Watkins Media has launched a brand new children’s imprint called Moon + Bird, and as big fans of the Watkins wide-ranging catalogue, we are giddy with excitement.

Who Are Moon + Bird?

Led by Publisher Fiona Robertson, they will publish books for kids right from picture books through to middle grade titles: “As a mum myself, I know what a huge impact books have on growing minds, and I’m so excited about this opportunity to translate what we do on the adult side in terms of wellbeing, personal development, nature, Paganism, magic, folklore, legends, all things spooky and mysterious (and more!) into beautiful books that speak directly to young readers and open their eyes to our amazing world and their own incredible potential!”

Moon + Bird will publish 10 to 12 books per year in hardback and paperback, with its first three books publishing in Spring 2025. 

Which books will Moon + Bird publish first?

First up is Nadia Finer’s Quiet Riot: True Tales of Softly Spoken Superheroes Who Changed the World, illustrated by Holly Farndell which publishes on 29th April. Why is it, when we see people achieving incredible things, that they all seem so outgoing? Where are all the softly spoken leaders, artists, innovators and champions?

In this book you will find 40 stories of shy and mighty magnificence to show you that softly spoken people are trailblazers too. Sometimes we are just a bit more quiet about it!

Quiet Riot shares the triumphs and successes of shy people from all over the world and all kinds of backgrounds, including athletes, writers, explorers, inventors, artists, singers and activists. Each section ends with a series of useful coaching questions to help readers absorb the book's key messages, giving them the confidence to speak up, stand up for their beliefs and follow their dreams. 

In Yussuf Rafik’s How to be an Eco Explorer: Fun Activities for Exploring Nature and Saving the Planet you can explore different ecosystems with this book bursting with lots of brilliant, practical activities. Are you ready to go on an eco-adventure with the zoologist and wildlife TV presenter, best known for hosting shows on BBC Earth Kids?

You don’t need a big garden or fancy equipment to bring about positive changes – all you need is the spirit of an eco explorer, curiosity, respect for nature and a desire to do good.

Explore 10 important ecosystems – from rainforests to deserts and grasslands to coasts – learning fascinating nature facts and doing planet-saving activities. Meet habitat heroes such as pond snails and cellar spiders, and learn how to make your own rainwater harvester or bathyscope for spying critters underwater!

Publishing on 27th May, this is the perfect book for young people aged 7–10 feeling anxious about the environment who want to get outside, have fun and learn about the world around them.

On 3rd June, Moon + Bird’s third title hits the shelves: The Magical Wheel of the Year: A Tale of the Pagan Festivals with Activities & Rituals By Bérengère Demoncy and Victoria Ruiz y Lopez. Join sisters Selene and Gaia on a magical journey through the Wheel of the Year from Samhain to Beltane. With a pinch of magic and stunning fullpage illustrations, this story will introduce young children aged 6–9 to the 8 seasonal festivals of the Pagan year, getting them excited about nature, animals and celebrations. Follow the sisters through the changing year as they meet a parade of wonderful animals, discover beautiful plants, eat delicious festival food and take part in exciting traditional activities. After following Selene and Gaia’s journey, there are 40 easy-to-do, fun activities and rituals to help families celebrate each event on the wheel, as well as factual information about each event. A joy of a book.

Moon + Bird Future Projects

Joining Robertson in leading the imprint are 2023 The Bookseller Rising Star and head of marketing and publicity Laura Whitaker-Jones and head of design Karen Smith, who will guide their respective teams in building out Moon + Bird’s branding and visibility, with a particularly keen eye on the school, library and independent bookstore spaces.

Whitaker-Jones added, “We are so excited to be building a list of children’s books which will have the same positive impact as those on our adult list, so we wanted to maintain our brand values even in the naming of the imprint. The Moon + Bird logo features the ibis and crescent moon, which are the symbols of Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing, wisdom and magic. Thoth is the logo of our bookstore Watkins Books, and Thoth’s ibis and crescent moon also feature in the logo of Watkins Publishing. To use these symbols in the name gives us a tangible link to our bigger brand whilst still keeping it fun and accessible.” 

Future projects with PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award Winner Michelle Cusolito (Diving Deep: Using Machines to Explore the Ocean and Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible), Scottish Book Trust Bookbug Children’s Picture Book Award winner Alastair Chisholm (Inch and Grub), and multiple award-winning author Helen Docherty (The Snatchabook and All the Things We Carry) and author-illustrator Claire Barker (Knitbone Pepper Ghost Dog and Picklewitch and Jack series) have also been signed.

The new imprint’s website can be found here 

@WatkinsWisdom @watkinsbooks