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Thames & Hudson to expand children's list

12.01.12 | Caroline Horn

Illustrated publisher Thames & Hudson is to expand its children's list with new non-fiction and activity books. The company will publish up to 10 new titles a year, with four books launching in April and the remainder in the autumn.

Jane Wilsher, commissioning editor for children's books, said: “T&H has previously published just one or two children's titles a year, but we see a real opportunity to grow our children's list.” The publisher already has strong links with museums and galleries as well as online and into the high street, which will support children's sales, said Wilsher.

The titles publishing in April include reference books My Head-to-Toe Body Book for preschool children, and for older children My Big Cats Journal, by photographer Steve Bloom, and Flight School (both for seven to eight years plus).

Wilsher said: “We are taking an innovative route into non-fiction that will make each of our books engaging and fun. For example, the My Big Cats Journal is written as if it is Steve Bloom's photo-journal, with tips to encourage children to photograph wildlife themselves, while Flight School is just that; a step-by-step approach on how to fly an aeroplane, with a section on identifying planes at the end.”

Preschool title My Head-to-Toe Body Book explains how the body functions, and is aimed at children aged four to six years. It uses illustrations and photography to support the facts and includes a “body noise” game for the family.

T&H will also be publishing My Fashion Lookbook for “tweenage” girls—created with support from design students at Central St Martins—which encourages young people to design their own fashion collection. Wilsher added: “We see a real gap in the market for this kind of non-fiction and activity book that puts the child at the centre.”

• Caroline Horn
• children's
• illustrated
• Thames & Hudson
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