Pharrell Williams, Grammy Award-Winning Artist, to Publish Four Picture Books With Penguin Young Readers Group
New York, NY – Grammy Award-winner Pharrell Williams will bring his beloved song ‘Happy’ to the youngest of readers in a new picture book featuring photographs of children across cultures celebrating what it means to be happy. Putnam Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, will publish the book on September 22, 2015 with a first printing of 250,000. The deal for Happy and three additional picture books was negotiated by Stacey Barney, Senior Editor, Putnam Books for Young Readers and Mel Berger at William Morris Endeavor. Penguin has North American rights.
“I’m humbled by the global success of ‘Happy,’ but especially in awe of the song’s young fans,” says Williams. “My collaboration with Penguin allows me to continue a dialogue with these children in a fresh, new way. We’re both committed to feeding the curiosity of young minds with imagination.”
“This is the beginning of an incredible partnership with one of America’s most talented and beloved stars,” said Don Weisberg, President, Penguin Young Readers. “Pharrell has an important and inspiring message about individuality and being your best self and we’re proud to help him share that with young children.”
Pharrell is a singer, songwriter, producer, philanthropist, fashion designer and now a coach on NBC’s The Voice. Redefining cool for a new generation, Pharrell Williams is a creative force, using music, fashion and design to express his distinctive style. Pharrell wears many hats, and has earned ten Grammy awards for his work, including “Best Music Video” and “Best Pop Solo Performance” for Happy. His multi-media creative collective “i am OTHER” includes fashion, music, entertainment, and art endeavors. Happy! is his first children’s book.
Penguin Young Readers is one of the leading children’s book publishers in the United States. The company owns a wide range of imprints and trademarks including Dial Books, Dutton, Grosset & Dunlap, Philomel, Puffin, Speak, Firebird, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Viking, Razorbill, and Frederick Warne. These imprints are home to such award-winning, New York Times-bestselling authors as Laurie Halse Anderson, Jay Asher, Judy Blume, Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Ally Condie, Roald Dahl, Tomie dePaola, Sarah Dessen, Anna Dewdney, John Flanagan, Gayle Forman John Green, Oliver Jeffers, Mike Lupica, Richelle Mead, B.J. Novak, Richard Peck, Judy Schachner, Jacqueline Woodson and dozens of other popular authors. Penguin Young Readers Group is also the proud publisher of perennial brand franchises such as The Little Engine That Could, the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, Peter Rabbit, Spot, the Classic Winnie the Pooh, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Strega Nona, Madeline, Mad Libs, Alex Rider, the Rangers Apprentice, Skippyjon Jones, Flower Fairies, and Pippi Longstocking, among many others. Penguin Young Readers Group is a division of Penguin Group LLC, a Penguin Random House company
Penguin Random House (http://global.
