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'


Hodder to publish new Rosamunde Pilcher story collection

Hodder & Stoughton is releasing a new collection of stories from Rosamunde Pilcher, to be published two years after the author died in early 2019. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-11 02:01:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #author died #hodder


Hamish Hamilton to publish lockdown essays from Zadie Smith

A collection of six essays written during lockdown by Zadie Smith, titled Intimations, will be published by Hamish Hamilton this summer. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-10 18:45:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hamish hamilton #zadie smith


Publishers Evolve Marketing to Keep Subscribers Brought in During Pandemic

Digital and print media companies wondering how best to keep new subscribers who signed up during the pandemic will need to prove to readers that their publication is invaluable after the crisis. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an uptick in subscribers at a variety of news organizations,... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2020-06-10 16:18:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #covid-19 pandemic #news organizations #print media


Coronavirus Response: Bodour Al Qasimi Launches Emirates Publishers Emergency Fund

Looking to 'safeguard publishers' in the COVID-19 crisis, Bodour Al Qasimi and the Emirates Publishers Association announce new aid for the UAE industry. The post Coronavirus Response: Bodour Al Qasimi Launches Emirates Publishers Emergency Fund appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-06-10 13:32:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #coronavirus response #covid-19 crisis #publishers association


"Do better, publishing people": an open letter to the industry

I have to start by admitting that when I began writing this letter last week, I was boiling mad and ready to take everyone on. Now, in its tenth or twentieth draft (I don’t know which) I’m still boiling mad, but most of your gaslighting social media posts that sent me over the edge have gone, so... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-10 12:34:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing people #open letter #began writing #hostile environment #black authors


The Problem With All The Books Publishing This Fall: Critical Linking, June 10, 2020

A daily roundup of the most interesting and awesome bookish links from around the web! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-06-10 10:30:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #critical linking #daily roundup #books publishing


Dorothy Koomson: 'publishing is a hostile environment for Black authors'

Author Dorothy Koomson has written an open letter to the publishing industry, in which she describes it as a “hostile environment for Black authors”.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-10 06:37:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #dorothy koomson #hostile environment #black authors #open letter


Publishers start to plan for staffers' return to the office

Publishers are currently exploring what a return to work will look like, with HarperCollins this week allowing staff to come into the office "for essential reasons" and Hachette and Simon & Schuster confirming a provisional return come September. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-09 22:45:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers start #hachette #harpercollins


Working Partners brings in Karen Ball to work with publishers

Karen Ball has joined Working Partners as the company's first head of UK sales.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-09 17:48:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #karen ball #uk sales


Publishers Promise More Action to Diversify Industry

In response to Monday's Day of Solidarity, which saw more than 1,100 publishing workers demanding that the industry take action to diversity its workforce and to publish more black authors, three of the Big Five publishers issued statements pledging to do just that. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black authors


PRH becomes latest trade publisher to pull out of Frankfurt

Penguin Random House has joined the other big trade publishers in pulling out of the Frankfurt Book Fair's physical event this year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-08 07:32:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #physical event #penguin random house #trade publisher


‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’: Publishers set for a second wave of layoffs

"You make short-term cuts, you rightsize the teams and then you build it back up, but that’s what we’ve been doing for years," said one global magazine publisher executive. The post ‘Never let a good crisis go to waste’: Publishers set for a second wave of layoffs appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2020-06-08 04:02:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers set #magazine publisher


Coronavirus Impact: Italy’s Publishers Keep the Pressure on the Government

The chief of the Italian publishers association tells Rome that its support for badly damaged cultural organizations is not enough: A family allotment for cultural spending is the next ask.  The post Coronavirus Impact: Italy’s Publishers Keep the Pressure on the Government appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-06-05 17:15:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #government appeared #coronavirus impact #publishers association


Shout-Outs to Publishers Giving Back to Their Communities| June 5

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., we began recognizing publishers who, despite having their own challenges, stepped up and helped out their communities. We’ve recognized more than 30 such publishers so far, but that only scratches the surface on the acts of kindness from around... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-06-05 15:54:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #donating $500 #magazine division #bonnie kintzer #offering access #general manager #give back #hearst


Publishers, agents and authors continue to respond to Black Lives Matter protests

Publishers and authors have continued to share reading lists and offers of help following the Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-05 10:41:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors continue


How Publishers Determine When to Release Hardcover Books in Paperback

How do publishers decide when to publish a book in paperback after it has been released in hardcover? A deep dive into the decisions. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-06-05 10:37:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #deep dive


Serpent's Tail to publish 'uniquely trans take on love and parenting' by Torrey Peters

Serpent's Tail will publish Torrey Peters’ debut novel Detransition, Baby, described as a "uniquely trans take on love and parenting".  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-05 09:01:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #torrey peters


HCG to publish middle grade series from 'Paddington' scriptwriter

Hachette Children’s Group has revealed it is publishing "Paddington" scriptwriter Simon Farnaby's first children's book, The Wizard in my Shed, kicking off a series. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-05 08:54:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette children #hachette


New York's Publishers Won't Reopen Until September

None of the major New York City publishers who took part in a PW survey about their efforts to return employees to their Manhattan headquarters had fixed plans—and none said they expected to begin bringing staff back in a meaningful way before September 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-06-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers won


Hamish Hamilton to publish Norwegian literary writer Linn Ullmann

Hamish Hamilton will publish Unquiet, a novel by Norwegian writer Linn Ullmann, daughter of film director Ingmar Bergman and actress Liv Ullmann. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-05 01:22:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hamish hamilton