Pearson Leads the Pack

In 2009, even the world's largest book publishers were more concerned with coping with the recession than expansion; as such, there was little movement at the top in the annual Livres Hebdo/Publishers Weekly ranking of the world's biggest publishers. Pearson remained #1, with revenues from its educational operations and Penguin generating a total of $7.75 billion in 2009.

Global Rankings Data for the Top 20 Companies

The Top Seven Japanese Publishing Companies from PW's Global Ranking 2009

You've probably heard of Kodansha, but that company isn't the only publisher in Japan. Here are short profiles of the seven Japanese companies on our top fifty list. We thought Japan might be a fun place to start, but we'll be running profiles of the other countries on the list in the weeks to come.

McClelland & Stewart Restructures

McClelland & Stewart, which has been publishing books in Canada for more than 100 years, announced a restructuring that includes some promotions as well as three layoffs.

Crime and Squirrels Lead Foreign Lists

'Tis the season for thrillers and crime fiction, and in France, the Netherlands, and Sweden, where titles in those categories dominated bestseller lists in April. But the top book in France right now falls into neither category; it's a feel-good novel about what matters in life.

Angry Robot Books to Join Osprey Publishing

After spending its first year as an imprint of HarperCollins UK, science fiction and fantasy line Angry Robot Books has become an independent publisher, with backing from niche publisher Osprey Publishing. Angry Robot will continue to operate from its Nottingham office with its existing team under Marc Gascoigne, its founder and publisher. It will also expand into the U.S. this fall.

'Parallel Imports' Stirs Controversy In Canada

The debate over whether Amazon should be allowed to establish a distribution center in Canada (Amazon has gained approval) has given rise to a new controversy between Canadian publishers and booksellers over "parallel imports." Earlier this month, CBA representatives met with Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore to ask him to consider repealing regulations established in 1999 that require Canadian booksellers to buy books from the Canadian branches of multinational publishers such as Random House of Canada or Penguin Group (Canada) or from a Canadian-owned distributor. They are not permitted to buy from a U.S. company unless the book is not available from a Canadian company or if the Canadian company’s price exceeds the guidelines set for a Canadian price differential, which is the exchange rate plus 10%.

Firefly Books Inks Partnership with Hockey Hall of Fame

While hockey fans are engrossed in the NHL playoffs, Firefly Books announced this week that it made a deal with the Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum in Toronto to produce six books over the next three years.First books will be out this fall.

Authors Guild Says Watch the Gap

The Authors Guild along with the Songwriters Guild of America filed a joint statement Friday with the U.S. Copyright Office asking that Congress act to eliminate what the two groups see as a potential "gap" in termination rights granted under the Copyright Act. According to the filing, if the gap is not addressed as many as 100,000 creators may not be able to exercise termination rights they thought had effectively been granted to them under the law in 1976.

New Look for Publishers Weekly Web Site

As part of the effort to take PW into the future, today we are relaunching publishersweekly.com. We've given the site a cleaner look, made it easier to navigate, improved the search capability and added more art. More new features will be coming in the weeks and months ahead.

LBF Digital Conference: It's All About the Smartphones

Hype about the iPad was refreshingly absent from the London Book Fair Digital Conference on Sunday (18 April), well attended in spite of the inevitable, volcanic ash-induced absences. Instead, there was a good deal of attention on iPhones and other smartphones.

LBF Does Go On...Volcano and All

Despite the huge monkey wrench the suddenly active Icelandic volcano put in many Americans' (and some Europeans') plans to attend the London Book Fair, spirits among both attendees and those who stayed behind were relatively high. As many in the industry noted, while doing business face-to-face is optimal, work can be done remotely. And, of course, London isn't just about what the Americans brings to the fair.

London Book Fair: Americans MIA

With flights being canceled in droves because of the volcanic ash cloud hanging over Europe, many American publishers and agents will not be able to make it to the London Book Fair, which will nevertheless go forward.

LBF vs. the Volcano: Fair Planners Say Show Will Go On

With London's Heathrow airport closed for a second day as a result of volcanic ash being spit into European air space by an erupting volcano in Iceland, those in the publishing community are dealing with delayed flights and mounting concerns about how, and if, they will be able to get to the fair.

London Book Fair -- Missed Connections

Have you had to change your travel plans for the London Book Fair? Click through for details on attendees' updated schedules. And please contact Jim Milliot at jmilliot@reedbusiness.com, if you would like send along your information.

Bologna Gets Back to Business

After a 2009 fair when many Americans stayed home over economic worries, the 2010 Bologna Children's Book Fair proved a much more upbeat gathering. "There's a lot of activity, and everyone I'm talking to seems positive," said Andrew Smith, deputy publisher of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. HarperCollins children's rights director Helen Boomer said it was "great to see many of the publishers who skipped last year return this year." And Penguin Young Readers associate publisher Jennifer Haller reported, "People are chatting about what the year's going to hold. There are a lot of really good conversations."

Jewish Group Boycotts Canadian Kids' Book

For the second time in four years, a Jewish group is calling for the removal of a title published by Canadian house Groundwood Books from recommended-reading lists at schools and libraries. Anne Laurel Carter's novel The Shepherd's Granddaughter tells the story of Amani, a Palestinian girl who wants to be a shepherd. Her flock and family are threatened by encroaching Jewish settlements. This last plot point does not sit well with Jewish advocacy group B'Nai Brith. The organization issued a statement calling the book "anti-Israeli propaganda" and "a one-sided work of fiction which demonizes the Jewish State."

Fiction Hot, Digital Not at Upbeat Bologna

The mood at this year's Bologna Book Fair has been much improved over last year when publishers were dealing with the impact of the worldwide recession. Young adult titles and series are drawing the most attention, but there remains caution about what to do on the digital front. "There's a lot of activity and everyone's very upbeat. Last year this place was dead," said Stephen Roxburgh, now with his new company namelos. "But I walked in yesterday morning and you could feel the energy." Roxburgh, who says he's on a one-man hunt to find a "digital pulse" at the fair, reports that the fair's overwhelming focus continues to be "ink on paper," but says he's finding people more receptive to the digital idea.

David Almond, Jutta Bauer Win Hans Christian Andersen Awards

The 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award, the most prestigious international award for children's books, has been given to British author David Almond and German illustrator Jutta Bauer. The award was announced Tuesday afternoon at the Bologna Book Fair.

London Briefcase: What the Big Six Are Bringing to the Fair

Glenn Beck rants about conspiracy theories (this time in fiction), Steve Martin explores the art world, Gary Shteyngart gets romantic, Jimmy Carter unlocks his diary, Laura Bush unlocks her life, and Drs. Oz and Roizen tackle parenting. These are just a few of the highlights you'll find among the books the “big six” are selling at the 2010 London Book Fair.