Arcadia Publishing, which specializes in books of local history and local interest, is buying "the significant assets" of Pelican Publishing, which specializes in books about New Orleans and Louisiana. The transaction will close in May.
Founded in 1926, Pelican has a catalogue of more than 2,000 titles, including such backlist bestsellers as Listen, I Say Like This by Chef Leah Chase and the children's holiday classic Cajun Night Before Christmas, illustrated by James Rice, which has spawned musicals, plays and more.
"Pelican has been publishing in New Orleans for almost 100 years," David Steinberger, Arcadia president and CEO, said. "It is a publisher that fits well with Arcadia's mission, which is to connect people with their past, with their communities and with one another."
Pelican president and publisher Kathleen Calhoun Nettleton, whose family has owned the publishing house since 1970 and who will continue at Pelican after the sale, said, "We could not be more pleased to have found the right long-term home for Pelican."
Walter Isaacson, editor-at-large and special advisor at Arcadia, added: "Books about local history and culture are crucial to enhancing the fabric of American life. As a child growing up in New Orleans, I loved many of Pelican's titles, so it is especially meaningful to have them as part of the Arcadia family."