Behrman House, the Jewish educational publisher whose Apples & Honey Press imprint publishes children's books with an emphasis on social and emotional skills and character development, has been sold by longtime owners David Behrman and Vicki Weber to Derek Stordahl. Stordahl was most recently general manager at Holiday House and Peachtree and he has held leadership positions at McGraw-Hill and Bloomsbury. Behrman and Weber are retiring.
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| Derek Stordahl | |
Founded in 1921 as Behrman's Jewish Book Shop, Behrman House, Millburn, N.J., has more than 800 titles in print and serves K-12 students and schools in North America covering subjects such as history, holidays, values, the Bible, and Hebrew. It also publishes adult trade books for readers seeking to explore Jewish thought and learning by authors such as Rachel Cowan, David Wolpe, Laura Geller, and Milton Steinberg. In 2015, Behrman House launched Apples & Honey Press. Its notable authors include David Adler, Barbara Diamond Goldin, Eric Kimmel, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Jane Yolen, among others.
Weber said that Stordahl "understands the education side of the business and has a vision for building the children's trade list."
Behrman noted that "after three generations as our family's business, this is a poignant moment. We're so very pleased that Behrman House will continue as an independent press, and that Derek will keep the team together so they can continue to serve the readers and educators who have come to trust our work."
Stordahl commented: "I've known David and Vicki for years and long admired their intelligence, dedication, and the joy they've brought to their work at Behrman House. I'm thrilled to build on their extraordinary legacy. Throughout my career, I've believed in the power of books to make a difference--to educate, transform, entertain, and enlighten--whether through exploring spirituality, developing professional skills, learning new languages, or building connections within families and communities. As I go forward with the dedicated and talented team at Behrman House, I'm committed to serving the needs of the Jewish community as Behrman House has done for more than 100 years. At the same time, this is an opportunity for the House to explore new markets and go from strength to strength in expanding our publishing reach."