Phaidon announces expanded children's book program for spring 2016

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This spring, Phaidon will expand its children's book program with the launch of seven titles for 0 to 8 year-olds informed and inspired by Phaidon's adult categories of art, design, photography, and food.

Building on the company's aesthetic legacy and reputation for high quality illustrated books, the spring 2016 list includes a range of formats and art styles, from fold-out board books to picture book boxed sets to a book on nautical codes with bound-in textured flags. Phaidon's widely acclaimed writers and artists include Taro Gomi, author-illustrator of the bestselling Everyone Poops, graphic designer and social media star Jean Jullien, picture book artist Kevin Waldron, and Joshua David Stein, restaurant critic for the New York Observer.

The list has been developed by Phaidon's new children's editorial team, led by Publishing Director Cecily Kaiser and Art Director Meagan Bennett. It features titles that, while they will be enjoyed by adults, are created primarily for children by corresponding closely to specific developmental stages and interests.

Kaiser studied child development and joined Phaidon with almost two decades of experience in children's book publishing at Scholastic and Abrams/Appleseed. "Each of our books features groundbreaking content in the most elegant of packages," says Kaiser, "and yet, all aspects are dictated by the age of the child for whom we are creating. This fresh approach to publishing, paired with the highest aesthetic and production values, makes each book uniquely Phaidon."

The books are from a mix of sources: in-house-generated concepts, agented submissions, collaborations with new and existing Phaidon authors and illustrators, and international buy-ins. The list complements Phaidon's backlist of author-driven titles by award-winners Hervé Tullet and Tomi Ungerer, among others.

The first titles, This is Not a Book and Can I Eat That?, will be published in March, with five more titles coming in April and May.  See the Phaidon's children's catalogue of all the spring titles here: http://www.phaidon.com/resource/ws16-childrenscatalog-us2.pdf

This Is Not A Book (March 28, $9.95 US/$12.95 CAN, oversized board book, ages 2-4)
This oversized board book is a playfully deceptive format that encourages readers to think creatively about objects in their daily lives from French graphic designer Jean Jullien, best known for his topical visual commentaries including his "Peace for Paris" iconic illustration. The book transforms into a fridge full of food, a laptop, a theater, a tent, and more. Jullien's other work includes illustration for The New York Times and The New Yorker, among others, installations, videos, and more. jeanjullien.com

Can I Eat That? (March 28, $16.95 US/$19.95 CAN, jacketed hardcover, ages 3-5)
New York Observer food critic Joshua David Stein presents a whimsical yet factual set of read-aloud questions and answers about the things we eat…and don't eat. Questions range from the practical, "Can I eat a sea urchin?" to the playful, "Do eggs grow on eggplants?" The book is illustrated by food and textile illustrator Julia Rothman. 100% of the author's proceeds from sale of the book will be donated to Action Against Hunger. www.actionagainsthunger.org. joshuadavidstein.com; juliarothman.com

Growing Together: A Collection of Four Books (April 25, $19.95 US/$29.95 CAN, four hardback books in slipcase, ages 2-5)
This boxed set of four picture books from Tori Gomi, Japan's most beloved and prolific children's book author-illustrator, is published in English for the first time by Phaidon. The fours books—Exploring, Imagining, Growing, and Sharing–explore universal themes of growing up through Gomi's trademark bold illustrations and delightfully offbeat text. He has more than 400 books to his credit including the bestselling Everybody Poops.

Blue & Other Colors with Henri Matisse (April 25, $9.95 US/$12.95 CAN, board book, ages 1-3)
Created in collaboration with the Matisse Estate, this book introduces colors to new readers through the cutouts of Henri Matisse. It takes children through Matisse's color palette, one artwork per page, beginning with and returning to blue. This is the first title in an innovative series from Phaidon pairing influential fine artists with early-learning concepts. Each book will include a read-aloud "about the artist" at the end.

Harold's Hungry Eyes (May 16, $16.95 US/$19.95 CAN, jacketed hardcover, ages 4-6)
This stylish picture book presents an endearing depiction of a day in the life of a food-obsessed dog, with hints of edible humor. When Harold the dog gets lost, he finds his way home through food mirages including a waffle manhole cover, a turkey roasting in a mailbox, and toast popping out the top of a building. The author-illustrator of three previous picture books, Kevin Waldron is based in New York City. He won the Book Trust Best New Illustrators Award in 2011. kevinwaldron.co.uk

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie: The Complete Book of Nautical Codes (May 23, $19.95 US/$22.95 CAN, paper over board with specially treated paper inserts, ages 6-8)
The first book to be published on nautical codes for children, this graphically stunning volume from award-winning art director and author-illustrator Sara Gillingham includes 26 bound-in nautical flags on specially treated paper that will encourage readers to code and decode messages of their own. The book has been created in consultation with the International Maritime Organization. sarahgillingham.com

Animals are Delicious (May 23, $17.95 US/$22.95 CAN, 3 foldout board books in slipcase, ages 2-4)
Three unique accordion foldout board books in a slipcase present a playful yet informative look at land, sea, and air food chains. From a slug to a bobcat, a krill to a whale, and an aphid to an owl, the food chains are presented in diorama-style artwork created by Australian husband and wife team Dave Ladd and Stephanie Anderson, accompanied by a read-aloud text by Sarah Hutt. hesheittheyi.com

Contact: Meg A. Parsont, Phaidon Publicity Director, North America
mparsont@phaidon.com

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SOURCE Phaidon