Quill and Quire

Children's publishing

« Back to Omni
Articles

Second Story’s Malala Yousafzai picture book becomes international success

Malala_JacketA picture book about 17-year-old Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai has become an international success for Toronto’s Second Story Press.

In March, Second Story released Every Day Is Malala Day, written by Plan Canada International head Rosemary McCarney, with photos provided by the non-profit organization. Now in its fifth printing, the title has sold in 12 territories, most recently with Random House in the U.S. Second Story publisher Margie Wolfe expects a rise in institutional sales heading into the school season, with more deals anticipated out of this October’s Frankfurt Book Fair.

This fall, Second Story will release the follow-up from McCarney and Plan International, the second in a planned series of 10 to 12 titles (all proceeds from sales are donated to Plan). Co-written with teacher Jen Albaugh, Because I Am a Girl examines the various inequalities that young girls face around the world, and spotlights young activists like Yousafzai who are fighting for change. Future titles will deal with the “struggles for children to get an education,” Wolfe says.

Wolfe, who hopes Yousafzai will visit Canada in the fall, believes children are responding to the book because they “want to hear about important things. They want to feel like they can make a difference.”