Publisher Profile: The Quarto Group
The CBC asks Mel Schuit, Marketing Manager of School & Library, questions about the publisher.
How did your publishing house start out?
The Quarto Group was registered officially in 1976, but the Frances Lincoln Children’s Book imprint, which publishes the bestselling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, launched in 1983. The imprint was named after Frances Lincoln, an award-winning publisher of multicultural, highly-illustrated children’s books, and we’re very excited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the imprint this year!
What is your publishing house most known for?
The Quarto Group is a global leader in illustrated nonfiction publishing, and we champion diversity in our titles. Books like #1 New York Times Best Seller This Book Is Anti-Racist and the Little People, BIG DREAMS series are some of our best-known titles. What makes the Little People, BIG DREAMS series so unique is that each book is illustrated by a different person who has a personal connection to the biographer or their work. In April 2023, we’ll be publishing the 100th book in the series about Ugandan climate-justice activist Vanessa Nakate, illustrated by Olivia Amoah.
Where in the country is your house based? What do you love about being based there?
The Quarto Group is a global company and our corporate headquarters is based in London. We have offices in the UK, US, and Hong Kong, and employees located all over the world. Our teams bring global perspectives to the books they produce, with the Little People, BIG DREAMS series as a standout example. The series has come to feel like a global collaboration. The books are published in more than 22 languages worldwide!
What conventions and conferences does your publishing house usually attend?
The Quarto Group will be traveling to a number of conferences in 2023 to celebrate the 100th book in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series and the 40th anniversary of the Frances Lincoln Children’s Books imprint. You’ll be seeing us at Winter Institute, Texas Library Association’s Annual Conference, Children’s Institute, American Library Association’s Annual Conference, and more!
Which formats does your house prefer to publish?
The Quarto Group publishes books and activity kits in a variety of formats, but we are particularly excited to launch the paperback editions of the Little People, BIG DREAMS series in January. Previously, these have only been available in hardcover, and on January 3, we released our first round of paperbacks in the series. Tangentially, we’re also looking forward to launching the Spanish Language editions in May.
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a school or public library?
The Little People, BIG DREAMS series is a favorite in School & Library, and we’re adding our 100th person this year, Ugandan climate-justice activist Vanessa Nakate. With different regional interests or curricula focuses, there’s truly a book for every child (with many more coming!). And with the paperback and Spanish Language editions, many of the books are making their way into more homes and learning spaces.
Thank you, Quarto Books!
