Nosy Crow
Nosy Crow is an independent London-based publisher of books and other media for children from infancy through approximately age 12.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Nosy Crow is an independent British children's publishing company founded in London in 2010 by Kate Wilson, Adrian Soar, and Camilla Reid. The company published its first books in January 2011 and built its identity around carefully edited, visually distinctive children's fiction and nonfiction, combined with experimentation in digital and interactive formats. Its publishing programme primarily serves children from birth to around 12 years old and spans board books, picture books, early readers, middle-grade fiction, poetry, activity-led titles, and educational or nature-related nonfiction. The founders brought complementary publishing experience to the business. Kate Wilson had worked in rights and trade publishing, including at Faber and Faber and Macmillan, where she was associated with books by creators such as Axel Scheffler. Nosy Crow placed international rights and licensing at the center of its business early on: during its first year, rights to its titles were sold in multiple languages, helping the company operate beyond the United Kingdom despite its independent scale. Nosy Crow's early publishing list included commercially successful series such as Pip and Posy, created by Camilla Reid and Axel Scheffler; Bizzy Bear, created by Camilla Reid and Benji Davies; and the Peekaboo series, written by Reid and illustrated by Ingela P. Arrhenius. The publisher subsequently expanded into a broad range of illustrated and commercial fiction, including Escape Room by Christopher Edge, My Brother Is a Superhero by David Solomons, Pamela Butchart's Baby Aliens books, Zoe's Rescue Zoo, Sing Along with Me!, Unicorn Academy, and numerous picture-book and poetry titles. Several books received major UK children's-book awards, strengthening the company's reputation among booksellers, librarians, parents, and educators. Digital publishing was an important part of Nosy Crow's early strategy. From 2011 through 2018, it developed more than 25 in-house iOS apps, including interactive adaptations of classic stories and original digital books. These products received recognition from digital publishing and children's-book organizations. In 2013, the company also introduced Stories Aloud, a free audio feature associated with selected paperback picture books. In 2018, Nosy Crow ended its in-house app development programme and closed the dedicated app department, citing difficult commercial conditions for children's reading applications. The company has also pursued partnerships that extend its publishing reach and cultural relevance. Its illustrated titles have been published in North America through a Nosy Crow imprint at Candlewick Press, while Allen & Unwin distributes its books in Australia. Nosy Crow has collaborated with John Lewis on picture books based on the retailer's Christmas advertising campaigns and has developed jointly branded children's lists with organizations including the National Trust, the British Museum, and the University of Cambridge. Industry recognition has included British Book Awards for Independent Publisher of the Year in 2020 and Children's Publisher of the Year in several years, as well as Independent Publishers Guild awards, a Queen's Award for Enterprise for international trade, and numerous book and digital-product prizes. In 2023, the company established Nosy Crow Inc. in the United States, representing a further step in its international development. Nosy Crow remains an active independent children's publisher with a business spanning print books, audio-related formats, licensing, international rights, partnerships, and selected digital initiatives.
History
Nosy Crow was established in London in 2010 by Kate Wilson, Adrian Soar, and Camilla Reid. It entered publishing in January 2011 and quickly developed a list aimed at children from infancy to approximately 12 years old. The company's early programme combined board books, picture books, fiction, nonfiction, and digital products rather than concentrating on a single age band or format. International rights were a major part of the business from the outset. Wilson's previous experience in rights and trade publishing helped the young company sell foreign-language rights to its books while it was still establishing its domestic list. Early commercial successes included the Pip and Posy books, the Bizzy Bear series, and the Peekaboo books. These titles helped Nosy Crow establish relationships with booksellers, parents, libraries, and international publishing partners. The publisher also developed a reputation for combining traditional editorial work with multimedia experimentation. Between 2011 and 2018 it produced more than 25 iOS apps, including interactive versions of classic stories and original digital reading experiences. Its apps won a number of specialist digital-book awards. In November 2013, Nosy Crow introduced Stories Aloud, a free digital audio component associated with selected paperback picture books. In April 2018, however, it announced the closure of its app department and the end of in-house app development, pointing to the difficult economics of children's reading applications. During the 2010s, Nosy Crow expanded its print list with fiction, nonfiction, poetry, activity books, and additional illustrated series. Titles such as Open Very Carefully, My Brother Is a Superhero, There's a Bear on My Chair, and I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree received significant awards or honors. The company also built partnerships outside conventional publishing. In 2012 it worked with John Lewis to turn the retailer's Christmas television advertisement into an immediate picture-book edition, later producing further books connected with John Lewis Christmas campaigns. It subsequently created jointly branded lists with the National Trust, the British Museum, and the University of Cambridge. Industry data cited in the company's reference history placed Nosy Crow among the largest children's publishers in the United Kingdom by the middle and end of the decade. The company received recognition for children's publishing, international achievement, digital innovation, marketing, and independent publishing, including the Queen's Award for Enterprise for international trade in 2018. In 2020, it was named Independent Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards. Nosy Crow's international model has included North American editions published through a same-name imprint at Candlewick Press and Australian distribution through Allen & Unwin. In May 2023, it launched Nosy Crow Inc. in the United States, adding a US corporate branch to its international operations. The business remains active as an independent children's publisher whose activities include print publishing, rights sales, partnerships, audio-linked books, and selected digital initiatives.
