International Publishing Professionals

Kane/Miller represents nearly 24 countries in our list of award-winning children's books from around the world.

I have come here to the Stanford Professional Publishing Course to meet new people, take home new skills, explore others' ideas and, hopefully, incorporate most of what I learned into the business and marketing plan for the future of our company.

While there are representatives here from both the book and magazine side of the industry, there are also publishing professionals here from - ironically - about 24 countries.

Over the last few days, I've sat down with professionals from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Of course there's still dozens of other people who I have yet to talk to.

My horoscope this morning (I read it every day) states:

A foreign person will have a very positive influence in your life today, especially if they are a person from your past...

I may not know anyone here from my past but perhaps Kane/Miller's history will play a role.

Favorites (Continued)

Continued from the Previous Post...

Picture Books
From Spain

Sebastian's Roller Skates
Written by Joan de Deu Prats
Illustrated by Francesc Rovira

This section - with over three dozen titles to choose from - was also a challenge for me to narrow down to just one book. Sebastian's Roller Skates really jumped out at me, however, in that it really can work with just about any reader (of any age, gender, background, etc).

Sebastian not only masters a new skill (roller skating, of course) but he also gets over his fear of public speaking and builds up his confidence to the point of finally being able to speak to Esther - a girl from school - which he never thought he'd be able to do at the beginning of the story.

We all have our little quirks (perhaps it is public speaking) that makes us feel not-so-confident or not as comfortable doing (maybe roller skating is one of them) so this book does really speak to readers of all ages and encourages us to try something new - even if it does require a helmet.

Picture Books for Older Readers
From Australia

Fox
Written by Margaret Wild
Illustrated by Ron Brooks

I need to tred lightly when discussing this title, because it is dark, sad, and ultimately, a tale of deception. I don't want to give away the storyline for those who have not read it, but it is certainly a book that will haunt readers and have you thinking about friendship, temptation and betrayal long after the book has been closed.

Several middle school teachers - upon first reading Fox - mentioned the story's similiarities to Shakespeare's Macbeth and several of these teachers use Fox in their classroom as an introduction to this classic work.

Whether you're dealing with playground disagreements or boardroom arguments, this book is an emotional and startling look at the realities of life and working or dealing with others.

First Fiction
From Australia
Jack Russell: Dog Detective
(Book 4): The Lying Postman

The Lying Postman is - by far - my favorite book from the Jack Russell series. Involving a new postman to Jack's route, and a "he said," "she-said" situation, Book #4 in this canine caper series keeps readers guessing until the end as to whether or not the postman is telling the truth.

Also introduced in this mystery is a new character - Ralf Boxer - a little chihuahua who surprises Jack with his courage and shatters every stereotype that Jack has regarding these small dogs.

Gift Books
From Australia

Could You? Would You?
by Trudy White

Trudy has made a fine book for readers of all ages with Could You? Would You? I've personally used this book as a discussion starter with both my four-year-old son and with adult friends. Others that I know have used this book in writing workshops to help get through writer's block.

Be careful though - many of these questions will bring up childhood memories which may have you longing for the times when you could cuddle in a sheet-made fortress under the stars or thinking about what you'd like to do with the time you have left.

What's your favorite Kane/Miller book?

What's Your Favorite K/M Book?

People often ask what my favorite Kane/Miller book is. That's an impossible question to answer since - as a small company - all of our office staff has a chance (and plenty of time) to fall in love with every book we release.

I've thought long and hard about this question and have finally decided to select one title per catalog section just so I cover all the bases. It's only fair that I answer the question. Selecting favorites from these sections was not easy but I'll explain my reasoning behind each choice.

All of my "favorites" are great books for readers of any age in that they speak to both children and adults in very different ways (the mark of a great illustrated book, in my mind).

Frontlist Titles (March 2008)
From France

Jukebox
by David Merveille

For anyone who loves music (don't all children?) this book is wonderful! It covers over a dozen different musical genres which means that there is - most likely - something for everyone. But what it also highlights is that music is something that inspires people, allows us to reach into our imagination (very child-like), reminds us of times past, or enables the listener to reach outside of their (ordinary) every day life.

For young children who may not be familiar with each type of music mentioned, this book will give them the opportunity to perhaps pick their favorites and be introduced to new and different ways to enjoy active listening.

Libros del Mundo
From Japan

¿Quién se esconde?
by Satoru Onishi

From the Spanish language edtions of fourteen K/M titles, I chose the translation of Who's Hiding? based on the fact that it is an excellent book for beginning Spanish readers - of any age - to use as a way to learn colors, animals, and questions that may be useful (Who's crying?, Who's hiding?, Who's backwards?) or not.

