NorthSouth Books

NorthSouth Books is the English-language and internationally oriented identity associated with the Swiss children's publisher originally founded as Nord-Süd Verlag. Established in Zürich in 1961 by Dimitrije Sidjanski and Brigitte Sidjanski, the company was created around the idea that children's books could encourage communication across languages and cultures. Its early publishing program reflected that ambition through multilingual editions, international rights activity, and books created by authors and illustrators from different national traditions. The company's first publication was The Clown Said No, written by Dimitrije Sidjanski under a pseudonym. From its early years, the house concentrated on illustrated children's literature rather than building a broad adult-trade list. During the 1960s and 1970s it developed a reputation for carefully produced books and worked with creators including Janosch, Ralph Steadman, and Bernadette Watts. Translation, licensing, and the circulation of books across national markets became central to its identity. This international orientation also allowed the publisher to introduce European and other foreign-language children's works to English-speaking readers. NorthSouth's best-known property is Marcus Pfister's Rainbow Fish, first published in 1992. The picture-book series combined a simple story about sharing and community with illustrations using iridescent foil, giving the books a distinctive physical appearance. Rainbow Fish became a major international children's publishing success and established NorthSouth as a recognizable source of illustrated picture books in the United States and other English-language markets. The company has also been associated with Hans de Beer's Little Polar Bear series and with titles by creators such as Max Velthuijs, Ralph Steadman, Janosch, Bernadette Watts, and Marcus Pfister. The English-language NorthSouth Books imprint developed under the leadership of Davy Sidjanski, the founders' youngest son, who helped expand distribution in the United States. The company has operated through a Swiss base and an American publishing presence, with distribution and publishing relationships supporting English-language editions. Partners cited in connection with its English-language activity include Henry Holt & Co. and Faber & Faber. The publisher has also used the Ediciones Norte-Sur imprint to serve Spanish-speaking readers. The company experienced a restructuring after being acquired by private investors in 2004. In 2012, Oetinger Publishing Group acquired a majority stake, bringing NorthSouth into a larger German publishing group while retaining the Zürich operation and its international orientation. After that transaction, the company continued to publish and acquire original and translated children's books, including works by American authors and illustrators and English-language editions of international titles. Examples associated with the later catalog include Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back and This Is Not My Hat, Ken Kimura and Yasunari Murakami's 999 Frogs Wake Up, Matthias Weinert's No Bath, No Cake, and Marcus Pfister's The Yellow Cab. NorthSouth Books remains positioned as an internationally minded children's publisher. Its catalog combines original picture books, translated and licensed titles, series publishing, and visually distinctive books intended for family reading and early readers. The house's principal differentiation is not a single format or educational method, but the combination of cross-cultural rights work, illustrator-led storytelling, and high-quality picture-book production.

NorthSouth Books traces its origins to Nord-Süd Verlag, founded in Zürich in 1961 by Dimitrije Sidjanski and Brigitte Sidjanski. The founders established the company as an internationally minded children's publisher at a time when multilingual publishing and the circulation of illustrated books across borders were central to its identity. Its first book, The Clown Said No, was written by Dimitrije Sidjanski under a pseudonym. The early program was shaped by the belief that children's literature could promote understanding between cultures, a principle reflected in the company's choice of authors, illustrators, translations, and international rights. During the 1960s and 1970s, Nord-Süd Verlag built recognition for well-produced children's books and worked with creators including Janosch, Ralph Steadman, and Bernadette Watts. Rather than limiting itself to domestic Swiss publishing, the house acquired, translated, licensed, and distributed works from a range of cultural backgrounds. This approach helped it develop an international catalog and gave the company experience in adapting illustrated books for multiple language markets. The publisher's later growth was closely connected to its English-language business. Under Davy Sidjanski, the founders' youngest son, the company expanded distribution in the United States and developed the NorthSouth Books imprint. The imprint became the principal English-language identity for many of the company's international titles. NorthSouth's catalog grew through a mixture of original publishing, translation, licensing, and reissues of established children's classics. A decisive commercial and cultural turning point came in 1992 with Marcus Pfister's The Rainbow Fish. The book's story about sharing and belonging was paired with illustrations incorporating iridescent foil, creating an unusually tactile and visually recognizable picture-book format. The title and its sequels became the company's most prominent international property. NorthSouth also became associated with Hans de Beer's Little Polar Bear books, as well as works by Max Velthuijs, Ralph Steadman, Janosch, Bernadette Watts, and other internationally published creators. The success of these books strengthened the house's reputation in illustrated children's literature. In 2004, NorthSouth was acquired by private investors and underwent restructuring. The change marked a shift from the founders' family-centered ownership model toward a reorganized corporate structure. In 2012, Oetinger Publishing Group acquired a majority stake. Oetinger, a major German children's publisher, provided a larger group structure while NorthSouth retained its Swiss base and international publishing identity. The transaction also supported closer cooperation between the Zürich office and the U.S. imprint. After the Oetinger transaction, NorthSouth continued to broaden its catalog. It published original works by American authors and illustrators, acquired English-language rights to internationally recognized books, and maintained a Spanish-language presence through Ediciones Norte-Sur. Titles associated with this period include Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back and This Is Not My Hat, Ken Kimura and Yasunari Murakami's 999 Frogs Wake Up, Matthias Weinert's No Bath, No Cake, and Marcus Pfister's The Yellow Cab. Distribution relationships involving Henry Holt & Co. and Faber & Faber helped place English-language editions in relevant markets. Today, NorthSouth Books operates as an active children's publishing brand within the Oetinger Publishing Group. Its business remains focused on picture books, illustrated series, international rights, translations, and editions designed for readers in multiple markets. The publisher's historical continuity lies in its cross-border approach: it connects creators, stories, and audiences across languages while preserving a strong emphasis on illustration and physical book design.

