Amazon Publishing is adding an Amazon Crossing Kids imprint, publishing children’s picture books in translation, with three announced titles, for publication beginning in July. Two Lions editorial director Kelsey Skea is editorial director of Amazon Crossing Kids as well, working in collaboration with Two Lions editor Marilyn Brigham and Amazon Crossing editorial director Gabriella Page-For.
Separately, Random House Children’s announced the launch list of three titles, starting in September, for Christopher Myers‘ Make Me A World imprint, which started in 2016, originally aiming for a 2018 debut. He says in the release: “Imagine inviting all the smartest people, the artists and writers, thinkers, adventurers, musicians, athletes—the people who will shape culture for years to come, from all walks and all fields—to your living room to share some time with your children. That is what Make Me a World has set out to do.”
Hachette Livre is acquiring board game creator Gigamic, reported to have annual sales of over 15 million euros. Actualitte says this investment is “part of a strategic desire to explore leisure activities adjacent to the publishing world, including the field of consumer games in all its components.” Hachette Livre ceo Arnaud Nourry comments, “We are delighted to welcome Gigamic and its great team, whose skills are in close proximity to our content creation business for the general public. Like all entities that joined the group in recent years, Gigamic will be able to continue its development in respect of its creative autonomy.” In 2016, Hachette UK acquired British mobile game company Neon Play.
NetGalley Advanced is a new service level for publisher clients in North America, providing additional reports for “more insight about audience” and to “draw correlations between promotions and activity, and help publishers identify their most effective strategies.”
In People news, Thames & Hudson ceo Rolf Grisebach will leave the company in mid-April, after six years there.