Press Release: Rodale Inc. to Launch Rodale Kids Imprint in Fall 2017
NEW YORK, N.Y. — September 8, 2016 — Rodale Inc., the world’s leading healthy, happy living company, has announced the launch of the new imprint Rodale Kids. The first list will be introduced in Fall 2017 and will feature fun and entertaining, educational, and empowering fiction and nonfiction titles aimed at infants through teens.
Said Chairman, CEO, and President Maria Rodale, “It’s long been a dream of mine to expand our award-winning and bestselling Rodale Books publishing program to kids, who are most open to learning new things. Our best-in-class books, magazines, and products have transformed the well being of millions of consumers, and we recognize that Rodale’s commitment to shaping a brighter future really starts with our youngest generation. It’s time to nurture our mission—to inspire health, healing, and happiness in the world—among young readers and their families, where it all begins.”
The new imprint will be overseen by Vice President and Publisher Gail Gonzales and led by Creative and Editorial Director of Children’s Media Eric Wight. Wight is the award-winning creator of the Frankie Pickle series for Simon & Schuster and has illustrated more than two dozen books for such publishers as Macmillan, Random House, and DC Entertainment. He has been an animator for such companies as Walt Disney, Warner Bros., and Cartoon Network and has two decades of experience in branding and IP development for some of the world’s most recognized entertainment brands. Rodale is establishing a dedicated Kids Books team that will include marketing/PR, editorial, and design positions.
Said Gonzales, “This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for Rodale Books to bring our unparalleled expertise in the wellness space to a new customer. Our debut list is an inspiring reflection of the types of books we plan to publish—fun and entertaining titles that nourish the imagination, encourage a lifelong love of reading, and motivate good habits of nutrition, fitness, mindfulness, and environmental responsibility, all across a variety of age ranges. As with our adult titles, Macmillan will be our distribution partner, and we’re thrilled to be working with their distinguished children’s sales team on getting our books into the marketplace.”
Rodale Kids plans to publish approximately 30 to 45 books a year, with content aimed at ages ranging from infants (0 to 3) to teens (12 and older) and including fiction and nonfiction picture books, early reader titles, chapter books, how-to nonfiction, gift reference, and Young Adult fitness and self-help. The inaugural list will feature 10 titles, including:
***Health and fitness mega-star Tracy Anderson’s teen fitness book that offers a safe, effective, body-positive program for young girls. (Ages 11–14)
***Backseat Yoga: Award-winning children’s music artist and yoga teacher Kira Willey’s collection of movement and breathing exercises designed to give kids the tools they need to control their bodies and emotions, no matter where they are. (Ages 4–10)
***Team Taekwondo series: An action-packed graphic novel series from The American Taekwondo Association that follows a group of animal taekwondo students as they learn important life and behavior skills through their martial arts training. (Ages 6–10)
***Positive Power series: I Am Kind and I Am Thankful are the first two books in this motivational series for early readers that inspire positive behavior, told through charming narration and illustrations. (Ages 4–6)
***Chef Gino’s Taste Test Challenge: The success of shows like Chopped Jr. and Master Chef Kids proves that kids are hungry for fun and useful guides for navigating the kitchen. This book by renowned chef and kids cooking expert Gino Campagna is filled with easy-to-follow open-ended recipes for both beginner and experienced mini-chefs. (Ages 8–12)
***Mrs. Peanuckle’s Vegetable Alphabet and Mrs. Peanuckle’s Fruit Alphabet: These are the first two titles in a delightful new series of board books that will teach the youngest of kids about healthy eating and the joys of the natural world. Found throughout are charming hand-made-feeling illustrations and fun facts even adults will love. (Ages 0–3)
***The King of Too Many Things: From award-winning poet and children’s book author Laurel Snyder and illustrator Aurore Damant comes a funny, fast-paced, modern fairy tale that addresses the value of appreciation (in our over-consumptive world). (Ages 4–8)
***Body Fantastic: Written by pediatrician Dr. Howard Bennett, a contributor to KidsPost in the Washington Post, this clever reference guide to the human body is jam-packed with cool diagrams, fun facts, gross stories, and tips that will make going to the doctor a little less scary. (Ages 8–12)
Said Wight, “Our mission with Rodale Kids is to help kids be awesome by empowering them to grow a happy, healthy future for themselves and the world around them. This first list certainly delivers on that promise, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be introducing ourselves to the industry with this collection of titles.”
About Rodale Books
Rodale Books is the premier destination for the best in wellness content across multiple platforms. Our diverse list of award-winning, bestselling books reflects our mission—to inspire health, healing, and happiness in the world. Our authoritative, conversation-changing titles include former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler’s The End of Overeating, Jessica Alba’s The Honest Life, Alicia Silverstone’s The Kind Diet, former Vice President Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz’s Onward, Maria Rodale’s Organic Manifesto and Scratch, Dave Asprey’s The Bulletproof Diet, and more. Among Rodale’s highly successful series are Thug Kitchen, Wheat Belly, and The South Beach Diet, as well as titles from our world-renowned brands, including Prevention’s Sugar Smart books, Men’s Health and Women’s Health Big Books, Runner’s World cookbooks, and more. Our Web site, RodaleWellness.com, is a content and community destination where visitors can find inspiration and life-changing information from the world’s top wellness experts. In addition to reaching customers through traditional retail channels, Rodale is an established leader in direct-response marketing with a reach of more than 25 million consumers.
