Candlewick Press: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 07:02, 8 October 2025
Summary
Candlewick Press's Mission
Candlewick Press was founded in 1991 in Massachusetts by Sebastian Walker and officially started publishing in 1992. Candlewick Press was the third publishing house that Sebastian Walker founded, the first being Walker Books U.K. in 1978 and subsequently a second Walker Books in Australia in 1991. In the U.S., the name “Walker” was already in use by another company by the time Sebastian Walker wanted to begin his U.S. publishing house. In more recent years, as of 2017, Candlewick Press has bought back the rights to the name and released a series of books that celebrated their history as Walker Books U.S. with their most popular books that jumpstarted their career.[1] Candlewick Press’s mission has been, and currently is, to promote reading for children and make engaging picture books and stories to foster a new era of literacy in future generations.[2]
Candlewick Press Publications
Certain titles featured on Candlewick Press's main page exemplify their mission to make reading accessible. Accessibility for new readers, for learning readers, and readers who have yet to see themselves in a book.
- Where's Waldo is a property of Candlewick Press and their most famous character. The Where’s Waldo, or Where's Wally in the U.K., series is among the most popular seek-and-find books. Such books train kids to begin to understand shapes and colors and get them to start “reading” through comprehending images on a page.
- Judy Moody is a book series that combines both prose and pictures. The series main audience is elementary age children. By using both words and pictures to offset mundanity and keep kids brains active, the Judy Moody series helps children get into reading more easily than jumping straight into prose-only books.
- Julián Is a Mermaid, a title featured on Candlewick Press’s website, won the Stonewall Book Award for its message of self-acceptance and queer pride, the BolognaRagazzi Award, and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor. This is one of many titles Candlewick Press has that feature queer characters and creators, as well as BIPOC voices in children’s literature, such as Alma and How She Got Her Name, winner of the Caldecott Honor Book Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor. These two books are the most influential part of Candlewick Press’s mission, to support new writers and open the world of children’s literature for all kids.
Brand Identity
Candlewick Press's brand identity is tied to their primary audience, mostly elementary age children who are just starting to read. Picture books are their most published format for the press. Because of this, they have a family-friendly image in mind and it shows in their artwork and even in their mascot, Big Bear, a bear holding a candle.[3] They have a very open idea of publishing and believe strongly in the freedom to read.
- Candlewick Press is a for-profit company, though part of the company’s mission is to give back to the reading community. They sponsor the “Light the Way: Outreach to the Undeserved” grant, which gives $3,000 of assistance to libraries that demonstrate a desire to reach as many readers and non-readers as they can through programs and events.
- Mostly picture books and books aimed towards children, though there are some YA novels.
- They celebrate diverse books and authors.
- They have newsletters and resources for teachers, as well as podcast interviews of some of their authors.- Very visually appealing and focused
- Yes, their branding feels consistent
- Feels very open and friendly