- 2023
US branch launched
[1]Nosy Crow launched Nosy Crow Inc. in the United States.
- 2020
Independent Publisher of the Year
[1]Nosy Crow won Independent Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards.
- 2018
In-house app programme ends
[1]Nosy Crow closed its app department and stopped developing children's reading apps internally.
- 2015
British Museum partnership announced
[1]The publisher announced a second jointly branded children's list, this time with the British Museum.
- 2014
National Trust publishing partnership announced
[1]Nosy Crow announced a jointly branded children's book list with the National Trust.
- 2013
Stories Aloud introduced
[1]Nosy Crow launched a free digital audio feature for selected paperback picture books.
- 2012
John Lewis Christmas advertising partnership begins
[1]The company produced an immediate picture-book edition based on a John Lewis Christmas television advertisement.
- 2011
First books published
[1]Nosy Crow released its first books in January and began building its print and digital children's publishing programme.
- 2010
Company founded
[1]Kate Wilson, Adrian Soar, and Camilla Reid founded Nosy Crow in London.
Products and positioning
An independent, design-conscious children's publisher combining strong creator-led print publishing with international rights, cultural partnerships, audio features, and a history of experimentation in digital books.
Picture-book series · 2011
Pip and Posy
A preschool picture-book series written by Camilla Reid and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The books follow the everyday experiences, emotions, play, and friendship of the two young characters. The series was among Nosy Crow's early commercial successes and helped establish its reputation for accessible storytelling paired with strong illustration.
Board-book series
Bizzy Bear
A young-child series written by Camilla Reid and illustrated by Benji Davies. The books use sturdy formats and interactive elements to introduce toddlers to activities, occupations, and familiar situations. Bizzy Bear is representative of Nosy Crow's emphasis on tactile, participatory books for very young readers.
Novelty board-book series
Peekaboo
A series written by Camilla Reid and illustrated by Ingela P. Arrhenius. Its interactive format uses flaps and visual surprises to support participation and repeated reading by babies and preschoolers. The series is one of the publisher's notable early-childhood lines.
Audio-enhanced print-book feature · 2013
Stories Aloud
A free digital audio feature introduced in 2013 and included with selected Nosy Crow paperback picture books. It connected the physical reading experience with recorded narration or related audio content and reflected the company's interest in extending print books through digital technology.
Middle-grade fiction
Escape Room
A children's novel by Christopher Edge and one of the titles identified as a major Nosy Crow success. It represents the publisher's expansion beyond preschool and picture books into commercially oriented fiction for older children.
Children's fiction series
My Brother Is a Superhero
David Solomons's children's fiction series, which achieved international distribution in more than 20 languages and received the 2016 Waterstones Children's Book Prize and British Book Industry Award Children's Book of the Year. It is part of Nosy Crow's successful fiction programme for school-age readers.
Poetry anthology
I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree
A collection of nature poems for every day of the year. The title won the inaugural Waterstones Children's Gift of the Year Award in 2018 and illustrates Nosy Crow's interest in substantial gift books combining literary content, illustration, and nature themes.
Early-reader fiction series
Zoe's Rescue Zoo
A series by Amelia Cobb and Sophy Williams centered on a young character and the animals at a rescue zoo. It forms part of Nosy Crow's continuing fiction offering for developing readers.
Children's fiction series
Unicorn Academy
A fantasy-oriented children's series associated with Julie Sykes and Lucy Truman. It extends Nosy Crow's fiction list into imaginative, character-led adventure for young independent readers.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012John Lewis Christmas picture-book partnership
United Kingdom
Nosy Crow worked with John Lewis to publish a rapid picture-book edition based on the retailer's Christmas television advertisement and later produced additional books connected with subsequent Christmas campaigns.
Outcome. The partnership created a repeatable bridge between high-profile advertising, retail promotion, and children's publishing.
Brand decisions
2023
Establishment of Nosy Crow Inc. in the United StatesStrategyBackground
Nosy Crow had already reached North American readers through publishing arrangements involving Candlewick Press.
Action taken
The company launched a United States branch called Nosy Crow Inc.
Aftermath
The move gave the independent publisher a direct US corporate presence and supported its international expansion.
2018
End of in-house children's app developmentStrategyBackground
Nosy Crow had developed more than 25 iOS apps between 2011 and 2018, but reported that the commercial environment for children's reading apps had become challenging.
Action taken
The company closed its app department and ended its in-house app development programme.
Aftermath
The decision shifted the company's emphasis toward print publishing, rights, partnerships, and other formats while preserving its history of digital experimentation.
Sources2 sources
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