Following two of the strongest sales years in its 50-year history, U.K.-based DK is expanding the scope of its publishing program. Last November, it acquired the Canelo Group, the U.K.–based independent publisher of genre fiction and nonfiction. This spring, it launched the initial list for its new global lifestyle and narrative nonfiction imprint, DK Red. And ahead of this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair in April, the publisher announced the launch of another global imprint, DK Flip, its first-ever fiction imprint, which is geared toward the children’s market. We spoke with Kelly, who was named CEO of DK in 2023, about the publisher’s expansion into new categories.
Why did expanding into fiction make sense for DK at this time, and who are the readers you hope to reach?
Now is the right moment for us to leverage our expertise and passion in the realm of children’s and YA fiction. It’s a natural progression that allows us to reach a broader audience. We’ve seen an increasing appetite for children’s fiction, and our initial acquisitions have been met with significant success. This shows our audience wants high-quality, imaginative fiction, and we’re excited to fulfill this demand.
We’re not moving away from our core strength in nonfiction, but rather enhancing our brand by diversifying our offerings. One of our goals for DK Flip is developing a list that authentically represents the diverse experiences of young readers. We’re dedicated to collaborating with a wider array of authors and illustrators. We have big ambitions for the DK Flip list and its authors, with 14 titles scheduled for 2025, and we’re targeting 30 titles in 2026.
DK has decades of experience in creating highly visual books. Has that been an advantage as readers seem to be investing more in books as beautiful physical objects?
We continuously explore new genres and commercial formats, which allows us to expand our audiences. The success of Cornelia Funke and Tammi Hartung’s The Green Kingdom is a great example: the striking cover design, sprayed edges, and finishes combine to create a beautiful object. And our entry into the graphic novel space with the Max and Chaffy series exemplifies our ability to create original content that captures the imagination of readers.
Our books are designed to be user-friendly and visually striking. This focus on simplicity makes them accessible to a wide range of audiences, from children to adults, across cultures and geographies. We’re also proud to have had Richard Atkinson join the team recently. He’s a publishing director with more than 30 years of experience in illustrated global successes.
How have the recent expansions affected your licensing program?
We have a really exciting list, including the BBC’s much-loved Walking with Dinosaurs, which will also be aired in the U.S. This autumn, excitement is building for our licensed publishing with Warhammer, as well as our recently announced publishing coming up with Avatar at the end of the year. Our new fiction offering enables us to work with partners in a different way and provide a full publishing service, bringing their brands to new audiences in a fresh way.
