Greystone Books to launch socially-conscious children’s list

Greystone Books will launch a UK children’s list which will focus on environmental and inclusive titles next year.

The list will form part of the Canadian non-fiction publisher’s new children’s programme, Greystone Kids, which will publish picture books for younger readers and non-fiction for middle-grade readers.

Greystone Kids will launch an imprint headed up by former publisher of Groundwood Books Patricia Aldana. Aldana Libros will bring global children’s books to an English-speaking market.

The list will launch five titles in Spring 2020 and will be lead by Can You Hear the Trees Talking? by Hidden Life of Trees bestselling author, Peter Wohlleben in March.

Greystone has also announced a dedicated Greystone Kids team which will see Sara Gillingham taking up a role as consulting creative director, following her role as design director for children’s publishing at Chronicle Books. Kallie George, who has written over 20 books for children and young adults, will serve as editor for picture books.

Greystone Books and Greystone Kids publisher Rob Sanders said: “The time had come for Greystone to reach out to younger readers about matters we consider to be important in the world today. The inspiring and visually compelling books cover the topics of inclusion, global issues, science, the environment, and nature themes, which have been so well received in our Adult Publishing Programme, and are at the forefront of current trends in children’s publishing.

“We are excited to introduce our first children’s list in the United Kingdom. All the titles have good national curriculum connections and we are confident that they are being launched into a market eager for new books covering these themes. Altogether, the new Greystone Kids programme will be distinctive, ambitious, and committed to publishing talented writers and illustrators.”

Greystone Kids complete Spring 2020 list will include Can You Hear the Trees Talking? by Peter Wohlleben, Birdsong written and illustrated by Julie Flett, Spur, A Wolf’s Story written by Eliza Robertson and illustrated by Nora Aoyogi, Hello, Crow! written by Candace Savage and illustrated by Chelsea O’ Byrne and imprint Aldana Libros will release The Moose of Ewenki written by Gerelchimeg Blackcrane and Illustrated by Jiu’er.