Kane/Miller Book Publishers, Inc., now Kane Miller, A Division of EDC Publishing, is a San Diego-based publisher specializing in children's books from around the world. The company was acquired by the Educational Development Corporation in 2008.

History

Kane Miller was started as Kane/Miller Book Publishers in 1984 by siblings Madeline Kane and Sandy Miller as a small family business, specializing in publishing children’s books from around the world for the US audience. Miller had previously been involved with importing movies from outside the

United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...

, and when he had his first child, he realized the cultural benefits of also bringing in books. The publisher found success in 1993 with Tarō Gomi's '' Everyone Poops'', a

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import that sold over one million copies and is now their best-known title. By 2000, the company closed its

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offices to be based solely in San Diego, California. Both Kane and Miller retired by 2001. Kira Lynn was named the new head of the company shortly thereafter. The company was acquired by Educational Development Corporation of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2008. Today, Kane Miller, A Division of EDC Publishing, publishes an assortment of baby books, board books, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, nonfiction, games, and toys for children.

Acquisition

By December 11, 2008 Kane Miller had been acquired by the Educational Development Corporation (EDC), the sole US trade publisher of the

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-based Usborne Books. According to Randall White, board chairman,

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, and President of EDC, the integration of the two companies went smoothly. The move was well received within the publishing industry, and EDC expressed hope that it would increase sales.

Products

The majority of Kane Miller's titles originate from publishers outside the US. One of the publisher's greatest commercial success was ''Everyone Poops'' by Taro Gomi, followed by ''Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge'' by

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n author

Mem Fox Merrion Frances "Mem" Fox AM (; born 5 March 1946) is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox has been semi-retired since 1996, but she still writes and gives seminars. She lives in Adelaide ...

which began its publishing run in 1985, and as of 2005 was nearing one million copies sold. Another top-seller was 2004's ''Guji Guji'' by Taiwanese author Chih-Yuan Chen, which sold 65,000 copies between 2004 and 2005. The company became the US distributor of the ''Anna Hibiscus'' series by UK-based Nigerian author Atinuke in 2010. Other Kane Miller top sellers include ''All Better!'' and ''Good as New'' by Henning Löhlein and Bernd Penners, the Shine-a-Light series, and Emma Yarlett's ''Nibbles'' series.

Sales

Kane Miller's books are available through the two sales channels of their parent company, Educational Development Corporation. PaperPie, formerly known as Usborne Books & More, is the home business division of Educational Development Corporation. PaperPie Brand Partners sell directly to customers (including schools, libraries, and individuals). Kane Miller's books are available to trade through Educational Development Corporation's retail division, EDC Publishing. EDC's trade division markets books and educational products to bookstores (including major national chains), toy stores, specialty stores, museums, and other retail outlets throughout the country.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kane Miller Book publishing companies based in California Children's book publishers Companies based in San Diego County, California Publishing companies established in 1984 1984 establishments in California