Little Bee Books
Little Bee Books is an independent children's book publisher founded in 2015 in Brooklyn, New York, operating three imprints covering ages 0 through young adult with a focus on diverse, inclusive, and media-licensed titles, distributed via Simon & Schuster.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Little Bee Books does
Little Bee Books, Inc. is a privately held independent children's book publisher founded in 2015 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, with additional offices in Manhattan. The company operates a three-imprint structure: the eponymous Little Bee Books imprint covers children ages 0-12 across board books, picture books, activity books, chapter books, middle grade, and nonfiction; BuzzPop is a media and licensing imprint that publishes tie-in titles for major IP holders including Mattel (Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe), Pinkfong Baby Shark, Crayola, Karina Garcia, and most recently Snoop Dogg's Doggyland; Yellow Jacket is a middle grade and young adult imprint covering humor, historical fiction, magical realism, coming-of-age stories, and graphic novels. A flagship initiative is the multi-year 'Published in Partnership with GLAAD' series of 16+ LGBTQ+ inclusive titles, with Grandad's Camper and Freedom in Congo Square serving as anchor award winners.
The core technology is a publishing production and rights-management operation rather than a software platform; the company publishes physical books with no documented developer API, SDK, app, or digital subscription offering. Distribution is conducted exclusively through Simon & Schuster as wholesale distributor for the US and Canadian trade, including order processing in Riverside, NJ and special sales via the S&S Special Sales department for gift and specialty retail; international rights inquiries are handled directly by the company. Books also reach consumers via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, IndieBound, and the company's own e-commerce storefront at littlebeebooks.com.
The revenue model is built on two streams: (1) one-time book sales revenue across wholesale trade, special sales, and direct-to-consumer channels, with unit pricing ranging from $5.99 for board books and chapter book installments up to $32.99 for premium hardcover and gift-set titles; and (2) licensing royalties and co-development income tied to media and brand partners (Mattel, Crayola, Pinkfong, Snoop Dogg's Doggyland). End customers span parents of children ages 0-12, schools and libraries receiving educator guides and author appearances, gift/specialty retailers, and international rights buyers. The company does not disclose pricing for institutional customers or licensing royalty rates.
Little Bee Books firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Little Bee Books
- Legal name
- Little Bee Books, Inc.
- Website
- https://littlebeebooks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Little Bee Books is an independent children's book publisher founded in 2015 in Brooklyn, New York, operating three imprints covering ages 0 through young adult with a focus on diverse, inclusive, and media-licensed titles, distributed via Simon & Schuster.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Little Bee Books industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s Activity & Workbook Publishing (MPAJAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Early Learning & Preschool Trade (Ages 0–5) (EDAGAIAA), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Character Development (EDAGACAC)
Keywords
Where Little Bee Books is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brooklyn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Little Bee Books business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Primary revenue from publishing and selling children's books across multiple formats including board books, picture books, activity books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels. Sales through wholesale distribution (Simon & Schuster), direct website sales, and special sales channels.
- Licensing and Media Partnerships: BuzzPop imprint generates revenue through media licensing partnerships with brands such as Mattel (Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe), Pinkfong Baby Shark, Crayola, and social media influencers including Karina Garcia.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Board Books - Early learning and toddler titles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Picture Books - Core children's titles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hardcover Titles - Premium editions |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Activity and Coloring Books |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Little Bee Books product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Little Bee Books is a children's book publisher that develops, produces, and sells print children's books through three imprints: the eponymous Little Bee Books imprint (ages 0–12, including board books, picture books, activity books, chapter books, and nonfiction), BuzzPop (pop culture and brand licensing tie-ins such as Mattel, Crayola, and Pinkfong Baby Shark), and Yellow Jacket (middle grade and young adult titles). The company publishes a catalog of more than 1,062 titles, generates revenue through wholesale distribution via Simon & Schuster, direct-to-consumer sales through its own website, and licensing/media partnerships, and also produces notable LGBTQIA+ inclusive content in partnership with GLAAD.
Product overview
Little Bee Books is a children's book publishing company operating under a multi-imprint structure. The company consists of three main imprints: Little Bee Books (the eponymous imprint for ages 0-12), BuzzPop (a media and licensing imprint for pop culture and brand tie-ins including Mattel, Pinkfong Baby Shark, and Crayola), and Yellow Jacket (a middle grade and young adult imprint). The company publishes books across multiple formats including board books, picture books, activity books, chapter books, graphic novels, nonfiction, and novelty/gift sets. Little Bee Books distributes to the trade through Simon & Schuster and has a notable partnership with GLAAD for LGBTQIA+ inclusive titles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BuzzPop: Media and licensing publisher bringing pop culture, favorite brands, and media tie-ins to fans of all ages. Publishes Mattel books, Pinkfong Baby Shark titles, Crayola coloring and activity books, and content featuring social media influencers such as Karina Garcia.
- Yellow Jacket
Products and services
- Little Bee Books (Main Imprint) Eponymous imprint of Little Bee Books dedicated to producing high-quality, creative books for children ages 0 through 12, including early learning concept books, board books, novelty books, activity books, picture books, chapter books, nonfiction, and gift sets.
- BuzzPop Imprint Media and licensing imprint of Little Bee Books that brings pop culture, favorite brands, and media tie-ins to fans of all ages. Publishes Mattel books, Pinkfong Baby Shark titles, Crayola coloring and activity books, and content featuring social media influencers such as Karina Garcia.
