Publisher Profile: Creative Minds Publications
2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Creative Minds Publications!
The CBC asks Kathryn Starke, Founder and CEO, questions about the publisher.
How did your publishing house start out?
I was teaching second grade when I wrote my first children’s book, Amy’s Travels, to teach the seven continents to my students. I started a company to market, promote, and sell the book. Since then, I have been able to help fellow teachers and new authors bring their children’s books to life and into schools around the world.
What is your publishing house most known for?
We are a publishing company founded by an elementary school teacher that focuses on creating quality, engaging, and educational children’s books that are often used in elementary school classrooms and school libraries.
In our 20 years as publishers, one of our most wonderful lessons has been…
That every single one of our books is a brand-new idea that matches our mission of engaging, educational books, often written by a fellow educator.
Which genres does your house prefer to publish?
Children’s picture books and middle-grade fiction books.
Which formats does your house prefer to publish?
Paperback and hardcover!
What are some of your house’s publishing priorities over the next few years?
We are excited to increase our catalogue with even more award-winning authors and titles.
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a school or public library?
Since schools and libraries are our priority, I would say all of them, but I will highlight the Two Mice children’s travel series and The Adventures of Syd children’s travel series.
Which of your frontlist titles would be great for a classroom? Which grade?
The 20th anniversary edition of Amy’s Travels. It was written by a second-grade teacher and became the first children’s picture book to teach all seven continents. Based on a true story, the book is ideal for the first and second grade classroom.
Which of your frontlist titles would you like to see get more attention from bookstores?
The Alternate World, our very first YA fantasy!
Name a few of your favorite backlist titles that people should check out.
The Boy with the Magic Thumb is written by debut author Laura Jacobson, and illustrated by New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Michael Garland.
What else would you like to tell us about your house and the amazing work you all do?
We love helping new authors bring their books into the world, and we continue to expand our catalogue and partnerships to enable us to do so. We also believe in publishing for a purpose by using some of our great titles to increase awareness around various educational, social, and environmental issues that match the theme of the book. We are also the creator of the 10th annual Tackle Reading initiative supported by the National Football League.
Thank you, Creative Minds Publications!
