Inspiring kids to leave their mark!
Paw Prints Publishing aims to build empathy, empowerment, and engagement in today's young people by creating quality books that are fun, informative, and representative of diverse and authentic voices.
Paw Prints Publishing publishes fiction and nonfiction with a focus on diverse voices, inclusivity, and social-emotional engagement. Titles are leveled to Lexile and Fountas & Pinnell Reading Levels and align with the CASEL standards of social-emotional development. Simultaneous formats are available for most titles, including e-books, hardcovers, and paperbacks. Many of our English titles are also available in Spanish language, as well as Haitian Creole and Ukrainian.
Our portfolio emphasizes picture books and easy readers for audiences ages 3-8, and we continue to invest in those categories; however, we are also expanding our list to include graphic novels for ages 3-18 as well as beginner chapter books and novels for ages 8-18.
All that we've been able to accomplish this past year is a testament to the talent, hard work and dedication of our authors, illustrators and Paw Prints Publishing team. Our hope in 2025 is that we continue serving our mission and you, our readers, with quality books.
Expansion into Middle Grade
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All Mixed Up and Lissa Loves Bugs mark our exciting entry into the middle grade category, bringing new stories for an expanding audience.
Awards & Recognition
| Forsynthia: Rise of the Cupcakes |
Best Multifaceted Series 2024 Good Housekeeping Best Kids Book Award by Good Housekeeping Magazine |
| Miss Edmonia's Class of Wildfires |
Empowerment Picture Books 2024 Creative Child Book of the Year by Creative Child Magazine |
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2024 Showcase Imagination Celebration by the Children's Book Council |
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| Hope is the Thing with Feathers |
Gold, Best Illustrator 2024 Moonbeam Spirit Awards by Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards |
| Look Up: Fontaine the Pigeon Starts a Revolution |
Silver, Best Illustrator 2024 Moonbeam Spirit Awards by Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards |
| The Switch |
Picture Books, All Ages 2024 Moonbeam Spirit Awards by Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards |
| Minivan Mix-Up |
2024-2025 Kentucky Bluegrass Award Nominee |
| All Mixed Up |
New York Public Library's Best Books for Kids 2024 List |
Praise
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“In this upbeat and empowering picture book, an Asian American girl dreams of dancing in the school talent show. …This joyful book is worth seeking out.” –Rosie Camargo, Booklist, September 2022 “...Co-author and dancer Ho discusses her own wheelchair use in an author’s note, which brings authenticity to the story. Rodriguez’s pleasing full-color illustrations are refreshingly diverse, featuring characters with varying skin tones... Discussion questions will spark conversations about uniqueness and unpack biases about people who use wheelchairs. A thoughtful, well-illustrated work about pursuing goals.” –Kirkus, January 2024 |
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| “...[T]he book’s bright tone and illustrations will appeal to young audiences. VERDICT An optional purchase for libraries considering an addition to their collection of animal friendship stories or expansion to their diverse representation.” –Jonah Dragan, School Library Journal, August 2022 |
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| “...Byrd opts for the comical when showing the effects of plastic in the sea (for example, an old shrimp thinks the floating plastic is a UFO). …The resolution includes advice like starting small by using paper bags, while two ending sections, “Ocean Plastic Facts” and “Ocean Plastic Solutions,” add information to this relatable title.” –Connie Fletcher, Booklist, March 2023 |
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| “...VERDICT A nice addition for larger libraries looking to expand their religious stories collection. ” –Tracy Cronce, School Library Journal, December 2022 |
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| “...VERDICT Representation of Sikh characters in children’s literature is sparse, making this series an important addition to the early reader category.” –Sarah Simpson, School Library Journal, September 2023 |
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| “...Not only does this early reader address the first day of kindergarten, an important milestone for children, it also gently introduces Haiti in a simple and positive light and is a great title to share with children interested in the country. ...VERDICT A recommended first day of school story that is also an introduction to Haiti.” –Ruth Guerrier-Pierre, School Library Journal, September 2023 |
Partnership Campaigns
| PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center & Troll | Leading the national Anti-Bullying initiative as the first pick for the 2024 bullying prevention Elementary Book List and pioneering a call to action with custom educator guides, a social media campaign for Unity Day, and a read aloud broadcast. |
| Global Day of Unplugging & Look Up: Fontaine the Pigeon Starts a Revolution | Raising awareness in the international community for screen-free lifestyles as part of the U.S. Surgeon General’s call-to-action to end loneliness and build humanistic connection in a modern world. |
| GirlsWhoSTEAM & Forsynthia | A joint partnership to develop the Forsynthia GirlsWhoSTEAM branch that offers continuing education courses for educators, merchandise, guided STEAM lessons for girls aged 8-10 to implement in elementary schools, and forthcoming in person events in New York. |
| Read and Write to Unite! & Paw Prints Publishing Titles | A common mission of elevating positive MENASA (Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian) representation in children’s titles to elementary schools in California, including The Hair She Wears, What Color is My Patka?, and Jeet & Fudge: The Loving Library. |
Key Paw Prints Publishing Contacts:
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Whitney Bretzman Whitney.Bretzman@baker-taylor.com |
Bobbie Bensur Bobbie.Bensur@baker-taylor.com |
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Jackie Garcia Jackie.Garcia@baker-taylor.com |
Saanya Kanwar Saanya.Kanwar@baker-taylor.com |