Publisher Profile: Platypus Media / Science Naturally
The CBC asks Violet Antonick, Associate Editor and Outreach Coordinator, questions about the publisher.
How did your publishing house start out?
Dia L. Michels started Platypus Media in 2000. At the time, she was the coauthor of A Woman’s Guide to Yeast Infections and Milk, Money & Madness: The Culture and Politics of Breastfeeding. She was a young mother and founded the company to deliver materials into the world that normalized breastfeeding, cosleeping, and attachment parenting. She was a popular speaker at healthcare and parenting conferences, and, as she spoke and worked with children, she realized something very key: that an appreciation of these maternal/child health issues required fundamental science literacy. To influence the next generation of parents, she refocused her efforts to actively promote science education. Voilà! Science Naturally was launched in 2007 to make STEM topics relevant, accessible, and engaging. The two companies appear to be very different, but they complement each other beautifully. We now have a wonderful list of STEM titles that model biological attachment and demonstrate that science and math surround us.
What is your publishing house most known for?
Platypus Media develops books and resources on attachment parenting, emphasizing breastfeeding and cosleeping education. We create materials for parenting professionals, educators, and families. Our popular imprint, Science, Naturally, produces titles to engage and educate children on STEM topics. We offer both fiction and nonfiction books, in a variety of languages, for early childhood through middle-grade readers.
Where in the country is your house based? What do you love about being based there?
We are based in Washington, DC, and have a view of the U.S. Capitol from our office! As a small, independent press, we love being based here because of the great resources at our disposal, from the Library of Congress and the U.S. Trademark Office, from the Smithsonian Museums to the embassies of the world. As a center for culture, there are endless literary events, book fairs, and publishing conferences, providing excellent networking opportunities and cultural diversity. Additionally, Washington, DC, fosters a supportive ecosystem for small businesses and cultural enterprises.
What conventions and conferences does your publishing house usually attend?
We attend many conferences that we can drive to, including a handful of ones that require flights. In general, we split our time between library, science teacher, literacy, and maternal/child health meetings. We also exhibit at many Maker Faires. We frequent ALA, NSTA, AAAS, ITEEA, and many state conferences in these areas. We attended the National Head Start Association conference for the first time this year and will make our inaugural appearance at the Guadalajara International Book Fair in November.
How many employees does your house have?
We are a tight, close-knit team of 6 people. We are fortunate to have many publishing interns each year to lend a hand!
How many books does your house aim to publish per season/year?
We publish about 8 new titles each year, along with about a dozen releases of existing titles in different formats and/or languages.
Which genres does your house prefer to publish?
Platypus Media keeps an eye out for interesting adult maternal/child health manuscripts, especially ones that include breastfeeding and/or cosleeping. Our children’s books feature close relationships and images of healthy attachment, which are often animal-centric. We have just started publishing SEL books as well. Science Naturally is passionate about publishing fascinating manuscripts, fiction or nonfiction, that excite kids about science, technology, engineering, and math.
Which formats does your house prefer to publish?
We love books and prefer to publish books that children can have and hold. We release hardcovers, paperbacks, board books, die-cut books, activity and coloring books, and ebooks. We make all of the books available in English as well as in bilingual, reversible, and single-world language editions so that we can reach as many children as possible.
What are some of your house’s publishing priorities over the next few years?
We plan on doing more world languages, including more titles in Haitian Creole and Bengali, and our first titles in Mandarin, Amharic, and Arabic.
Which title has your house recently rallied behind?
How Do You See the Word? We really wanted this book to do well so it would reach a larger audience of children curious about various eye conditions and how to understand them in a friendly, non-intimidating way. Additionally, we’ve recently gained a lot of attention for our book, Safe Infant Sleep: Expert Answers to Your Cosleeping Questions, after Kourtney Kardashian shared it on her Instagram story. This spotlight reminded us of the importance of discussing the sometimes controversial topic of cosleeping.
Which title does your house feel deserved more love than it got?
The P Word: A Manual for Mammals by Dr. David Hu shares our commitment to accurate body information for children. His enthusiasm for penis education shines through every page, aiming to spark crucial conversations with kids about pre-puberty in a unique and friendly way. This book is more than just a resource; it’s a companion for families navigating the changes that childhood brings. We believe this book has the potential to make a big impact. And we also believe that its unique approach and vital conversations are exactly what families want. That’s why we were surprised it didn’t reach a wider audience when we released it, but we remain confident that it will become more popular over time.
Which upcoming titles is your house buzzing about?
Our upcoming November 2024 titles, which celebrate the natural wonders of our world:
- Tiny Tern takes Flight – This is a visually stunning book about the amazing Arctic Terns who fly from the North Pole to the South Pole and back… every year! Pre-sales for this book have taken off!, and
- The Super Volcano: A Hidden Hero Below Yellowstone National Park – In this comic book-inspired visit to Yellowstone, kids learn about the super volcano’s exploding geysers, boiling mud pots, and much more, while discovering how its superpowers support a thriving ecosystem, helping feed and protect the unique wildlife year after year.
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a school or public library?
Our Skytime series was previously published as board books. It includes Twinkle, Twinkle, Daytime Star and Twinkle, Twinkle Nighttime Sky. These are now available in English only or in Eng/Span bilingual paperback editions with additional fun facts about the Sun, our solar system, and outer space. Sales are very strong and they are the first books customers reach for when we meet them at book events.
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a classroom? Which grade?
Mammals Unlocked is the first book in our new Open Earth series. With about 100 words per page and great art created by a medical illustrator, kids in grades 4–8 learn fascinating facts about mammals that can be found from the depths of the ocean to the heights of the mountains. This book illuminates the vastness of the mammal world in a simple, interactive question-and-answer format. It is available in both English only and an Eng/Span bilingual edition.
Additionally, we think Talking Science is a very special book. Uniquely, it teaches kids in the early elementary grades the seven universal measurements. With easy-to-understand examples and lively illustrations from the world around us, children are introduced to the idea that science is a universal language that can truly connect us all.
Which of your frontlist tiles would you like to see get more attention from bookstores?
We always like seeing our Science Wide Open series about women pioneers in STEM fields getting the attention it deserves. The six books in this series inspire the children to start their own journeys of discovery and wonder in their desired field of science. The series includes Women in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Engineering, and Medicine. All the titles are available in both English and Spanish.
Name a few of your favorite backlist titles that people should check out.
- One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math!
- How Cats Say I Love You
- This Is the Sun
- Look Up to See What the Weather Will Be
What else would you like to tell us about your house and the amazing work you all do?
As a small team, we are constantly evolving and seeking new ways to expand the reach and
accessibility of our books. We partner with First Book to ensure our books reach the children who
need them most. We also work directly with several literacy organizations working hard to ensure
kids grow a love of reading and have books to build their home libraries. Through these
organizations, we have grown our world language offerings. Working with these literacy groups
warms our hearts every day.
Thank you, Platypus Media / Science Naturally!
