We sat down for a conversation with Brown Bear Books Publisher Anne O’Daly and Amicus Associate Publisher Rebecca Glaser to learn more about the history of Brown Bear Books and their relationship with Amicus Presents.
Who is Brown Bear Books? Where and how did the company start?
Anne O'Daly: Brown Bear Books is a small, independent publisher. We started in 2002, making books and series for American publishers, and then decided to make our own books as well. Since then, we’ve published more than 150 books.
What sparked the partnership between Amicus and Brown Bear Books?
Rebecca Glaser: When two passionate, independent publishers join forces, great things can happen. Brown Bear Books has been a long-time partner of The Creative Company; the relationship goes back a couple decades. They used to be under Black Rabbit Books, which focuses more on high/lo books for reluctant readers. We recently brought the Brown Bear Books titles into Amicus Presents because their educational titles complement the Amicus list quite well.
What types of books do you publish and why do you create the books you do?
Anne O'Daly: We make illustrated nonfiction books that are accurate, informative and—most of all—fun to read. Our books cover all kinds of subjects, from how AI works to how to change the course of history, and all ages, from 5 to 105 and beyond!
We create the books we do mainly because we love them! We want to inspire children with a love of reading and to spark their interest in all kinds of subjects. Individually, all of us here are fascinated by the world around us and how it came to be. We firmly believe that nonfiction books can be just as exciting and interesting as fiction—maybe more so.
What value does Brown Bear Books bring to the Amicus Presents list?
Rebecca Glaser: The Brown Bear Books editorial team does excellent work and portrays timely, relevant subjects in a clear, concise way that’s easy for kids to understand. They cover different topics at a slightly higher reading level than Amicus produces in-house, so it’s a nice step up when readers are ready for more content.
What makes Brown Bear Books different from other publishers?
Anne O'Daly: We’re small but mighty! We’re a small team so each book feels personal. We love working with our writers, illustrators, and designers, all passionate about making the best books we can.
What’s the most important consideration when creating nonfiction books for kids?
Anne O'Daly: To imagine yourself as the kid who’s picking up that book for the first time. Is the text accessible and engaging? Is the information easy to understand? Do the pictures bring the facts to life? Do I want to find out more?
What do you see the future of the relationship between Amicus and Brown Bear Books looking like in the years to come?
Rebecca Glaser: We plan to release a couple series from Brown Bear Books each season on an ongoing basis. Anne and her team develop their own list, with some input from us. Their content really is top notch and we always look forward to what a new season of titles will bring!
Shop new releases from Brown Bear Books: Health Matters and Animal Smarts.
