August House

August House is an independent children's book publisher based in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1978 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the company initially published Arkansas poetry before developing into a specialist publisher of folklore, oral-tradition narratives, picture books, and educational storytelling materials. Its catalogue is aimed at children, educators, librarians, families, and professional storytellers, with a particular emphasis on adapting traditional tales for contemporary young readers. The company's publishing direction changed during the 1980s. In 1986, August House began working with Liz Parkhurst and W. K. McNeil and expanded its activity in folklore publishing. In 1989, it formed a partnership with the National Storytelling Festival, creating a continuing connection with professional storytellers and with the wider American storytelling movement. Through that relationship, August House regularly published work by storytellers and authors whose material was rooted in oral performance, regional traditions, legends, and folktales. August House's author and storyteller roster has included Margaret Read MacDonald, Donald Davis, Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss, Willy Claflin, Heather Forest, Rob Cleveland, W. C. Jameson, and Pleasant DeSpain, among others. The publisher is also associated with the Maynard Moose picture-book series, which became one of its award-recognized children's offerings. In 2004, August House was acquired by Steve Floyd and Graham Anthony of Marsh Cove Productions. Following the acquisition, the company expanded its LittleFolk picture-book line, introduced the Story Cove imprint, and moved its headquarters from Little Rock to Atlanta. Story Cove broadened the company's educational proposition by combining leveled picture books with supporting multimedia, including video animation, read-along recordings, lesson plans, and classroom activities. The imprint was designed to help teachers develop reading skills and support classroom standards, including the Common Core framework referenced in the company's publishing description. August House therefore operates across two related publishing roles. It remains a home for literary and performance-oriented folklore, while also producing structured educational materials for early readers. Its LittleFolk line focuses on illustrated picture books, and Story Cove emphasizes guided reading and classroom use. The company's broader positioning is that of a specialist, independent publisher preserving and re-presenting stories from oral tradition for children and educators. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current corporate parent, detailed ownership structure, annual revenue, or a complete present-day executive roster.

August House began in 1978 in Little Rock, Arkansas, as a small publisher founded by Ted Parkhurst and Jon Looney. Its initial subject was Arkansas poetry rather than children's publishing or folklore. The company's later identity emerged through a series of collaborations and editorial changes during the 1980s. In 1986, August House began collaborating with Liz Parkhurst and W. K. McNeil. This work helped move the company toward folklore publishing and toward books based on traditional narratives, legends, and stories transmitted through oral culture. The shift gave August House a distinctive position among independent publishers: rather than treating storytelling solely as entertainment, the company developed books that connected literary publication, performance, cultural tradition, and education. A significant relationship was established in 1989, when August House partnered with the National Storytelling Festival. The partnership enabled the publisher to work regularly with professional storytellers and to publish their material. Over time, the company's list came to include authors and performers such as Margaret Read MacDonald, Donald Davis, Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss, Willy Claflin, Heather Forest, Rob Cleveland, W. C. Jameson, and Pleasant DeSpain. This author base reflected the company's continuing interest in folktales, traditional stories, regional narratives, and the craft of oral presentation. August House later expanded beyond books directed primarily at storytellers and folklore readers. Its children's publishing programme came to include picture books, early-grade chapter books, and educational resources. The LittleFolk line became the company's picture-book imprint, with books by several of its established folklore and children's authors. The line also featured work by illustrators including Susan Gaber, Julie Paschkis, James Stimson, Don Tate, Peter Thornton, Geraldo Valério, and others, according to the company's published reference description. In 2004, Steve Floyd and Graham Anthony, associated with Marsh Cove Productions, purchased August House. Under the new ownership, August House expanded LittleFolk and established Story Cove. The acquisition also brought a geographic change: the company's headquarters moved from Little Rock to Atlanta, Georgia. Story Cove was designed as a more structured educational programme, combining leveled picture books with supplementary video animation, read-along audio, lesson plans, and classroom activities. Its stated purpose was to help teachers build reading skills and address classroom standards, including the Common Core Standards referenced in the company's description. The Maynard Moose picture-book series became one of August House's award-recognized children's properties. Alongside that series, the publisher continued to maintain a broader catalogue of folktales and stories derived from oral tradition. The resulting publishing house combines two closely related approaches: preservation and adaptation of traditional storytelling, and the creation of accessible materials for beginning readers and classroom use. Available reference material describes August House as continuing to expand its collection of folktales and stories from oral tradition. It does not provide a detailed account of later corporate transactions, current senior management, financial performance, or a definitive corporate ownership structure beyond the association with Marsh Cove Productions. Those details remain unverified in this dossier.

