About us
What do you get when you mix together an author, an illustrator, and a graphic designer, all of whom are: a) experienced in publishing, printing, and marketing; and b) crazy about creating collaborative stories and beautiful work? If you wish upon a star and click your heels three times, you get Bailiwick Press.
Bailiwick was created in 2009 by author Karla Oceanak, illustrator Kendra Spanjer, and designer Launie Parry. We’re the only publishing company in the world to be founded and owned by three women with these particular (and handy) skills. Bailiwick’s flagship series—the Aldo Zelnick Comic Novels—has garnered awards, critical acclaim, and thousands of young readers. In 2014, we began publishing books for kids and adults by other authors and illustrators as well as launching new confections of our own making. We are members of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). We work together in a vibrant old-house-turned-studio in Fort Collins, Colorado. On any given day you’ll find us writing, drawing, designing, cutting, pasting, collaborating, and dreaming. Oh, and laughing. Booksellers and libraries: Bailiwick Press’ books are distributed to the trade by Legato Publishers Group, an affiliate of Publishers Group West, and can be ordered with ease--directly from PGW or from Ingram, B&T, Follett, or any of your normal channels. Readers: We know there are oodles of great books out there. Thanks for choosing ours. We believe that if you’re going to go to the trouble to make a book, it better be a darned good one. We promise to continue to create books that entertain as well as edify and are exceptional in every way. The Bailiwickers |
Our mission
Bailiwick Press wants kids to love reading. In today’s digital world, the act of reading is increasingly fragmented. While we believe that all forms of literacy are essential, we also believe that books provide children the cognitive challenge they need to construct meaning from fully developed stories. Books lay out extended narratives that enhance brain development. Books build vocabulary and thus understanding. Books introduce characters who become educational docents. Books connect kids to history and other disciplines better than anything else. And best of all, books delight! They alone among literacy channels have the power to make learning at once cognitively immersive and enchanting. Bailiwick’s books for kids inform, inspire, and delight. As we develop our children’s books, we work with teachers and other educators to make sure they will be equally at home in the classroom as they are on kids’ nightstands. Still, while our motivations are complex, our purpose is simple: to produce books kids love to read. And from what our young readers are telling us, we’re doing just that. |
