Usborne Publishing

Introduction

Usborne Publishing, often called Usborne Books, is a children's book publisher based in the UK.

Founded by Peter Usborne in 1973 [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Who we are | work = | publisher = usborne.co.uk | date = | url = http://www.usborne.co.uk/about_usborne/who_we_are.asp?css=1 | format = | accessdate = 2007-11-12 ] , it has become one of the largest publishers of children's books in the world, translated into over 90 languages. Its sister company Usborne Books at Home a direct sales association selling to families schools and communities, was founded 25 years ago and won the Direct Sales Association Award for Innovation in 2004.

Combining bright and colourful illustrations, fresh, original and easy-to-read text and innovative ideas Usborne has a reputation for books that are both fun and informative and has won numerous awards.

With an in-house team of writers, editors and designers, Usborne Publishing prides itself on the high standard of all its books and takes the utmost care at every stage of production, from concept to printing, to make books of the highest quality.

To coincide with the 2008 National Year of Reading, Usborne is celebrating the Usborne Reading Programme with a marketing campaign to encourage beginner readers. The programme is a collection of over 150 titles graded in seven levels covering a wide range of subjects, both fiction and non-fiction.

Making a wide range of books for all ages, fiction and non-fiction, some of Usborne’s series include:

Touchy Feely
History of Britain
Discovery
Look & Say
First Picture Books
Phonics Readers
Farmyard Tales
True Stories
Classics Retold
See Inside
Fabulous Fiction
Things to Make and Do
Puzzle Adventures
Beginners
First Thousand Words
Spotter’s Guides
Usborne Reading Programme

Usborne Books at Home and Usborne Books for Schools

Usborne Books at Home is a franchise operation that was founded over 25 years ago. At its heart are Usborne’s ‘Organisers’ who sell the entire range of Usborne books directly to consumers at discounted prices. Customers are typically friends, families, and libraries. Usborne Books for Schools is a branch of this operation and focuses on delivering books to schools nationwide, with sales representatives running book fairs, sponsored reads, themed events, storytime events and summer fetes.

Awards

· Touchy-Feely That's Not My Penguin nominated for Children's Book of the Year 2008 at the British Book Awards
· UK Times Literary Supplement Award
· Touchy-Feely That’s Not My… series - voted Best Buy in the Toddler Book category of the Prima Baby Reader Awards 2006
· First Picture Action Rhymes - Practical Pre-School Gold Award 2006
· Snuggletime Sleepy Baby - Practical Pre-School Silver Award 2006

Touchy Feely books

The award-winning Touchy-Feely board books, created by Fiona Watt, include the Hide-and-Seek Touchy-Feely series, the Noisy Touchy-Feely series, the Sparkly Touchy-Feely series and the That’s Not My….series. Aimed at young children, they are designed to develop sensory and language awareness with their bright pictures and patches of different textures. Over 7.5 million of these books have been sold worldwide.

Quicklinks

Many books over Usborne’s non-fiction ranges are ‘internet-linked’ with carefully chosen and monitored websites that provide more information on the book’s subject.

Quicklinks were first introduced in 2000 as a way to incorporate the internet into modern reading habits. Peter Usborne has been quoted in the trade magazine The Bookseller as saying: "I initially thought that the internet would kill non-fiction, because teachers would tell children to use the internet to help with homework. But if you key in ‘castles' [on a search engine] , you get 900,000 possible websites. The internet is an inadequate resource for children." [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Usborne Identity - an interview with Peter Usborne | work = | publisher = The Bookseller | date = | url = http://www.thebookseller.co.uk/in-depth/trade-profiles/46850-the-usborne-identity.html | format = | accessdate = 2008-05-08 ]

Throughout each internet-linked book there are small entries informing the reader that more information on certain topics can be found using the Usborne Quicklinks website. By selecting the title and page number of the book in the site a list of recommended websites are given with extra material on the subject such as video clips, activities and games.

Internet Safety

To ensure that children are as safe as possible when using the internet each site that the book links to is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that the site remains appropriate. Safety guidelines are also supplied both in the book and on the site.

Farmyard Tales

Farmyard Tales is one of Usborne’s most iconic and popular series, following the adventures of the people and animals of Apple Tree Farm. The series includes Board and Flap Books, Farmyard Tales Activity Books, Farmyard Tales Stories, Games and Jigsaws and Word Books and Flashcards. The books are designed for children who are just learning to read, but the illustrations by the renowned Stephen Cartwright will also make them appealing to those who are too young to read just yet.

Authors

Usborne fiction authors include:
· Diana Kimpton
· Sue Mongredien
· Tony Bradman
· Cindy Jefferies
· Kelly McKain
· Pauline Francis
· Graham Marks
· Tim Wynne-Jones
· Adele Geras
· Linda Newbery
· Ann Turnbull
· Geraldine McCaughrean
· Andrew Matthews
· Susan Price
· Meg Harper
· Carol Hedges
· John Pilkington
· Kimberley Greene
· K.M. Peyton
· Thom Madley
· Ann Evans
· Susan Gates
· Gus Grenfell
· Edith Patou
· Bernard Ashley
· L.M. Elliott
· Rodman Philbrick
· Mary Ann Rodman
· Charles Butler
· Malcolm Rose
· Ann Bryant
· Nancy Butcher
· Andrew Matthews
· Lloyd Alexander
· Terry Deary
· Sandra Glover
· Paul Stewart
· Michelle Bates
· Susannah Leigh

eries

Usborne publish books in series; all books are standalone but more can be gained from reading the other books in the series.

* Usborne Puzzle Adventure series
* Usborne Young Puzzle series
* Usborne Spinechiller series
* Usborne Young Reading
* Usborne Whodunnit series
* That's Not My.... series (for pre-school age children)

See also

* UK children's book publishers

References

External links

* [http://www.usborne.co.uk/ Usborne.co.uk] , the official site of Usborne Publishing
* [http://www.usbornebooksathome.co.uk/ Usborne Books at Home] ,