- Yellow Jacket Imprint Middle grade and young adult imprint of Little Bee Books publishing series and standalone titles for ages 8 and up, covering humor, historical fiction, magical realism, coming-of-age stories, and graphic novels.
- GLAAD Partnership Books Series Books published in partnership with GLAAD featuring LGBTQIA+ inclusive stories, including titles like Grandad's Camper, Prince & Knight, Uncle Bobby's Wedding, All Moms, Molly's Tuxedo, and Always Human.
- Board Books Sturdy, durable books designed for young children (ages 0–3), including novelty shapes, mini formats, and themed collections across all imprints.
- Picture Books Illustrated story books for young readers featuring diverse themes, cultural celebrations, and family stories, priced $16.99–$18.99 typically.
- Activity Books Interactive books including coloring books, sticker activities, puzzles, and educational workbooks, including licensed properties like Crayola, priced $9.99–$13.99.
- Graphic Novels Graphic novel format books including the Always Human series published in partnership with GLAAD.
- Novelty Books and Gift Sets Special format books and gift collections including pop-up books, flap books, and curated sets, with specialty items priced up to $32.99.
Quantifiable outcome
- Grandad's Camper named 2022 Waterstones Children's Book Prize winner, 2023 British Book Award for Children's Illustrated Book of the Year, and 2022 Stonewall Honor
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Little Bee Books
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Little Bee Books technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Little Bee Books partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- GLAADcoreLittle Bee Books publishes books in partnership with GLAAD, featuring LGBTQ+ inclusive content. Titles include Grandad's Camper (Waterstones Prize winner, Stonewall Honor), Prince & Knight, Uncle Bobby's Wedding, Molly's Tuxedo, and All Moms. The partnership produces the 'Published in Partnership with GLAAD' series featuring diverse family representations.
- Simon & SchustercoreSimon & Schuster serves as the primary wholesale distributor for Little Bee Books in the US and Canada. Orders processed at 100 Front Street, Riverside, NJ 08075. Special Sales department handles gift and specialty retail accounts.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Little Bee Books competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lee & Low Books: Independent children's book publisher of comparable size with a mission-driven focus on diversity and multicultural representation. Closely comparable to Little Bee Books in editorial focus, catalog scope (picture books through middle grade), and independent-publisher economics.
- Albert Whitman & Company: Mid-sized independent children's book publisher with a similarly broad picture book through middle grade catalog. Operates with a comparable team size and independent-publisher distribution model, making it a close structural analogue.
- Sleeping Bear Press: Independent children's book publisher specializing in picture books, middle grade, and YA with award-winning titles. Comparable in catalog scope, format mix, and reliance on trade distribution partnerships.
- Boyds Mills Press: Independent children's book publisher covering picture books through YA, with an editorial program similar in scope and prestige-recognition profile to Little Bee Books' main imprint.
- Quirk Books: Independent trade publisher of similar size known for distinctive, design-forward titles. Comparable as an independent publisher competing for retail attention and author/illustrator talent outside the Big Five.
Broad incumbents
- Chronicle Books: Larger independent publisher with a strong children's and gift book line, including licensed and pop-culture properties. Comparable as an upper-tier independent with stronger scale and retail relationships, representing the next stage of growth for a publisher like Little Bee.
- Workman Publishing: Independent publisher with a substantial children's and activity book program. Comparable in the activity book and novelty format space, but at meaningfully greater scale and with broader retail penetration.
- Scholastic: The largest US children's book publisher and the dominant player in school and library channels. Represents the scale and channel-power ceiling that a small independent like Little Bee competes against, particularly for award-list and school adoption share.
- Penguin Random House Children's Books: The largest children's book imprint group globally, encompassing Random House Children's, Knopf, and others. Sets the competitive baseline for frontlist scale, marketing spend, and author acquisition that Little Bee must work around.
- HarperCollins Children's Books: Major children's book division of HarperCollins with frontlist, backlist, and licensed properties across all age ranges. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for retail placement, library acquisitions, and award nominations in the same categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Little Bee Books social profiles
Digital presenceLittle Bee Books financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Little Bee Books leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Little Bee Books funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Little Bee Books M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Little Bee Books
What does Little Bee Books do?
Little Bee Books is a children's book publisher that develops, produces, and sells print children's books through three imprints: the eponymous Little Bee Books imprint (ages 0–12, including board books, picture books, activity books, chapter books, and nonfiction), BuzzPop (pop culture and brand licensing tie-ins such as Mattel, Crayola, and Pinkfong Baby Shark), and Yellow Jacket (middle grade and young adult titles). The company publishes a catalog of more than 1,062 titles, generates revenue through wholesale distribution via Simon & Schuster, direct-to-consumer sales through its own website, and licensing/media partnerships, and also produces notable LGBTQIA+ inclusive content in partnership with GLAAD.
Is Little Bee Books a public or private company?
Little Bee Books is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Little Bee Books founded?
Little Bee Books was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Little Bee Books based?
Little Bee Books is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Little Bee Books make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are licensing and Media Partnerships.
Who are Little Bee Books's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lee & Low Books, Albert Whitman & Company, Sleeping Bear Press, Boyds Mills Press and Quirk Books. Broad incumbents are Chronicle Books, Workman Publishing, Scholastic, Penguin Random House Children's Books and HarperCollins Children's Books.
Does Little Bee Books have an API?
No public API is recorded for Little Bee Books.
What industry is Little Bee Books in?
Little Bee Books's product category is Children's Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAFAG, Children’s Activity & Workbook Publishing, with a secondary code of EDAGAIAA, Early Learning & Preschool Trade (Ages 0–5). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.