Candlewick Press and the MIT Press are jointly creating two imprints, MIT Kids Press and MITeen Press, which will cover a wide range of STEAM topics such as planetary science, the Internet and the environment. The two new children's and teen imprints will be "led creatively and brought to market" by Candlewick, and an MIT-based advisory board, comprising members of the MIT Press and faculty, will review and approve the list, suggest acquisitions and check all books for "scientific validity and factual accuracy." Candlewick will handle all manufacturing and commercial aspects of the imprints, with marketing and publicity support from MIT Press.
The imprints' first lists are slated for fall 2021 and will include, among other titles, a picture book by physicist, professor and Einstein's Dreams author Alan Lightman; a guide to learning Chinese through emoji; and a coding guide for middle-grade readers. MIT Kids Press and MITeen Press titles will be available in the U.S., U.K. and Australia.
Karen Lotz, president and publisher of Candlewick Press, called the collaboration "unprecedented," marking "a new frontier in publishing." It's "a dream come true," she added. "First and foremost, we shared an ambition to fill the truly international need for new kinds of nonfiction and fiction on important STEAM topics. We also have a passion for finding new and better ways to connect readers with our books. Through these conversations, it became apparent to us at Candlewick how lucky we would be to secure a broad partnership together with the MIT Press."
Amy Brand, director of the MIT Press, said, "We're truly thrilled to be partnering with Candlewick to take this opportunity to the next level by launching dedicated imprints for young kids and teens under the MIT name." --Siân Gaetano, children's and YA editor, Shelf Awareness