market eager for new books covering these themes.”
“Under the Greystone Kids banner,” Sanders continued, “we will publish picture books for young readers, and non-fiction books for middle readers. Furthermore, this new division will include an imprint—Aldana Libros—to be led by renowned children’s publisher Patricia Aldana—that will bring outstanding books from around the world to the English-speaking market. Altogether, the new Greystone Kids programme will be distinctive, ambitious, and committed to publishing talented writers and illustrators.”
The Greystone Kids team comes from esteemed backgrounds in children’s publishing.
Patricia Aldana is the founder and former publisher of Groundwood Books. Most recently, Aldana created the World Library for China’s largest kids’ publishing company, CCPPG. In 2010, Aldana received the Order of Canada for her work in children’s publishing.
Sara Gillingham will serve as Consulting Creative Director for Greystone Kids. Gillingham, who previously served as Design Director for children’s publishing at Chronicle Books, is currently principal of her eponymous design studio and is herself an author and illustrator of bestselling children’s books.
Kallie George will serve as Editor, Picture Books. George is a seasoned children’s book editor, who has worked with some of today’s most celebrated authors and illustrators and has herself written more than 20 books for children and young adults.
Rob Sanders is the Publisher of Greystone Kids. He has long been immersed in the world of children's books. His wife, Colleen MacMillan, was Associate Publisher of Annick Press for 17 years. Greystone Books’ current Editor, Paula Ayers, previously worked with Colleen at Annick, as did Antonia Banyard, who is part of the team as Publishing Associate.
Greystone Kids will launch five titles in the UK in Spring 2020. The list will showcase the work of esteemed writers and illustrators of diverse backgrounds—among them, an award-winning children’s author from Mongolia, whose books sell as many as 5 million copies in China, and the bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben, who will visit the UK to mark the launch of the list in March 2020.
The complete Spring 2020 list includes:
Can You Hear the Trees Talking? by Peter Wohlleben
Three years after the publication of the bestselling book for adults, The Hidden Life of Trees, Greystone Kids brings a young reader’s edition from the beloved author. Can You Hear the Trees Talking? is a non-fiction book that shares the magic and wonder of forests through colourful photographs, quizzes, and activities. This charming book will inspire even the most reluctant learners to fall in love with trees.
Birdsong written and illustrated by Julie Flett
Flett, a multi-award-winning author of Indigenous Cree-Métis heritage, shares a beautiful portrait of an authentic relationship between an elderly woman and a girl who lives next door. The pair bond over shared passions for art and nature as themes of friendship, loss, and connection are evoked in Flett’s simple prose and stunning collage artworks.
Spur, A Wolf’s Story written by Eliza Robertson
Illustrated by Nora Aoyogi
Inspired by Robertson’s concern for government-sanctioned wolf culls in Canada, this stirring picture book tells the inspiring story of a brave female wolf who saves her pack. A powerful, moving story, Spur offers kids a gentle message for protecting wild wolves from human impact. While inspired by Canadian events, this an issue of global environmental concern.
Hello, Crow! written by Candace Savage
Illustrated by Chelsea O’ Byrne
The acclaimed author of Bird Brains shares her incredible knowledge of crows in this whimsical picture book about a young girl who must convince her phone-addicted dad that the crow who brings her gifts is real. Inspired by a true story, Hello, Crow! encourages families to be present in nature together.
The Moose of Ewenki written by Gerelchimeg Blackcrane
Illustrated by Jiu’er
An Aldana Libros book
This powerful fable about a Mongolian hunter-gatherer, who befriends an orphaned moose calf, teaches valuable lessons in empathy, friendship, and the importance of establishing a true connection to nature. It also illuminates a vanishing way of life for the Indigenous Ewenki peoples of Inner Mongolia.
About Greystone Books
Greystone Books is a trade book publisher that focuses on high-quality non-fiction titles about nature and the environment, travel and adventure, sports, social issues, science, and health, as well as books that are exceptional literary expressions of personal passions. Greystone publishes and distributes its books worldwide.
Greystone Books and Greystone Kids are distributed in the in the UK by Ingram Publisher Services. UK publicity is handled by Fiona Brownlee of Brownlee Donald Associates. Kate Beal (formerly of Faber, Walker and Bloomsbury) has been brought on board as marketing consultant for the launch of the kids programme.
For more information, please contact:
Fiona Brownlee: fiona@brownleedonald.com, 07767 431846
Follow Greystone Kids on social media:
@greystonekids (Twitter/Facebook)
@greystonekidsbooks (Instagram)
www.greystonebooks.com/pages/kids