Usborne Publishing
Encyclopedia
Usborne Publishing, often called Usborne Books, is a United Kingdom
-based publisher of children's literature
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Founded by Peter Usborne in 1973, Usborne Publishing uses an in-house team of writers, editors
and designers and is translated into over 55 languages. Its sister company Usborne Books at Home a direct sales association selling to families schools and communities, was founded 25 years ago and won the Direct Sales Association Award for Innovation in 2004.
To coincide with the 2008 National Year of Reading
, Usborne created the Usborne Reading Programme with a marketing campaign to encourage beginner readers. The programme is a collection of over 150 titles graded in seven levels covering a range of subjects, both fiction and non-fiction.
Making a range of books for all ages, fiction and non-fiction, some of Usborne’s series include:
operation that was founded . At its heart are Usborne’s ‘Organisers’ who sell the entire range of Usborne books directly to consumers at discounted prices. Customers are typically friends, families, and libraries. Usborne Books for Schools is a branch of this operation and focuses on delivering books to schools nationwide, with sales representatives running book fairs, sponsored reads, themed events, storytime events and summer fetes.
Throughout each internet-linked book there are small entries informing the reader that more information on certain topics can be found using the Usborne Quicklinks website. By selecting the title and page number of the book in the site a list of recommended websites are given with extra material on the subject such as video clips, activities and games.
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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based publisher of children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
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Founded by Peter Usborne in 1973, Usborne Publishing uses an in-house team of writers, editors
Editors
Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
and designers and is translated into over 55 languages. Its sister company Usborne Books at Home a direct sales association selling to families schools and communities, was founded 25 years ago and won the Direct Sales Association Award for Innovation in 2004.
To coincide with the 2008 National Year of Reading
2008 National Year of Reading
The 2008 National Year of Reading was a year-long celebration of reading, in all its forms. It aimed to help build a greater national passion for reading in England – for children, families and adult learners alike....
, Usborne created the Usborne Reading Programme with a marketing campaign to encourage beginner readers. The programme is a collection of over 150 titles graded in seven levels covering a range of subjects, both fiction and non-fiction.
Making a range of books for all ages, fiction and non-fiction, some of Usborne’s series include:
- Touchy Feely
- History of Britain
- Discovery
- Look & Say
- First Picture Books
- Phonics Readers
- Farmyard Tales
- True Stories
- Classics Retold
- See Inside
- Fabulous Fiction
- Things to Make and Do
- Puzzle Adventures
- Beginners
- First Thousand Words
- Spotter's Guides
- Usborne Reading Programme
Usborne Books at Home and Usborne Books for Schools
Usborne Books at Home is a franchiseFranchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
operation that was founded . At its heart are Usborne’s ‘Organisers’ who sell the entire range of Usborne books directly to consumers at discounted prices. Customers are typically friends, families, and libraries. Usborne Books for Schools is a branch of this operation and focuses on delivering books to schools nationwide, with sales representatives running book fairs, sponsored reads, themed events, storytime events and summer fetes.
Awards
- Touchy-Feely That's Not My Penguin nominated for Children's Book of the Year 2008 at the British Book AwardsBritish Book AwardsThe Galaxy National Book Awards are a series of British literary awards focused on the best UK writers and their works, as selected by an academy of members from the British book publishing industry...
- UK Times Literary Supplement Award
- Touchy-Feely That's Not My… series - voted Best Buy in the Toddler Book category of the Prima Baby Reader Awards 2006
- First Picture Action Rhymes - Practical Pre-School Gold Award 2006
- Snuggletime Sleepy Baby - Practical Pre-School Silver Award 2006
Touchy Feely books
The award-winning Touchy-Feely board books, created by Fiona Watt, include the Hide-and-Seek Touchy-Feely series, the Noisy Touchy-Feely series, the Sparkly Touchy-Feely series and the That’s Not My….series. Aimed at young children, they are designed to develop sensory and language awareness with their bright pictures and patches of different textures. Over 7.5 million of these books have been sold worldwide.Quicklinks
Quicklinks were first introduced in 2000 as a way to incorporate the internet into modern reading habits. Peter Usborne has been quoted in the trade magazine The Bookseller as saying: "I initially thought that the internet would kill non-fiction, because teachers would tell children to use the internet to help with homework. But if you key in ‘castles' [on a search engine], you get 900,000 possible websites. The internet is an inadequate resource for children."Throughout each internet-linked book there are small entries informing the reader that more information on certain topics can be found using the Usborne Quicklinks website. By selecting the title and page number of the book in the site a list of recommended websites are given with extra material on the subject such as video clips, activities and games.
Internet Safety
To ensure that children are as safe as possible when using the internet each site that the book links to is reviewed and updated at regular intervals to ensure that the site remains appropriate. Safety guidelines are also supplied both in the book and on the site.Farmyard Tales
Farmyard Tales is one of Usborne’s series, following the "adventures of Poppy and Sam, their dog Rusty, Curly the pig and Woolly the sheep, as they go about their lives at Apple Tree Farm." The series includes Board and Flap Books, Farmyard Tales Activity Books, Farmyard Tales Stories, Games and Jigsaws and Word Books and Flashcards. The books are designed for children who are just learning to read. Illustrations are by artist Stephen CartwrightStephen Cartwright
Stephen Cartwright was a British children's book illustrator of more than 150 books.-Education:Cartwright was a student at Saint Martins and the Royal College of Art.-External links:...
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Authors
Usborne fiction authors include:- Diana Kimpton
- Sue Mongredien
- Tony BradmanTony BradmanTony Bradman is an English author of children's books, best known for the Dilly the Dinosaur series. He is the author of over 50 books for young people published by multiple houses including Alfred A. Knopf, Methuen Publishing, Puffin Books, and HarperCollins.Bradman earned an M.A...
