The Ladybird phenomenon: the publishing craze that's still flying

The Books for Grown Ups series is worth nearly £30m – so it’s no wonder that retro books for ‘kids’ have spread to other publishers. Now, serious subjects are getting the toilet-book treatment, too In 1971, a book about the computer was published under the children’s imprint Ladybird as part of a series designed to show schoolchildren “How it Works”. In common with 645 other titles published between 1940 and 1980, it was a small hardback with 56 pages. It was one of the first Ladybirds to be sold in decimal currency, costing 24p, after decades of the books being pegged at 2/6.“If you are interested in computers, their function and operation, but are discouraged by their complexity, you should read this book,” said the introduction. “It deals as simply as possible with the principles and does not delve too deeply into electronics.” Though it was intended for “older students,” which means ages 7+ in Ladybird parlance, legend has it that it was so well regarded that 100 copies were ordered by the Ministry of Defence to be circulated among its staff in plain wrapping so they wouldn’t know they were reading a book intended for kids. Related: The best Ladybird illustrations ever! Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #imprint ladybird

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Ladybird phenomenon: the publishing craze that's still flying'


Elliott & Thompson to publish illustrated poetry sequence from Cowen and Hayes

Elliott & Thompson has acquired The Heeding, a sequence of poems by Rob Cowen, with illustrations by Nick Hayes.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-16 01:02:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elliott thompson


Publish with Passion and Purpose at Radius Book Group

Founded five years ago as a home for entrepreneurial authors, Radius Book Group has published dozens of successful nonfiction books. (Sponsored.) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-02-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #published dozens #book group


Muslim Voices in Publishing

The idea for Muslim Voices in Publishing was born out of a feeling of loneliness – something that we have all experienced in multitudes over the many months of isolation and social distancing. The past year has been a stark reminder that, in anything we set out to do, there is often a need for a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-14 20:11:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #muslim voices #social distancing #stark reminder #publishing industry


The UK’s Publishers Association Releases Its New Diversity Report

The fourth annual diversity survey of British publishing shows progress in women's leadership, slower movement in BAME employment. The post The UK’s Publishers Association Releases Its New Diversity Report appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-02-12 14:37:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diversity report #british publishing #publishers association


John Murray to publish new novel from McInerney

John Murray Publishers has acquired a new novel from Women’s Prize for Fiction winner Lisa McInerney. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-12 10:49:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john murray


‘Remarkable Adaptability’: Children’s Publishing in the Time of Covid

With 2021 well underway, Publishers Weekly spoke with the heads of several children’s publishing divisions to see how the industry weathered the storm of last year, and to discuss what comes next in the midst of persistent uncertainty. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-02-12 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing divisions #publishers weekly


The art of publishing

A few months into her new role, the boss of Octopus Publishing shares what she has learned about illustrated publishing while in lockdown Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-11 20:30:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to publish memoir about her father's death

Notes on Grief will recount the life of ‘a remarkable man of kindness and charm’ and the author’s struggle to absorb his loss during lockdown last yearChimamanda Ngozi Adichie has written a memoir about the sudden death of her father in lockdown last year. Notes on Grief, by the Orange... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-02-11 14:18:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sudden death #publish memoir #yellow sun #died unexpectedly #prize-winning author #memoir


Fourth Estate to publish Adichie's Notes on Grief

Fourth Estate is to publish Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a “timely and deeply personal” book by the Americanah author following her father's death. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-11 05:38:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fourth estate


Larry Flynt, controversial porn publisher who pushed limits of free speech, dead at 78

Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt Jr., the self-described "smut peddler who cares" who used his pornography empire and flair for the outrageous to push the limits of free speech, has died at the age of 78. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2021-02-11 02:25:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #free speech #magazine publisher


Publishers 'in dark' about LBF may not attend this year

Several publishers say they may not be attending the London Book Fair this year amid concerns over the way last year's cancellation was handled and its new 2021 date in June. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-10 19:10:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #london book fair


Richard Charkin: Brexit Ushers British Publishing Into New Territory

A 'sea change in trade book publishing,' writes Richard Charkin, accelerate as Brexit puts the UK industry's EU exclusivity into a new light. The post Richard Charkin: Brexit Ushers British Publishing Into New Territory appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-02-10 13:25:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #richard charkin #sea change #uk industry #trade book #british publishing


Five Religion Publishers Announce Promotions, Hires

The new year brought new roles and new hires to Nelson Books, WaterBrook & Multnomah, Convergent, Zondervan, and Herald Press. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-02-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nelson books #waterbrook multnomah


Small Publishers Struggle to Build a Diverse Workforce

Interviews with mainline Christian, Catholic, and spirituality publishers found efforts to build a more inclusive staff bump into tight budgets, small staffs, lack of attrition, and high competition for talent. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-02-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diverse workforce #tight budgets


Scribe to publish analysis of Sweden's Covid-19 strategy

Scribe has acquired The Herd, an "in-depth analysis" of Sweden's Covid-19 strategy by Swedish journalist Johan Anderberg.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-08 20:21:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #in-depth analysis


Mackenzie Smith made picture books publisher at S&S Children's

Helen Mackenzie Smith has been promoted to the newly created role of picture books publisher at Simon & Schuster Children's.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-08 18:09:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ss children #books publisher


Lebanon: Calls for Investigation Follow Publisher Lokman Slim’s Murder

Leaders of Frankfurter Buchmesse and the Börsenverein, supported by the Independent Publishers Association, condemn the killing. The post Lebanon: Calls for Investigation Follow Publisher Lokman Slim’s Murder appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-02-08 05:43:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #frankfurter buchmesse


PRH UK to publish four from inauguration poet Amanda Gorman

Penguin Random House UK is to publish four books from Amanda Gorman, the youngest presidential inaugural poet in US history, including a special edition of “The Hill We Climb” which she read at Joe Biden's inauguration. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-08 03:19:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prh uk #amanda gorman #special edition #joe biden #penguin random house


Big Publishing Pushes Out Trump’s Last Fan

Top editors at Hachette have told employees that they’ve learned the lessons of the Capitol siege of Jan. 6: no hate speech, no incitement to violence, no false narratives. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-02-07 22:15:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #top editors #told employees #ve learned #hate speech #hachette


Review of 2020: independent publishers

The BBC boost enjoyed by Sally Rooney’s Normal People helped Faber to post strong sales of both the young author’s titles, while Matt Haig’s books claimed three of the top six chart positions for Canongate. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-04 22:44:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent publishers #sally rooney #young author #matt haig