Candlewick Press
| File:Candlewick Press logo.png The Candlewick Press emblem, inspired by the original Walker Books logo | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Sebastian Walker (founder of parent company Walker Books) |
| Headquarters | Somerville , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Children's books, picture books, board books, novelty titles, digital books, middle-grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction |
Number of employees | 130+ |
| Parent | Walker Books Group (owned by Trustbridge Global Media since 2020) |
| Website | www |
Candlewick Press, established in 1992 and based in Somerville, Massachusetts, functions as a division of the Walker Books group. Its emblem, depicting a bear holding a candle, is inspired by the original logo of Walker Books.
History
The origin of the company traces back to Sebastian Walker, the founder and entrepreneur behind Walker Books, who launched the enterprise in 1978 from his residence in London. Building on his initial success, he founded Candlewick Press in 1992 with a team of six employees; today, the company employs more than 130 individuals.
Publications
While initially concentrating on picture books, Candlewick has broadened its catalog to encompass board books, novelty titles, digital books, as well as middle-grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction. The publisher commands a significant portion of the children's literature market with popular series such as the Ologies collection, Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart’s pop-up creations, Megan McDonald’s Judy Moody and Stink franchises, Guess How Much I Love You, Martin Handford’s Where's Waldo?, Lucy Cousins’ Maisy Mouse, alongside award-winning works like M. T. Anderson’s The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing. Recent hits include Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back and This is Not My Hat, the latter earning the 2012 Caldecott Medal, along with Stephan Pastis’s Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.
Candlewick is widely recognized for publishing acclaimed author Kate DiCamillo’s novels, including her debut Because of Winn-Dixie (a Newbery Honor recipient), The Tiger Rising (a National Book Award finalist), Newbery Medal-winning titles such as The Tale of Despereaux and Flora & Ulysses, among other distinguished works that have contributed significantly to the company’s financial success and industry acclaim.
Other notable authors associated with Candlewick include M. T. Anderson, renowned for his speculative historical fiction series. The publisher has also overseen imprints like Toon Books (2010–2014) and Nosy Crow (2011–2022), further diversifying its presence in children’s publishing.
Additionally, Candlewick publishes works by Meg Medina, who serves as the 2023–2024 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature; her award-winning contributions enhance the publisher’s reputation and influence within the market.
The Walker Books Group encompasses Candlewick Press along with Walker Books UK and Walker Books Australia. In May 2020, Trustbridge Global Media acquired the group, strengthening its global footprint and strategic position in the publishing sector.
Templar Books
Templar Books represents Candlewick's inaugural imprint and is a collaboration with UK-based Templar Publishing. This imprint focuses on picture books, novelty formats, and board books. Among its acclaimed titles are Jonny Duddle's The Pirates Next Door and Levi Pinfold's Black Dog, which received the 2013 Kate Greenaway Medal.
Big Picture Press
Introduced in Autumn 2013, Big Picture Press delivers beautifully illustrated books designed for readers of all ages. Created by Templar Publishing in the UK as a quality alternative to digital media, its standout titles include Maps by Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielinski along with the Welcome to the Museum series.
Candlewick Entertainment
Founded in the spring of 2014, Candlewick Entertainment specializes in children’s media-related publications, including TV and movie tie-ins for well-known series such as Peppa Pig.
Candlewick Studio
Launched in the autumn of 2016, Candlewick Studio produces design-oriented books showcasing talents like Ingela P. Arrhenius, élo, David Ellwand, Aaron Becker, and Carme Lemniscates.
MIT Kids Press and MITeen Press
Created in collaboration with MIT Press and Candlewick Press in fall 2021, these imprints offer captivating STEAM-themed materials aimed at both young readers and teenagers.
Walker Books US
Operating as a branch of Candlewick Press since fall 2018, Walker Books US focuses on publishing fiction, graphic novels, and illustrated titles for children and adolescent audiences.