About EK Books

Books with Heart on Issues That Matter

Thoughtful picture books that help children and families understand themselves, each other, and the world around them.

Stories shared with readers around the world

Australia

New Zealand

United Kingdom

United States

Canada

In Australia and New Zealand, our books are distributed by Simon & Schuster, and EK titles can be found in bookshops and libraries around the world.

Publishing since 1991

Our parent company, Exisle Publishing, was founded in 1991, with EK Books following in 2013. Over the years, we have learned the value of giving good books time to find their readers, and of building lasting relationships with the authors and illustrators who create them.

Our parent company

Books for the things children really experience

Some of the most important things in a child’s life can also be the hardest to talk about. A good picture book can help begin the conversation.

Our books explore subjects including acceptance and belonging, neurodiversity, grief and loss, dementia, starting school, moving to a new country, friendship, family change and living with a body or mind that sometimes feels difficult to understand.

Many of our authors and illustrators bring professional expertise or personal experience to these subjects. What matters most is that the result still feels like a wonderful children’s book: warm, engaging, honest and made to be read together.

Made by people who care

Every EK book is written and illustrated by people (not AI!) who care. Our authors bring imagination, experience and, often, professional expertise to their work, and our illustrators bring each story to life with originality and zest. Behind every book is a passionate editorial team that cares deeply about getting it right.

Taking our books to the world

Every year, we take the EK list to international book fairs such as Bologna and Frankfurt, introducing our books to publishers and readers around the world. EK titles have now been translated into more than a dozen languages.

We publish with an international audience in mind from the beginning, supporting our books and their creators across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US and Canada, while also seeking translation opportunities further afield.

Books recognised by readers and the industry

EK titles have been recognised by awards and organisations including Speech Pathology Australia, the Wilderness Society, the Children’s Book Council of Australia, the Foreword INDIES and the Rubery Book Awards.