• 2004

  Acquisition and relocation to Atlanta

  [1]August Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Steve Floyd and Graham Anthony of Marsh Cove Productions acquire August House. The company expands LittleFolk, creates Story Cove, and moves its headquarters to Atlanta.

• 1989

  Partnership with the National Storytelling Festival

  [1]August Houseen.wikipedia.org

  August House establishes a publishing relationship with the National Storytelling Festival and begins regularly publishing works by professional storytellers.

• 1986

  The company expands into folklore publishing

  [1]August Houseen.wikipedia.org

  August House begins collaborating with Liz Parkhurst and W. K. McNeil, helping redirect the company toward folklore and traditional storytelling.

• 1978

  August House is founded in Little Rock

  [1]August Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Ted Parkhurst and Jon Looney establish August House in Little Rock, Arkansas, initially as a publisher of Arkansas poetry.

An independent specialist children's publisher focused on folklore, oral tradition, picture books, early literacy, and classroom storytelling resources.

• Educational children's publishing imprint

  Story Cove

  Story Cove is an August House imprint centered on leveled picture books and early literacy. Its books are accompanied by supplementary materials such as video animations, read-along recordings, lesson plans, and classroom activities. The imprint is designed to give teachers additional tools for developing reading skills and connecting story-based learning with classroom standards, including the Common Core framework identified in the publisher's description.

• Picture-book imprint

  LittleFolk

  LittleFolk is August House's picture-book line. It publishes illustrated books by authors associated with children's literature and storytelling, including Margaret Read MacDonald, Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss, and Heather Forest. The line has also featured illustrations by artists such as Susan Gaber, Julie Paschkis, James Stimson, Don Tate, Peter Thornton, and Geraldo Valério. Its catalogue connects traditional stories and folklore with contemporary picture-book presentation.

• Picture-book series

  Maynard Moose

  Maynard Moose is an award-recognized August House picture-book series. The series is identified with the publisher's children's catalogue and illustrates its use of recurring characters and accessible picture-book formats within a broader list that includes folktales, storytelling, and early-reader materials.

• Children's and professional storytelling books · 1986

  Folktales and storytelling resources

  August House publishes children's folktales, traditional stories, early-grade chapter books, and resources for storytelling. The catalogue has been shaped by relationships with professional storytellers and by the company's long-running interest in oral tradition. These publications serve both young readers and adults who use stories in educational, library, family, or performance settings.

• 2004

  Marsh Cove Productions acquisitionM&A

  Background

  August House was an independent publisher with an established folklore and storytelling catalogue.

  Action taken

  Steve Floyd and Graham Anthony of Marsh Cove Productions purchased the company.

  Aftermath

  The company expanded its LittleFolk picture-book line, established Story Cove, and moved its headquarters to Atlanta.

  Source

• 1989

  Partnership with the National Storytelling FestivalStrategy

  Background

  The company was developing a specialized role in folklore and oral-tradition publishing.

  Action taken

  August House established a partnership with the National Storytelling Festival and began regularly publishing works by professional storytellers.

  Aftermath

  The relationship strengthened the publisher's identity as a home for storytelling professionals and performance-rooted narratives.

  Source

• 1986

  Shift from regional poetry toward folkloreStrategy

  Background

  August House began collaborating with Liz Parkhurst and W. K. McNeil after its initial period as a publisher of Arkansas poetry.

  Action taken

  The company developed a stronger publishing programme around folklore and traditional storytelling.

  Aftermath

  This editorial direction became the foundation for August House's later relationships with professional storytellers and its children's folklore catalogue.

  Source

• 2004

  August House is acquired by Marsh Cove Productions principals[1]August Houseen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Steve Floyd and Graham Anthony of Marsh Cove Productions purchased August House. The transaction was followed by the expansion of the LittleFolk picture-book line, the creation of the Story Cove imprint, and the relocation of the headquarters to Atlanta.

• 1989

  August House partners with the National Storytelling Festival[1]August Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The partnership created a regular publishing relationship with professional storytellers and reinforced August House's focus on oral-tradition literature and performance-based storytelling.

• August House develops Story Cove as an educational publishing imprint[1]August Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Story Cove was established as a line of leveled picture books supported by animations, recordings, lesson plans, and activities intended to support early reading and classroom standards.

1. 1August Houseen.wikipedia.org
2. 2August House official websiteaugusthouse.com