Kids Can Press

Kids Can Press started in 1973 as an initiative from the Ontario College of Art to take advantage of the growing nationalism within Canada during the '70s to provide locally relevant children's material. In 1986, the publisher became a privately owned business ran by Valerie Hussey and Ricky Englander.[3] In 1998, the company was purchased by Canadian animation firm Nelvana for $6.1 million.[4] Englander left that year.[3] In 2000, Nelvana itself was acquired by Corus Entertainment, who has operated Kids Can Press since.[5] Hussey remained at the company until 2006, when she stepped down and was replaced by Lisa Lyons.[3][6]

Kids Can Press has published in partnership with more Canadian public institutions than any other children’s publisher. Partners include: the Royal Ontario Museum, the Ontario Science Centre, the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, the National Museum, the Museum of Nature, World Wildlife and the National Hockey League.

Kids Can Press books have received critical acclaim and numerous nominations and awards. Some highlights include:

• Winning the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Illustration in 2011 for Cybèle Young's Ten Birds.[7]
• Franklin the Turtle series of stamps issued by Canada Post in May 2012, on the 25th Anniversary of the publication of the first Franklin book.[8]
• Winning both Governor General’s Literary Awards for children’s literature in 2008 for John Ibbitson’s The Landing (English-language text) and Stéphane Jorisch’s The Owl and the Pussycat (illustration)[9]
• Mélanie Watt’s multiple award-winning Scaredy Squirrel series[10]
• The Independent Publisher Book Award for If the World Were A Village by David J. Smith[11]
• Ryan and Jimmy And the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together by Herb Shoveller, a featured selection on Oprah.com.[12]
• Receiving a Kirkus Starred Review for My Name is Elizabeth by Annika Dunklee

• One Hen

• Official website