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'

Katie Bond appointed publisher at Aurum

Katie Bond is departing her role as publisher at the National Trust to become publisher at The Quarto Group's Aurum imprint. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-02 20:04:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #aurum imprint #katie bond #national trust #quarto group #quarto

Lockdown diaries: the publishing entrepreneur

Boilers are the masters of timing – they know the exact moment to inflict maximum disruption. Mine decided to call time on Monday 23 March 2020 a day that saw the biggest highs and lows of my entrepreneurial life. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-02 19:02:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lockdown diaries #call time

A Tale of Two Economic Indicators: Publishing’s Long Road to Recovery Will Require More Detours

This morning I woke up to two very different pieces of news, yet they are very much connected. The first was the news that the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 11.1% in June, and as a nation we added 4.8 million jobs to the economy. Certainly it’s good news that the trend line has moved downward... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-07-02 16:42:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #annual celebration #bounce back #great deal #sincerely hope

Fisherton Press to publish picture book honouring the NHS

Children's independent Fisherton Press will publish We Love the NHS on July 5th 2020, the 72nd birthday of the NHS. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-02 06:40:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fisherton press #picture book

Publishing Scotland warns sector at 'risk of collapse'

Publishing Scotland has warned the sector has seen a “catastrophic” drop in income over the past few months and could be a “risk of collapse”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-02 04:05:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing scotland

Hodder Studio imprint launches with Moore as publisher

Hodder & Stoughton is launching Hodder Studio, a new imprint aiming to “reimagine storytelling” which already has a list of more than 25 titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-01 23:58:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder stoughton #hodder

BESA director praises education publishers' response to Covid-19

Caroline Wright has praised the education publishing sector for "adapting since day one" to support schools and students learning from home during the coronavirus lockdown. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-01 20:05:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #coronavirus lockdown

S&S to publish Sir Patrick Stewart's memoir

Simon & Schuster is to publish the memoir of renowned actor Sir Patrick Stewart. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-01 10:22:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #memoir

Souvenir Press to publish Julia Cameron sequel to The Artist's Way

Souvenir Press will publish The Listening Path: The Creative Art of Attention by Julia Cameron, a sequel to her book The Artist's Way which was first published in the 1990s. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-01 02:13:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #souvenir press

Successfully Navigating a Publishing World Consumed by COVID-19

Today’s publishers are working to survive in a new reality where media consumption is up, but revenues are down. Let’s examine three ways publishers can thrive — not just survive — and prepare for success in the next normal. Continue reading at Publishing Executive

[ Publishing Executive | 2020-06-30 20:16:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ways publishers #media consumption #publishing world

John Murray to publish exploration of meteorites

John Murray will publish Metorite: The Stones From Outer Space That Made Our World by Dr Tim Gregory. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-30 03:09:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john murray #publish exploration #outer space

South China Morning Post is the Latest Publisher to Swear Off Third-Party Data

South China Morning Post is the latest news publisher to build its own first-party data platform, which it’s calling Lighthouse. Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2020-06-29 16:45:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest publisher #third-party data #news publisher

Trapeze to publish 'Dear Joan and Jericha' podcast agony aunts

Orion Publishing Group has bought the first official book of award-winning comedy podcast "Dear Joan and Jericha", written by Julia Davis and Vicki Pepperdine, in a "hotly contested" auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-29 11:07:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #official book #hotly contested

Ten Speed to Publish Graphic History of Black Panther Party

Best known for his work on such Black superhero series as Luke Cage, Cyborg and Naomi, comics writer David Walker is teaming with artist Marcus Kwame Anderson to produce 'The Black Panther Party: A Graphic History', which will be published by Ten Speed Press in January 2021. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ten speed #luke cage #graphic history

Yellow Kite acquires self-published yoga book

Yellow Kite will publish The Book of Yoga Self-Practice by Rebecca Anderton-Davies. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-28 15:19:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #yellow kite #publishthe book

W&N to publish 'savage' novel from Halle Butler

W&N has acquired Jillian, a "savage, hilarious" novel about two employees at a gastroenterologist's office by Halle Butler. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-28 13:34:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #halle butler

S&S to publish nature writer's animal history

S&S is to publish an illustrated gift book by nature writer and conservationist Simon Barnes next year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-28 12:04:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Publishing Awards Notes: Madrid’s Desperate Literature Prize Goes to Angela Finn

One of the lesser known prizes for short fiction in Spain names its winner as Australia's high-profile Miles Franklin Literary Award issues its 2020 shortlist. The post Publishing Awards Notes: Madrid’s Desperate Literature Prize Goes to Angela Finn appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-06-26 17:54:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short fiction #literary award #literature prize

Dear black publishers and creatives...

I have been writing children's books for over 10 years now. I have worked as an editor in children's publishing houses for 15. For the last 18 months, I have been mentoring writers and illustrators of colour, and doing my best to try and explain how publishing works. How to navigate this... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-26 10:43:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writing children #publishing houses #publishing works #children's publishing