Little Island to launch in North America

Little Island Books is partnering with Consortium Book Sales & Distribution, which is part of Ingram, and Tennessee-based children’s marketing specialist Publisher’s Spotlight, as it launches in North America. 

The independent Irish press will initiate its list in North America this April, starting with a number of new US-only hardcover special editions, including Baby Teeth by Meg Grehan, Wolfstongue by Sam Thompson and Bumpfizzle the Best on Planet Earth by Patricia Forde.

The move follows previous successful distribution partnerships for the Dublin-based press. In 2020 Little Island linked with Australian Novella Distribution and in 2018 with the UK’s Bounce Sales & Marketing. Both relationships have resulted in "significant leaps forward" as year-on-year sales increased by around 25% in 2021, according to the firm.

"We’re extremely excited about this new chapter which has the potential to take Little Island to the next level," said Matthew Parkinson-Bennett. "We’ve had some great successes selling US rights in our books but the time is right to start selling our own editions into this large and welcoming market. It gives us a new way to enhance our authors’ global readerships and reputations and it will result in major benefits for their careers."

“Consortium is thrilled to bring Little Island’s lists to the US and Canadian markets," said Katherine Bright-Holmes, Consortium’s business development director. "Their award-winning books for children and young people inform, amuse and inspire. We are delighted to sell their fun, thought-provoking, creative books directly to North American audiences and already have great enthusiasm and appreciation for their adventurous titles from retailers, libraries, and, of course, readers, young and old."

Ellen Myrick of Publisher’s Spotlight added: "Little Island Books’ reputation for excellence and for creating tomorrow’s classics today make working with its list an unabashed joy."