Lonely Planet Kids Expands
Lonely Planet Kids, the children’s imprint of travel media brand Lonely Planet, has announced the appointment of Hanna Otero as publisher. The hire is part of the house’s ongoing expansion in the North American market. Beginning on January 8, Otero took the helm from former publisher Tim Cook.
Also joining Otero in the children’s imprint’s N.Y. office is Lisa Ford, who has been named production manager. In addition, there are plans to bring on an art director, editor, and commissioning editor for the team, which currently includes art director Andy Mansfield in London. As part of the imprint’s reorganization, Nora Rawn, senior editor of illustrated nonfiction, and an incoming art director will be based in N.Y., reporting to Robin Barton, associate publisher of illustrated nonfiction in London.
About Lonely Planet Kids
Lonely Planet began publishing children’s books with a packager in 2011, and launched its own children’s imprint in 2014. The Lonely Planet Kids list now approaches 100 titles. Piers Pickard, managing director of publishing in London, told PW, “Our sales are really good and they’re growing each year. In 2017, we published 22 kids’ books. In 2018 we’ll do 27, and in 2019 we’re looking to do around 35.” Of the U.S. expansion, he said, “We want to make books that work everywhere. And that means putting a bit more emphasis on the American market.”
Continue reading more about Lonely Planet Kids’ titles, new directions for the imprint, and publisher Hanna Otero on Publishers Weekly here.
