The love of reading begins at an early age. Adult readers may fondly remember closely examining every illustration in Where the Wild Things Are or poring over the pages of The Chronicles of Narnia, entranced by its fantastical world.
These memories are just as valuable today as they were when you were a child, which is what makes reputable children’s book publishers such an integral part of the publishing industry.
Whether you’re a children’s book author searching for the leading names in the business or you’re a parent curating a list of all-time best children’s books to add to your kid’s bookshelf, check out our list of the best children’s book publishers.
Scholastic
Founded in 1923, Scholastic is one of the biggest names in children’s book publishing. The company’s bright red branding—not to mention its bright red mascot, Clifford the Big Red Dog—is immediately recognizable during Scholastic Book Fairs in public schools across the United States. Like many of the best children’s book publishers, Scholastic places education and literacy at the forefront of its mission.
Scholastic provides books for a wide range of ages, as it is the publishing house behind well-known titles such as The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and of course, Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Holiday House
A kid-centric publisher, Holiday House was founded in 1935, making it the first publishing house with the sole purpose of publishing only children’s books. This purpose has remained a driving force for decades, making Holiday House one of the best children’s book publishers today.
Holiday House’s books have won a plethora of awards over the years, demonstrating the publisher’s deep understanding of the reading needs of children. Some of Holiday House’s notable award-winning titles include Rain Makes Applesauce, Dreamers, Birds Make Nests, and Because They Marched.
Penguin Random House
One of the “Big Five” publishing houses, Penguin Random House is the result of a 2013 merger between Penguin Group and Random House. However, the company’s financial acquisitions have only solidified its spot on our list of the best children’s book publishers.
Penguin Random House has a long history of publishing high-quality children’s books that have stood the test of time, such as The Percy Jackson, Peter Rabbit, and The Magic Treehouse series.
Quirk Books
As its name suggests, this publisher embraces the weird and wonderful. Founded in 2002, Quirk Books is a small publishing house based in Philadelphia that is rather selective about the titles it publishes. In a given year, Quirk Books publishes only 20–25 books, emphasizing quality over quantity.
Though Quirk Books is known for its adult bestsellers, such as Pride & Prejudice & Zombies and The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, the publisher’s children’s books are truly top-tier. Quirk Books sticks to its offbeat offerings and unique stories for younger readers, too, resulting in titles such as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, as well as picture book editions of pop culture titles like Back to the Future.
HarperCollins
Next on our list of best children’s book publishers is another member of the “Big Five”: HarperCollins. The company dates back to 1817, and since then, HarperCollins has grown to a gargantuan size, establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with in the publishing industry. Its children’s books division is no different, offering a wide array of high-quality and diverse titles.
HarperCollins children’s books have something for every child, from heartwarming stories like Frog and Toad to charming mishaps with Curious George to grim tales like A Series of Unfortunate Events for the more morose children in your life.
Candlewick Press
Founded in 1992, Candlewick Press is a publishing house devoted solely to children’s books. As you may expect, this means that Candlewick Press is committed to offering innovative, imaginative, and educational books for children of all ages: picture books, easy readers for beginners, activity books, board books, nonfiction, and more.
Candlewick Press is the publisher behind titles such as Guess How Much I Love You, My Friend Maisy, Where’s Waldo?, Judy Moody, and Because of Winn-Dixie, meaning that Candlewick has more than earned its spot on our list of best children’s book publishers.
Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury’s children’s publishing division is a powerhouse, offering selections for every child, from toddler to teen. That being said, Bloomsbury’s young adult fiction has become a crown jewel for the publisher as its authors reach high acclaim and record-breaking sales.
For younger kids, Bloomsbury is noted for featuring books that can help introduce tough topics and big ideas, such as diversity and inclusion, as well as educational resources that are easily digestible for young minds. This pairs well with the publisher’s robust catalog of academic books for adults.
With numerous award-winning children’s books, such as Piecing Me Together, The Cat I Never Named, and The Promise of Change, Bloomsbury is committed to providing children’s books that leave a lasting impression on young readers.
Flashlight Press
Though Flashlight Press is a smaller publishing house when compared to some of the others on this list, its dedication to helping kids navigate life through relatable books is commendable. Flashlight Press has stringent submission guidelines for authors—under 1000 words, the target audience of 4–8-year-olds, has a universal theme—which demonstrates the publisher’s devotion to its target audience.
Flashlight Press has children’s books that touch on many important topics in a child’s life, breaking them down into kid-friendly illustrations and stories. Kids can learn about big ideas, such as the effects of aging in Grandfather’s Wrinkles, or feel comfortable with their emotions with titles like Maya Was Grumpy.
Ladybird Books
A subsidiary of Penguin Random House, Ladybird Books is all about young readers. It is a one-stop shop for bedtime stories, as Ladybird Books features engaging board books and picture books that are perfect for children and their families.
Ladybird Books provides a vast selection of children’s books, so you are sure to find a title that will interest your little one. The publisher even offers books that feature popular characters like Bluey and Bingo from Bluey or the eponymous Peppa Pig.
Discover the complex market of book publishing by exploring the top five educational publishers or big five publishing houses. The articles will be interesting for students, educators, lifelong learners, or anyone with a passion for books.
By using the BookScouter book publishers catalog, you can gain valuable insights into the dominant players that are shaping the educational literature landscape.
