New Associate Member, Mango Publishing
Welcome to the Children’s Book Council, Mango Publishing!
What’s the origin story behind Mango Publishing?
Mango Publishing was founded in 2014 by Chris McKenney, former chief operating officer at PGW and co-founder of Mobifusion, a digital startup. McKenney formed Mango with a team that included publishing veterans Michelle Lewy, a Mobifusion colleague, and Brenda Knight, editor and former publisher of Cleis Press—as well as newcomers to the publishing industry. Many of Mango’s almost 40 employees work at our headquarters in Miami and others work remotely, including several who live outside the United States.
What are some titles you’re proud to have published and why?
Two titles that show our growth into children’s and YA publishing are The Book of Awesome Black Americans and Badass Black Girl. Several editors here have been working to grow our list for young readers—especially for kids looking to see themselves represented in books, and readers looking to learn about histories outside the mainstream.
A title we proudly published in May of this year was the Dino Dana: Dino Field Guide by J.J. Johnson, Christin Simms, and Colleen Russo Johnson. It’s a beautiful book that teaches kids about the science and history of dinosaurs and is the result of a partnership with Sinking Ship, the producers of the Amazon Prime TV Show Dino Dana. The book does a great job of translating the enthusiasm and passion that the show’s main character has for learning, adventure, and dinosaurs.
Mango Publishing has a diverse list of authors. What are some of the benefits of that?
According to Chris McKenney in a Publishers Weekly 2019 piece, “Our secret sauce is our diversity—new voices, different backgrounds, and exceptional talents all publishing for a rapidly growing and diverse audience of readers.”
Our diverse editorial staff, hailing from different parts of the world. . . has led to an eclectic list in subjects that include: civil rights history, LGBTQ issues, self-help and mindfulness, poetry, as well as children’s and young adult books. In publishing fresh, distinctive, and diverse voices, we also hope to reach as many readers as possible, including those whose interests and concerns have not been represented widely, or at all, in books.
What digital events can librarians, educators and booksellers look for Mango Publishing at?
Look for us at the Miami Book Fair which will be putting out online author panels and other digital events on the week of November 15, 2020! Events listings will be available on our website.
