Children’s Book Publishers: Between the Local and the Global
The new generation of children’s book publishers is making notable efforts to move toward globalization. Through professional practice, they have come to realize that the narrow classification of “local publishing” no longer satisfies their ambitions in a publishing world that is constantly interacting with rapid changes. These changes have left their impact on various professions and fields, including publishing, which in some Arab countries has reached a critical turning point. This has pushed publishers to seek solutions through available options and alternatives, most importantly repositioning themselves in order to address spatial fragmentation in professional practice—a concept often referred to as the dialectic of (local vs. global).
Local publishing requires the children’s book publisher to remain firmly rooted in his geographical space and legal place of operation, allowing him to remain an active and influential player in his field. Global publishing, on the other hand, implies going beyond geographical boundaries, making the publisher an integral part of the global publishing landscape with all its conditions, standards, and regulations.
Such requirements demand a high level of awareness and professional culture capable of managing a gradual and well-planned transition to globalization. This is not achieved in a single leap, but through a step-by-step process that includes openness to the best alternatives, policies, and practices. Among the most important of these are:
Mergers and consolidation are among the most important professional strategies that help publishing houses achieve global reach. The individual publisher with limited capabilities, or the traditional small-scale publisher, is increasingly less able to survive in a rapidly changing environment full of unpredictable challenges. Therefore, mergers and other collaborative models provide a strong foundation for children’s book publishers to move toward globalization.
Experience has shown that such models are effective in achieving major goals, while also offering protection against professional instability and unexpected disruptions. However, their success depends primarily on awareness and on the belief of “merged” publishers in collective work as a necessary strategy to achieve shared goals.
Specialization opens wide doors for children’s book publishers to reach global markets, as it enables the achievement of higher quality standards and transforms children’s books into globally accepted “products.” This is done by focusing on a specific niche, in line with the broader trend of specialization that has become dominant across sciences, arts, literature, and professions.
In children’s publishing, there are several forms of specialization, including:
Translation is one of the most important forms of specialization. It is worth recalling that the early foundations of Arab children’s books were originally based on translation, particularly from French. Arab envoys to France in the eighteenth century were impressed by the remarkable development of children’s books there. Upon returning home, their first initiatives included translating several books, which became among the earliest modern Arabic children’s books.
It is also important to note that many specialized children’s publishing houses in Europe, America, and other developed countries adopt a strict strategy of extensive translation from various literatures and cultures, making it a distinctive feature of their production.
Alongside translation, field specialization is one of the most prominent strategies in children’s publishing. Some publishing houses focus exclusively on scientific books, while others specialize in storytelling, novels, science fiction, travel literature, biographies, or specific personalities, among other fields.
Some believe that field specialization provides a safe and effective pathway for Arab children’s books to reach global markets, as it encourages both authors and publishers to produce high-quality, precise, and credible content.
In addition to translation and field specialization, some publishers adopt style-based specialization, such as producing silent books that rely solely on illustrations without text, or focusing on screenplay-based formats. Others adopt dual specialization, combining two or more areas as part of a risk management strategy.
Regional specialization is a relatively new trend that has emerged in response to the desire of Arab families living abroad to raise their children in Arabic and maintain their cultural and linguistic identity, thereby protecting younger generations in distant diaspora communities.
Global content in children’s books is one of the most debated issues, particularly among literary agents who argue that not all content in Arab children’s books is suitable for global audiences. They emphasize the need to consider shared human values across nations and cultures, while avoiding isolation and overly localized or simplistic topics.
Creativity has become an urgent necessity in producing pioneering content capable of capturing children’s attention everywhere, by addressing their interests, stimulating their imagination, and engaging their sense of wonder, aspiration, and curiosity.
Many publishing houses place great importance on visual identity, considering it a key marketing strategy that supports their journey toward globalization. With the expansion of markets and the diversification of consumer preferences, publishers have increasingly focused on strengthening their visual identity.
Recently, there has been growing enthusiasm among publishers regarding visual identity, with some even revisiting their logos, strategies, values, vision, and mission. These elements contribute to creating a strong and influential visual and mental image that highlights the uniqueness of the publishing house and integrates it into the perceptions of consumers worldwide.
The path toward globalization remains open to all publishers who wish to pursue it. All routes can lead there, provided the publisher is capable of working with available options, policies, and professional strategies. However, it must always be remembered that tomorrow will not be like today in a world where the wheel of change never stops turning.