Non-Fiction / Concept Books
From Slovenia

Why?
by Lila Prap

Another book featuring animals and questions, Why? answers many questions that I know my son will eventually be asking me. I am prepared ahead of time and can help him learn more about the specific creatures - typically found in a zoo - such as zebras, lions, giraffes, and monkeys (to name just a few).

Board Books / First Picture Books
From Belgium

The Nights of the World
Written by Corinne Albaut
Illustrated by Arno

This was a tough choice to narrow down this section to just one book, but since young ones like books that "do" things, I selected this one with its picture-changing shutters that show day and night on alternating windows. The fact that it represents children from five different regions aound the world as well as being a comforting, gentle book about bedtime makes it a great pick for all of these reasons combined.

To Be Continued...

One More Story

One More Story is an online library of the best of children's classic and contemporary literature. Through a simple point and click process, children can choose a book, see the illustrations and have the book read to them whenever they want.

They've just created a blog which is a great place to learn more, add suggested titles and discover different ways to use the site, whether you're a parent, teacher, or librarian.

Kane/Miller is pleased to have a growing list of titles available at One More Story:

From France

Tibili
Written by Marie Léonard
Illustrated by Andée Prigent

From England

This is the Tree
Written by Miriam Moss
Illustrated by Adrienne Kennaway

From South Korea

While We Were Out
by Ho Baek Lee

From Taiwan

Guji Guji
by Chih-Yuan Chen

From France

The Costume Party
by Victoria Chess

From Australia

Fox
Written by Margaret Wild
Illustrated by Ron Brooks

From Spain

Sebastian's Roller Skates
Written by Joan de Déu Prats
Illustrated by Francesc Rovira

(Coming Soon)
From Japan

Singing Shijimi Clams
by Naomi Kojima

Literacy Festivals Around the World

In preparation for Kane/Miller's upcoming participation in publishing events such as IRA, BEA, and ALA (among many others) it occurred to me that I'm not aware of all of the international literary events that take place.

After some quick research (What would we do without Google?), I found a link and listing of Six of the Best Literary Festivals (according to Harper's Bazaar). I won't be attending any of them - at least not this year - but it's good to know what's happening in the literary world, nonetheless.

1. Galle Literary Festival, Sri Lanka
2. Hay Festival Cartagena de Indias, Columbia
   
3. Wexford Book Festival, Ireland
4. Festa Literaria Internacional de Parati, Brazil
5. Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, Bali
6. Hay Festival Segovia, Spain
   

Don't miss FLIGHT 001 - for all your travel needs.

Bon Voyage!

And Baby Makes Four

Little Brothers Are...
Little Sisters Are...
What's Going On?

New siblings will have something to talk about next spring when these three beautiful books are welcomed into the world, along with the new baby.

Beth Norling honors little brothers and sisters everywhere with these two new additions to our Toddler Tales series from Australia. Little Sisters Are...tiny, cuddly, smelly and sad. Little Brothers Are...wriggly, bubbly, naughty and scared. But we love them all the same.

Our narrator from Elena O'Callaghan's What's Going On? might not get his question answered right away, but he does know that the only one not acting strange around his house is his new baby sister.

These hilariously realistic picture books about life with more-than-one, will leave both parents and siblings laughing out loud at the odd things (and smells) that new babies bring into the home.

Little Brothers Are...
by Beth Norling
978-1-933605-70-8
Paperback, 8 x 8
$4.99
March 1, 2008

Little Sisters Are...
by Beth Norling
978-1-933605-69-2
Paperback, 8x8
$4.99
March 1, 2008

What's Going On?
Written by Elena O'Callaghan
Illustrated by Àfrica Fanlo
978-1-933605-65-4
Hardcover with Dust jacket
$15.95
March 1, 2008

Spring Has Sprung

Just yesterday, the proofs of our spring 2008 catalogs arrived from our printer. The catalog is beautiful - of course - and I'm so excited to be able to launch our new spring titles in the next few months.

There are a few favorites from the list, but as always, it's quite hard to pick just one that I'm especially fond of. This season, if I had to pick just one, it would be our first title from China, No! That's Wrong! by Zhaohua Ji and Cui Xu.

From China
No! That's Wrong!
by Zhaohua Ji and Cui Xu

This, never-been-published-before, picture book discusses a silly situation that most kids (and many adults) will find quite humorous. I can't quite give much more information other than that, but the illustrations are darling, the animals are full of expression and the rabbit is particularly charming.

Representing South Korea, France, Australia, Japan, Spain and England, our books this coming season are so diverse with titles ranging in topics such as imagination, alliteration, new siblings, shyness, music, and cause and effect.

You'll have to be patient as I introduce each new cover and title one at a time until our catalog finally reaches our readers.