Coppenrath Verlag

Coppenrath Verlag GmbH & Co. KG is a German publishing house headquartered in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia. Its principal business is the publication and merchandising of children's and young people's literature, although the broader Coppenrath publishing group also develops games, stationery, gift articles, calendars, and other products connected with family and children's culture. The company is particularly associated with the Felix children's books created by author Annette Langen, the Princess Lillifee series by Monika Finsterbusch, and the Die Spiegelburg product brand. The business traces its origins to 1768, when Joseph Heinrich Coppenrath took over the Perrenonsche Hofbuchhandlung in Münster. The publishing and bookselling enterprise remained under Coppenrath family ownership for more than two centuries. That period ended in 1977, when Wolfgang Hölker acquired the company. The later development of the business connected Coppenrath Verlag with a wider publishing group that includes Hölker Verlag and Bohem Press, while Coppenrath retained a strong emphasis on children's publishing and related products. Coppenrath's children's catalogue spans illustrated picture books, reading books, series fiction, fairy tales, activity titles, and character-led properties. The Lino-Bücher series is a notable example of its format-led publishing: the small square books are designed for children to read themselves or for adults to read aloud, and the series began in 2001 with fairy-tale material, initially including Pinocchio. By 2022, more than sixty Lino titles had been published according to the referenced encyclopedic material. Other key properties include Felix, which follows the adventures of a travelling rabbit, and Princess Lillifee, a fantasy character used across books and associated merchandise. The group's commercial scope extends beyond conventional books. Under the Die Spiegelburg brand, introduced for children's games in 1992, Coppenrath develops toys, games, accessories, and gift products. Some of its games have received recognition in the German Spiel des Jahres children's category, either through nominations or recommended-list placements. This illustrates the publisher's strategy of building broader product ecosystems around stories, characters, and play rather than treating books as isolated products. Coppenrath is also known for producing Advent calendars, an important seasonal category that fits its focus on children, families, gifting, and illustrated design. The group is divided into four principal publishing or product areas. Coppenrath Verlag concentrates on children's books and related products; Die Spiegelburg covers games and associated children's merchandise; Hölker Verlag publishes regional cookery books and contemporary food-related titles; and Bohem Verlag publishes poetic picture books. The latter two divisions broaden the group beyond children's publishing while maintaining a strong emphasis on visually distinctive, giftable books. In 2018, the publisher moved its nearly 180 employees into Speicher 3, a converted warehouse at Münster's Kreativkai port. The move placed the business in a new building reported to have cost nine million euros and reflected the continuing integration of publishing, design, product development, and administration within a modern creative-industry setting. Coppenrath's identity therefore combines a long historical publishing tradition with contemporary character licensing, illustrated books, games, seasonal products, and non-book merchandise.

Coppenrath Verlag originated in Münster in 1768, when Joseph Heinrich Coppenrath took over the Perrenonsche Hofbuchhandlung. The transaction established the business that would later develop into the Coppenrath publishing house. For more than two hundred years, the enterprise remained associated with the Coppenrath family, making it one of the older continuing publishing businesses in the German market. A major ownership transition occurred in 1977, when Wolfgang Hölker took over the company. The change ended the family's direct control and linked Coppenrath's subsequent development to a broader publishing environment. Hölker's own publishing activities later became one of the divisions of the wider Coppenrath publishing group. Hölker Verlag, founded in 1972, focuses on regional cookery and modern food books, while Bohem Verlag, founded in 1973, publishes poetic picture books. These activities sit alongside Coppenrath Verlag's central concentration on children's publishing. The company's modern identity was shaped by the expansion of children's books into associated games, products, and character merchandise. In 1992, the group began selling children's games under the Die Spiegelburg name. The brand's role broadened the business from printed books into play and gift products, allowing stories and visual characters to be used in several formats. Coppenrath also became associated with Advent calendars and other seasonal products, reinforcing its position in the children's and family gift market. The book programme includes series for different reading stages and formats. Coppenrath is known for Felix, the children's series written by Annette Langen, and for Princess Lillifee, created by Monika Finsterbusch. The Lino-Bücher series began in 2001 with fairy tales, including Pinocchio. These books use a compact square format of approximately 12 by 12 centimetres and are intended to be read either by children or aloud to them. The series had passed sixty titles by 2022 according to the referenced material. Coppenrath's games business also gained visibility through recognition in the German Spiel des Jahres system. Mit Felix um die Welt, designed by Kai Haferkamp, appeared on the recommended list for 2006. Capt'n Sharky – Abenteuer auf der Schatzinsel, also by Haferkamp, was nominated in 2008. Die Lieben Sieben – Ab auf die Wippe! by Anja Dreier-Brückner appeared on the recommended list in 2010. These entries demonstrate the group's use of established children's properties and play-oriented formats. The publisher has also worked with musician and children's entertainer Rolf Zuckowski, with the referenced material identifying a collaboration in 2001. This reflects the company's broader interest in cross-media and family-oriented content rather than a purely literary publishing model. In 2018, Coppenrath relocated its nearly 180 employees to Speicher 3, a former warehouse at Münster's Kreativkai. The new facility was reported to have cost nine million euros. The move placed the workforce in a purpose-adapted creative-business setting and represented a significant physical and organisational milestone in the company's continuing operation. Today, Coppenrath Verlag remains associated chiefly with children's and young people's books, while the wider group operates across books, games, food publishing, picture books, calendars, and non-book products.

