WHAT: Art & photography book, illustration book, book cover design, book cover collection, book catalog, diverse children’s stories, art book for kids, comics & graphic novels

WHO:  Premio Publishing & Gozo Books (KidsWorldBooks.com)

WHEN:  Official release May 2024 (in soft cover, e-book)

WHERE: KidsWorldBooks.com (Free e-books, lessons, and exclusive bundles), Amazon/Kindle, Apple/iBooks, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Biblio, Brodart, ChildrensPlusInc, EBSCO, Follett, Gardner’s, Hertzberg/Perma-bound, Ingram, Kobo, Library Direct, Mackin, Mindworks, Odilo, OverDrive, Everand, Walmart.com

MORE INFO:  College media instructor Karl Beckstrand has 60 multicultural/bilingual books published by Premio Publishing. Laughter, Laughter—Now & After! The Multicultural Book Covers of Karl Beckstrand This 40-cover collection showcases the scores of eclectic funny bilingual/educational #books of this best-selling author/college media instructor. Savor the #design and many #ethnicities—not only of the characters, but of collaborators (illustrators hail from Latin America, Europe, and Asia). 36 full-color pages (8"x10"), 180 large-print words; soft ISBN: 978-1951599232 (ebook: 979-8224478552)

STORY IDEA:

MIDVALE, Utah – Few publishers survive their first five years. Premio Publishing will complete two decades in July.

“Our original publisher died the day our first book was going to print,” says Karl Beckstrand, Premio’s founder. “But tragedy brought our birth.”

That first title, “Sounds in the House – Sonidos en la casa” began a Spanish-English series that put Premio on the map. Today they have nearly 300 multicultural products, including classroom lesson plans (many free), themed book bundles, physical books, e-books and audio books.

Critics have taken notice as well. Not only has Premio won several literary and design awards, they’ve received nods from powerhouses like Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, School Library Journal and The Horn Book.

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, Premio has reimagined the book catalog — publishing a 40-cover collection called “Laughter, Laughter – Now & After” (free on Kindle Unlimited). No longer a dry list, art lovers will enjoy the graphics, characters of color and design by diverse artists from a variety of ethnic backgrounds (illustrators hail from Latin America, Europe and Asia). Laughter debuted at #1 in three Amazon categories this month.

“It’s been a fun adventure,” says Beckstrand — who’s a quarter South African and a quarter Canadian. He’s lived in South America and jokes that he’s worked with people from all continents — “except Antarctica.”  “Our titles are found from Poland to Peru to the Philippines and are available via most major book outlets,” he says.

Premio’s top seller, “GROW: How We Get Food from Our Garden,” was selected for use by the USDA (via Virginia Tech), the Georgia Farm Bureau, the Library of Congress and by Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation.

“She Doesn't Want the Worms - Ella no quiere los gusanos: A Mystery” was named in the top 10 "Best Books" of 2011 by ForeWord Reviews Magazine, featured in School Library Journal and “especially recommended” by School Library Connection.

“Bright Star, Night Star: An Astronomy Story” hit #2 in Amazon's Hot New Children's Books and won a 2014 UP Author’s design award.

“The Bridge of the Golden Wood: A Parable on How to Earn a Living” was selected by the State of Vermont for career/finance curriculum.

But Premio doesn’t just publish bilingual kids’ picture books, they have an award-winning western: “To Swallow the Earth,” biographies, short stories and relationship self-help books.

They’ve rebranded from Gozo Books, to Premio Publishing, to KidsWorldBooks.com and have YouTube and TikTok channels plus lots of social media profiles.

Find their exclusive book concept bundles, free e-books, lesson plans, online secrets and multiple informative videos/interviews on publishing at KidsWorldBooks.com or your favorite library or book outlet.

“We continue to highlight learning concepts, ethnicity/cultures, and Spanish for students of any age, says Beckstrand. “We can’t wait for readers see this year’s new titles,” some of which are highlighted in “Laughter, Laughter."

Premio Publishing & Gozo Books has been delighting readers since 2004. Our award-winning YA fiction, ebook mysteries, nonfiction/biographies, Spanish language & bilingual picture books (with ESL/ELL pronunciation guide), short story, romance, western, wordless, and activity STEM books (astronomy, zoology, ecology) feature many cultures. Nationally lauded (Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, ForeWord Reviews, The Horn Book, School Library Journal), our humorous educational children’s books capture attention and create repeat readers. While not about racial diversity (our only agenda is entertainment and age-appropriate learning), these full-color stories have contributors of various ethnicities and feature physically challenged characters, black, white, Asian, Islander, Hispanic, First Nations/Native American, and mixed-race protagonists (BIPOC)—with family values like courage, sharing, and friendship. Find our wholesome books(propaganda-free) via: Amazon/Kindle, Apple/iBooks, Árvore, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Biblio, Brodart, ChildrensPlusInc, EBSCO, Follett, Gardner’s, Hertzberg/Perma-bound, Ingram, Kobo, Library Direct, Mackin, MagicBlox, Mindworks, Odilo, OverDrive, Everand, Walmart.com, Target, and KidsWorldBooks.com (FREE online books, lessons, and exclusive bundles).

College media instructor Karl W. Beckstrand is the best-selling author/illustrator of thirty multicultural/multilingual titles (65 ebooks—reviews by Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, The Horn Book, and School Library Journal). Raised in San Jose, California, he has lived abroad, earned a B.A. in journalism, an M.A. in international relations & conflict resolution, and a broadcast & film certificate. He’s won multiple publishing awards, including an International Book Award for his Y.A.  western novel, To Swallow the Earth. Beckstrand loves volleyball and singing (in rock bands or choirs). His Y.A. stories, ebook mysteries, immigrant biographies, self-help, Spanish/bilingual, and STEM books feature ethnic characters—and usually end with a twist. See: Amazon, Apple/iBooks, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble, Follett, Ingram, Walmart, Target, and www.KidsWorldBooks.com