Kids Can Press

Kids Can Press started in 1973 as an initiative from the Ontario College of Art to take advantage of growing nationalism within Canada during the 1970s to provide locally relevant children's material. In 1986, the publisher became a privately owned business ran by Valerie Hussey and Ricky Englander.{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/60886-the-can-do-spirit-four-decades-of-kids-can-press.html|title=The Can-Do Spirit: Four Decades of Kids Can Press|date=January 31, 2014|access-date=December 20, 2017|work=Publishers Weekly|first=Leigh|last=Williams}} In 1998, the company was purchased by Canadian animation firm Nelvana for $6.1 million.{{cite web|url=http://playbackonline.ca/1998/08/24/22778-19980824/|title=Nelvana buys kids' book pub|first=Andy|last=Hoffman|work=Playback|publisher=Brunico Communications|date=August 24, 1998|access-date=December 20, 2017}} Englander left that same year. In 2000, Corus Entertainment acquired Nelvana and they have operated Kids Can Press ever since.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/corus-to-buy-nelvana-for-540-million/article1190841/|title=Corus to buy Nelvana for $540-million|date=September 18, 2000|access-date=December 20, 2017|work=The Globe and Mail|publisher=The Woodbridge Company|first=Keith|last=Damsell}} Hussey remained at the company until 2006, when she stepped down and Lisa Lyons assumed leadership.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/hussey-steps-down-from-helm-of-kids-can-press/article968087/|title=Hussey steps down from helm of Kids Can Press|date=August 29, 2006|access-date=December 20, 2017|work=The Globe and Mail|publisher=The Woodbridge Company|first=James|last=Adams}}

Kids Can Press has published in partnership with Canadian public institutions such as 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 Award for English-language children's literature in 2011 for Cybèle Young's Ten Birds{{cite web|url=http://ggbooks.canadacouncil.ca/en/about-apropos/archives/2011/Winners/ten-birds.aspx |title=Past Winner: Children's Illustration |publisher=Canada Council for the Arts |date=29 September 2012 |access-date=22 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105211654/http://ggbooks.canadacouncil.ca/en/about-apropos/archives/2011/Winners/ten-birds.aspx |archive-date= 5 January 2013 }}
• 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{{cite web |url=http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/personal/collecting/stamps/2012/2012_april_franklin.jsf |title=Canada Post - Collecting |access-date=2012-12-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616221132/http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/personal/collecting/stamps/2012/2012_april_franklin.jsf |archive-date=2012-06-16 }}
• Winning both Governor General's Award for English-language children's literature in 2008 for John Ibbitson’s The Landing (English-language text) and Stéphane Jorisch’s The Owl and the Pussycat (illustration){{Cite web |url=http://ggbooks.canadacouncil.ca/en/about-apropos/archives/2008/Winners.aspx |title=Winners |access-date=2012-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106040830/http://ggbooks.canadacouncil.ca/en/about-apropos/archives/2008/Winners.aspx |archive-date=2013-01-06 |url-status=dead }}
• Mélanie Watt's multiple award-winning Scaredy Squirrel serieshttp://www.kidscanpress.com/canada/CreatorDetails.aspx?CID=223 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
• The Independent Publisher Book Award for If the World Were a Village by David J. Smith{{Cite web|url=http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=741|title = 2003 Independent Publisher Book Awards Results}}
• Ryan and Jimmy and the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together by Herb Shoveller, a featured selection on Oprah.com{{cite web |url=http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/Thanksgiving |title=Thanksgiving - Oprah.com |website=www.oprah.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517183524/http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/Thanksgiving |archive-date=2010-05-17}}
• Receiving a Kirkus Reviews starred review for My Name Is Elizabeth! by Annika Dunklee{{Cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/annika-dunklee/my-name-elizabeth/|title=My Name is Elizabeth!|publisher=Kirkus Reviews|date=5 April 2011|access-date=20 January 2023}}

{{Portal|Children's literature}}

• One Hen

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website}}

{{Corus Entertainment}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Book publishing companies of Canada

Category:Children's book publishers

Category:Companies based in Toronto

Category:Publishing companies established in 1973

Category:Corus Entertainment subsidiaries