• 2013

  The company emphasizes cooperation between Swiss and U.S. operations

  [2]A New Chapter for NorthSouth Bookspublishersweekly.com

  NorthSouth develops its English-language catalog and international publishing activities after the Oetinger investment.

• 2012

  Oetinger Publishing Group acquires a majority stake

  [1]NorthSouth Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The Swiss publisher enters a new phase under majority ownership by the German Oetinger Publishing Group.

• 2004

  Private investors acquire the company

  [1]NorthSouth Booksen.wikipedia.org

  NorthSouth changes ownership and undergoes restructuring.

• 1992

  The Rainbow Fish is launched

  [1]NorthSouth Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Marcus Pfister's picture book introduces the property that becomes NorthSouth's best-known publishing success.

• 1961

  Nord-Süd Verlag is founded in Zürich

  [1]NorthSouth Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Dimitrije Sidjanski and Brigitte Sidjanski establish the Swiss children's publisher that later develops the NorthSouth Books identity.

• 1961

  The Clown Said No becomes the first publication

  [1]NorthSouth Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The company's first book, written by Dimitrije Sidjanski under a pseudonym, reflects the new house's early focus on children's literature.

An internationally oriented children's publisher centered on illustrated picture books, cross-cultural storytelling, translation and licensing, and visually distinctive editions.

• Picture-book series · 1992

  The Rainbow Fish series

  Created by Swiss author-illustrator Marcus Pfister, The Rainbow Fish series is NorthSouth's signature property. The books use stories about sharing, friendship, community, and belonging, combined with highly distinctive illustrations that incorporate iridescent foil. First launched in 1992, the series became an international success and established the publisher as a major name in illustrated children's books.

• Picture-book series

  Little Polar Bear series

  Hans de Beer's Little Polar Bear books follow a young polar bear through gentle, accessible adventures. The series is representative of NorthSouth's international approach to children's publishing: an illustrated character brand created outside the English-language market and circulated through translation and licensing.

• Illustrated picture book

  The Christmas Star

  The Christmas Star is among the titles associated with Marcus Pfister's work for NorthSouth. It illustrates the company's emphasis on seasonal picture books, author-illustrator led storytelling, and richly designed editions for family and gift-book audiences.

• Illustrated picture book

  Dazzle the Dinosaur

  Dazzle the Dinosaur is another NorthSouth-associated Marcus Pfister title. Like other books in the publisher's catalog, it combines a child-friendly narrative with an illustration-centered presentation intended for young readers and shared reading.

• Picture book

  I Want My Hat Back

  Jon Klassen's I Want My Hat Back is an internationally recognized picture book acquired or published in connection with NorthSouth's English-language activity. Its dry humor, restrained visual style, and carefully structured narrative represent the publisher's continued interest in distinctive contemporary illustration.

• Picture book

  This Is Not My Hat

  This Is Not My Hat, also by Jon Klassen, forms part of NorthSouth's later internationally oriented catalog. The title demonstrates the company's role in bringing notable illustrated children's books to additional language and market editions.

• Picture book

  999 Frogs Wake Up

  Written by Ken Kimura and illustrated by Yasunari Murakami, 999 Frogs Wake Up is a later NorthSouth-associated title. It reflects the house's continuing use of international author and illustrator collaborations in books for younger children.

• Picture book

  No Bath, No Cake

  Matthias Weinert's No Bath, No Cake is part of the publisher's later children's list. The title fits NorthSouth's focus on accessible, illustrated stories built around familiar childhood situations.

• Spanish-language imprint

  Ediciones Norte-Sur

  Ediciones Norte-Sur is the Spanish-language imprint associated with NorthSouth's effort to serve Spanish-speaking readers. It extends the company's multilingual and cross-border publishing model beyond its Swiss and English-language operations.

• 2012

  Majority investment by Oetinger Publishing GroupM&A

  Background

  NorthSouth sought a new ownership structure after its earlier private-investor period while maintaining its Swiss base and international children's-book focus.

  Action taken

  Oetinger Publishing Group acquired a majority stake in NorthSouth Books.

  Aftermath

  The transaction linked NorthSouth to a larger German children's publishing group and supported coordination between the Zürich office and the U.S. imprint.

  Source

• 2012

  Expansion of original and international English-language publishingStrategy

  Background

  After the Oetinger transaction, NorthSouth continued to develop its English-language presence while retaining its international rights and translation heritage.

  Action taken

  The publisher expanded its catalog of original works by American creators and continued acquiring and distributing international children's titles.

  Aftermath

  NorthSouth maintained a cross-border publishing model involving Zürich, the United States, English-language distribution partners, and the Ediciones Norte-Sur Spanish-language imprint.

  Source

• 2004

  Restructuring after private-investor acquisitionStrategy

  Background

  NorthSouth changed ownership when private investors acquired the company, creating a need to reorganize its business and publishing operations.

  Action taken

  The company underwent restructuring while continuing its children's publishing and international rights activities.

  Aftermath

  The restructuring preceded the later majority investment by Oetinger Publishing Group.

  Source

1. 1NorthSouth Booksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2A New Chapter for NorthSouth Bookspublishersweekly.com