London-based Watkins Media has launched Moon + Bird, a new children’s imprint spearheaded by publisher Fiona Robertson (pictured).

With more than 25 years of publishing industry experience, Robertson has worked at Watkins since 2014 in various editorial roles. Alongside editors Brittany Willis and Gemma Creffield, she’s actively looking to connect with writers and is interested in niches such as “weird knowledge” and folktales, according to her social media post. 

The strategy for this fledgling division is to age down subjects where Watkins’ adult-skewing imprints have already established a presence—wellbeing, personal development, nature, magic, spooky tales and paganism, to name a few. (Established in 1893, Watkins has a long history in publishing inspirational and spirituality-focused books and magazines.)

Running the gamut from picture books to middle-grade fare, Moon + Bird plans to publish between 10 and 12 books each year—and it’s kicking things off with three tween-skewing books that will hit retail next spring.

For the seven-plus demo, Nadia Finer’s Quiet Riot is due out on April 29 and will feature inspirational stories about 40 well-known figures (including Lionel Messi, Beyoncé, Mahatma Gandhi and Greta Thunberg) navigating shyness.

How to be an Eco Explorer by Yussef Rafik is another non-fiction book that’s slated for a May 27 release. This environmental title for seven- to 10-year-olds will break down nature facts and teach kids about planet-saving activities like cleaning beaches and building a rainwater harvester.

The third planned release from Moon + Bird, The Magical Wheel of the Year by Bérengère Demoncy and Victoria Ruiz y Lopez, has a June 3 publication date. Targeting six to nines, the book introduces the pagan faith (and its core principle of respecting nature), following two sisters who celebrate the eight seasonal festivals of the pagan year.

Robertson has also lined up a number of future projects with award-winning kids authors like Michelle Cusolito (Diving Deep), Alastair Chisholm (Inch and Grub), Helen Docherty (The Snatchabook) and Claire Barker (the Knitbone Pepper Ghost Dog franchise).