• 2018

  Move to Speicher 3

  [1]Coppenrath Verlagen.wikipedia.org

  Nearly 180 employees moved to Speicher 3, a converted warehouse at Münster's Kreativkai.

• 2001

  Lino-Bücher series begins

  [1]Coppenrath Verlagen.wikipedia.org

  The Lino-Bücher line began with fairy-tale titles, including Pinocchio, and later grew to more than sixty books.

• 2001

  Work with Rolf Zuckowski

  [1]Coppenrath Verlagen.wikipedia.org

  The publisher worked with children's musician and entertainer Rolf Zuckowski.

• 1992

  Launch of Die Spiegelburg children's games

  [1]Coppenrath Verlagen.wikipedia.org

  Coppenrath began selling children's games under the Die Spiegelburg brand, expanding into toys and play products.

• 1977

  Change of ownership

  [1]Coppenrath Verlagen.wikipedia.org

  Wolfgang Hölker took over the company, ending the Coppenrath family's direct ownership of the business.

• 1768

  Business founded in Münster

  [1]Coppenrath Verlagen.wikipedia.org

  Joseph Heinrich Coppenrath took over the Perrenonsche Hofbuchhandlung, establishing the enterprise that developed into Coppenrath Verlag.

A long-established German publisher positioned around illustrated children's and family content, combining books with character merchandise, games, seasonal products, and other gift-oriented goods.

• Children's book series

  Felix

  The Felix series, written by Annette Langen, is one of Coppenrath's best-known children's publishing properties. The books centre on Felix and use travel and adventure themes to introduce young readers to different places and experiences. The character has also supported related games and merchandise within Coppenrath's broader family-oriented product programme.

• Children's character and book series

  Princess Lillifee

  Princess Lillifee is a fantasy character created by Monika Finsterbusch and published by Coppenrath. The property is aimed at children and is presented through illustrated stories and related products. Its character-led format fits Coppenrath's practice of extending children's publishing into gifts, accessories, and other non-book merchandise.

• Children's books · 2001

  Lino-Bücher

  Lino-Bücher is a compact-format children's book series introduced in 2001. The books are square, approximately 12 by 12 centimetres, and are designed either for children to read themselves or for adults to read aloud. The line began with fairy tales, including Pinocchio, and had exceeded sixty published titles by 2022.

• Children's games and merchandise · 1992

  Die Spiegelburg

  Die Spiegelburg is Coppenrath's children's product brand, introduced for games in 1992. It encompasses play products and related merchandise connected with children's characters and themes. Games associated with the brand or the wider Coppenrath programme have received nominations or recommended-list recognition in the German Spiel des Jahres children's category.

• Seasonal children's and gift products

  Advent calendars

  Coppenrath is known for producing Advent calendars, a seasonal product category that complements its children's books, character properties, and gift-oriented merchandise. These products extend the publisher's presence beyond the conventional book season and are aimed primarily at family and children's markets.

• Cookery and food publishing · 1972

  Hölker Verlag

  Hölker Verlag is a division of the broader Coppenrath publishing group. Founded in 1972, it publishes regional cookery books as well as contemporary books about food and culinary culture.

• Picture-book publishing · 1973

  Bohem Verlag

  Bohem Verlag is another division of the group, founded in 1973. Its publishing programme focuses on poetic picture books and complements Coppenrath's broader illustrated-book portfolio.

• 2018

  Relocation to Speicher 3Strategy

  Background

  Coppenrath needed a new setting for its nearly 180 employees and its integrated publishing, design, and product activities.

  Action taken

  The company moved into Speicher 3, a converted warehouse at Münster's Kreativkai. The building was reported to represent an investment of nine million euros.

  Aftermath

  The relocation consolidated the workforce in a new creative-industry location in Münster.

  Reported building investment. €9 million (2018)

  Source

1. 1Coppenrath Verlagen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Coppenrath Verlag official websitecoppenrath.de