- Cindy JefferiesCindy JefferiesUK children's writer with sixteen books in print. She is best known for her series Fame School about a group of children who are singing, playing and dancing their way to success in the music industry. This very English approach to the subject found a wide and enthusiastic audience, and has so far...
- Kelly McKain
- Pauline Francis
- Graham Marks
- Tim Wynne-JonesTim Wynne-JonesTim Wynne-Jones is an English–Canadian author of children's literature, including picture books and novels for children and young adults, novels for adults, radio dramas, songs for the CBC/Jim Henson production Fraggle Rock, as well as a children's musical and an opera libretto.-Biography:Born...
- Adele GerasAdèle GerasAdèle Geras Adèle Geras Adèle Geras (born 1944, Jerusalem, is an English writer for young children, teens and adults. She has written more than 74 books, that have either been published or are in waiting...
- Linda NewberyLinda NewberyLinda Newbery is a British author, who began writing as a young adult author but has now broadened her range to encompass all ages. Now a full-time writer, she published her first novel Run with the Hare in 1988, while still working as an English teacher in a comprehensive school.Linda is a regular...
- Ann TurnbullAnn TurnbullAnn Turnbull is a British writer of fiction for children and young adults. Her work includes picture books as well as novels. Many of her novels are set in Shropshire, the English county where she lives...
- Geraldine McCaughreanGeraldine McCaughreanGeraldine McCaughrean is a British children's novelist.The youngest of three children, McCaughrean studied teaching but did not like it, and found her true vocation in writing. She claims that what makes her love writing is the desire to escape from an unsatisfactory world...
- Andrew Matthews
- Susan PriceSusan PriceSusan Price, born 1955 in Dudley in the West Midlands, is an award-winning English writer of novels for young adults. She also writes for younger children. She still lives in the Black Country.- Writing :...
- Meg Harper
- Carol HedgesCarol HedgesCarol Hedges is a British author of books for children and young adults. Her novel Jigsaw, about a teenager's suicide, was shortlisted for the Angus Book Award and nominated for the Carnegie Medal in 2001...
- John Pilkington
- Kimberly GreeneEpistolary novelAn epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. The usual form is letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are sometimes used. Recently, electronic "documents" such as recordings and radio, blogs, and e-mails have also come into use...
- K.M. Peyton
- Thom Madley
- Ann Evans
- Susan Gates
- Gus Grenfell
- Edith Patou
- Bernard AshleyBernard AshleyBernard Ashley may refer to:*Bernard Ashley - British businessman and engineer, former widower of Laura Ashley*Bernard Ashley , British, author of children's books...
- L.M. ElliottL.M. ElliottL. M. Elliott is the award-winning author of young adult novels, including Under a War-Torn Sky , Flying South , Annie Between the States , Give Me Liberty , and A Troubled Peace , the sequel to Under a War-Torn Sky.The author, who lives in Virginia, appears frequently at middle schools and high...
- Rodman PhilbrickRodman PhilbrickRodman Philbrick is an author of novels for adults and children. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1951, and currently lives in Maine and Florida. Since 1980 he has been married to Lynn Harnett, who sometimes co-writes with him. They have no children. He has also written using the pen names...
- Mary Ann Rodman
- Charles ButlerCharles ButlerCharles Butler KC was an English Roman Catholic lawyer and miscellaneous writer.-Biography:Charles Butler was born in London, the son of James Butler, a nephew of Alban Butler. He was educated at Douai. In 1769 he became apprenticed to the conveyancer John Maire, and subsequently to Matthew Duane...
- Teri Gower
- Malcolm RoseMalcolm RoseMalcolm Rose is a British young-adult author. Many of his books, including the Traces and Lawless and Tilley series, are mysteries or thrillers where the hero uses science to catch the criminal or terrorist.- Biography :...
- Ann Bryant
- Nancy Butcher
- Andrew Matthews
- Lloyd AlexanderLloyd AlexanderLloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...
- Terry DearyTerry DearyTerry Deary is a children's author now living in Burnhope, County Durham, England.A former actor, theatre-director and drama teacher, Deary says he began writing when he was 29...
- Sandra GloverSandra GloverSandra Glover is an African American athlete competing in the 400 metres hurdles.-Achievements:*Four-time U.S...
- Paul StewartPaul Stewart (writer)Paul Stewart is a writer of children's books, best known for the bestselling The Edge Chronicles, the Free Lance novels and the Far Flung Adventures series which are written in collaboration with the illustrator Chris Riddell...
- Michelle BatesMichelle BatesMichelle Bates is an American photographer, teacher and author who specializes in images taken with toy cameras. She has been exhibiting her work, teaching classes and workshops, and writing about photography since 1991 ....
- Susannah Leigh
Series
- Usborne Puzzle Adventure seriesUsborne Puzzle Adventure seriesThe Puzzle Adventure series from Usborne Publishing Ltd was first created in 1984 with the release of Escape from Blood Castle. The first three in the series were originally released under the name "Usborne Solve It Yourself"...
- Usborne Young Puzzles series
- Usborne Spinechiller series
- Usborne Young ReadingUsborne Young ReadingUsborne Young Reading is a series of books from Usborne Publishing forming part of the Usborne Reading Programme. They are a collection of stories aimed at readers 5 years and above, covering Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 of the English National Curriculum. Series 1 is for beginner readers with...
- Usborne Whodunnit series
- That's Not My... (for pre-school age children)
External links
- Usborne.com, the official site of Usborne Publishing
- Usborne Books at Home,
- Usborne Books at School,