 |
|
| Andrew Smith (photo: ©Ari Scott) |
|
Andrew Smith is Senior Vice President and Publisher of Abrams Children's Books and Abrams ComicArts. Andrew oversees the list from acquisition through publication with the goal of making Abrams the destination for beautifully designed books for all ages and ground-breaking graphic novels on the ComicArts list--creating lists that are inclusive and support and celebrate the creative vision of its authors and illustrators. Andrew has spent his more-than-25-year career in the children's publishing industry and has had the privilege of working with some of the most beloved and bestselling creators and brands across all age groups. Before joining Abrams in 2016, Andrew was the SVP and Deputy Publisher at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and prior to that held positions as VP, Sales at Candlewick and VP, Marketing for Random House Children's Books.
Dear readers,
The team at Abrams Children's Books has long admired the work of Rachel Williams and Jenny Broom, the founders of our newest imprint, Magic Cat. We've had insightful conversations with them at book fairs and bought North American rights to a number of the books they published in the UK, and, as book lovers ourselves, we adore their beautiful backlist. We're thrilled to now be working with Rachel and Jenny directly. Their brilliant and innovative vision for Magic Cat is a perfect complement to our existing publishing program.
Magic Cat publishes family-friendly nonfiction and gift books for readers of all ages, with the belief that the stories you are told in childhood shape the person you grow up to be. Rachel and Jenny are both great businesswomen, but they're also incredible editors and authors in their own right and they understand the magic that can happen when a creative team is empowered to pursue the ideas they're most passionate about. At its heart, this imprint is about cultivating and encouraging a childlike wonder of books and a belief that stories can make a change--both in children's lives and in the world around us.
We think the launch list embodies this mission perfectly, and we're so proud of the work this diverse group of talented creators has achieved. Slow Down: 50 Mindful Moments in Nature feels especially relevant, as we've all been forced to slow down and cherish quieter moments amidst everything that's going on around us. Old Enough to Save the Planet shows us that even the smallest voices can make a change and invites kids to stand up for what's right, like the 12 young climate activists profiled. In a more fantastical vein, The Dragon Ark is an oversized book that readers of all ages can pore over for hours looking at the stunning illustrations of all sorts of dragons, and Magical Creatures and Mythical Beasts is a unique book that uses a UV flashlight to reveal hidden creatures in historical landmarks around the world. And finally, Goodnight, Little Bunny and Goodnight, Little Llama are beautiful bedtime stories, perfect for gift giving, that provide uplifting messages--like believing in yourself and accepting differences--to the youngest readers.
We hope you and your little ones are inspired by the magic in these books, and we can't wait to see how stories like these shape the next generation of readers and leaders.
All the best,
Andrew Smith