cbj Verlag

cbj and cbt – the publishing house and its history

As early as 1835, when book printer Carl Bertelsmann founded a small publishing house in Gütersloh, children's and young adult books were part of his program. It remained so throughout the eventful history of the publishing house. The "C. Bertelsmann Jugendbuchverlag" was founded as an individual publishing house within the Bertelsmann publishing group in 1968. After various readjustments cbj publishes children’s and young adult literature in hardcover editions since January 2018, while cbt will publish paperback editions for children and young adults.

“Der kleine Drache Kokosnuss” was created more than 15 years ago by Ingo Siegner. Take a look at: https://goo.gl/w1Ym7A !

Program

cbj Kinderbuch Verlag publishes a wide range of books for young readers including picture books, read-aloud stories, stories that help learning to read, children's novels and non-fiction books. Children will find stories on almost every possible topic in our programme as well as best known brands that make children's eyes light up.

With ‘Der kleine Drache Kokosnuss’ by Ingo Siegner, ‘Die Muskeltiere’ by Ute Krause and ‘Bluey’, the publishing house is home to much-loved heroes that almost every family in the German-speaking countries knows of.

Other major successes include the famous ‘Die Fünf Freunde’ series by Enid Blyton and ‘Die Vorstadtkrokodile’ by Max von der Grün. Recent bestsellers: ‘Julius Zebra’ by Gary Northfield, ‘Die Heuhaufen-Halunken’ by Sven Gerhardt, ‘Ella Löwenstein’ by Gesa Schwartz, ‘Magic Agents’ by Anja Wagner. Bestsellers in non-fiction: ‘Das Universum’ by Stephen and Lucy Hawking and ‘Weltgeschichte(n)’ by Dominic Sandbrook.

The books published by cbj Jugendbuch Verlag are emotional and intense, thrilling and romantic, exciting and relevant, funny and serious - just like real life. The publisher offers a wide range of young adult books in all genres: Romantasy as well as thrillers, romance and coming of age novels, high fantasy as well as adventurous fantasy.

cbj Jugendbuchverlag has many international star authors in its programme. In addition to Christopher Paolini, the author of the bestselling ‘Eragon’ and ‘Murtagh’ series, cbj also publishes Stephanie Garber's ‘Once Upon A Broken Heart’ series, Holly Black's ‘Elfenerbe’ series and Tahereh Mafi's ‘Shatter me’ series, which were all celebrated on TikTok. There are also award-winning authors such as Jennifer Lynn Barnes with her ‘The Inheritance Games’ series and the ‘Cold Case Academy’ series, as well as Angie Thomas with ‘The Hate U Give’. Dustin Thao landed a unique success with ‘Stay with me, Sam’, especially with readers on #BookTok.

The young adult programme at cbj and the paperback editions at cbt are rounded off by a unique line-up of German authors such as Emily Bähr, Caroline Brinkmann, Amelia Cadan, Isabel Clivia, Yasmin Dreyer, Wulf Dorn, Reiner Engelmann, Monika Feth, Elisabeth Herrmann, Adriana Popescu, Yasmin Shakarami and Manfred Theisen.

Current awards

  • Salon5 2025 – Jugendbuchpreis
    Yasmin Shakarami: Sturmflirren
  • Bookstar 2024 – Auszeichnung
    Bella Higgin: Belle Morte – Rot wie Blut
  • DELIA-Jugendliteraturpreis 2024 – Auszeichnung
    Yasmin Shakarami: Tokioregen

Foreign Rights Highlights

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Street Tigers: The Hunt for the Cat’s Gold

  • Andreas Hüging, Angelika Niestrath
  • Illustrated by Timo Grubing
  • Spring 2024, 160 pages, 15.5 x 21 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 8+
  • All rights available
  • Website

When spoilt pet kitty Caruso bumps into cool alley cats Sushi and Puma, his life changes for ever: he joins them at Madame Coco’s School for Cats, where he learns everything an alley cat needs to know to be a top-class hunter. They have enemies to keep in check and Caruso soon throws himself into the fray, and proves that he’s more than just a cuddly little pet …

Magic Agents: Stockholm’s Trolls are on the Loose

  • Anja Wagner
  • Spring 2024, 304 pages, 15.5 x 21 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 10+
  • All rights available
  • Website

Evil never sleeps … as magic agent Elia Evander quickly finds out when she is sent to Sweden on a risky new job. Together with Magent-in-training Emil, she goes undercover in a boarding school, where a series of dark magical events have taken place. But as the duo search for clues, Emil is more a hindrance than a help, and they are trapped by a bunch of angry trolls. Have the mythical beings joined the power-hungry organisation ‘Elite’? Elia has one last chance to make sure that evil doesn’t win – and to bring peace and goodwill back to Stockholm and its inhabitants.

The third title in the successful Magic Agents series!

And You Will Die Smiling

  • Monika Feth
  • Spring 2023, 448 pages, 13.5 x 21.5 cm
  • Paperback
  • ab 14
  • All rights available
  • Website

Ivy is on the run. Why or from whom, she can’t remember. She only knows her first name. Hungry and with a stranger’s blood on her clothes, she takes refuge in a small town hotel – without money, a cellphone or
documents.
As she slowly begins to regain her memories, she realizes that this place is not safe either. She hides in a seaside resort, working at a beach hotel’s restaurant. But at night, she is haunted by nightmares – again and again. What did she witness? And why won’t she, under any circumstances, go and talk to the
police? A spine-tingling thriller with a strong heroine.

Highly topical issue of police violence combined with
psychological suspense

Magic Agents – Fairies on the Loose in Dublin

  • Anja Wagner
  • Spring 2023, 288 pages, 15.5 x 21.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • ab 10
  • All rights available
  • Website

Elia Evander has just passed her ’Magent’s’ exam when she is launched into her first mission: a magical artefact has been stolen in Dublin, and more and more mythical creatures are appearing in the city, endangering its people. It’s a clear case for Elia! But smuggling the creatures back into their world presents
her with unexpected magical challenges.
Mythical creatures, magical action and a pinch of Irish wanderlust: the first mission for magician Elia Evander!

My Wonderful Self

  • Clarissa Corrêa da Silva
  • Illustrated by Maurizio Onano
  • Spring 2023, 176 pages, 15.5 x 21.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • ab 10
  • All rights available
  • Website

Who or what is the “Self”? For children beginning to ask themselves who they are, what makes them tick and who they could become. The author explores the fascinating question of why we are who we are, in an in-depth yet playful way. Humorous, vivid and very knowledgeable, she introduces the science of epigenetics and encourages us to shape our own “Self”. Because every “Self” is a wonderful being with unimaginable possibilities.

I Am Me - and I'm Just Right

  • Neele
  • Illustrated by Inka Vigh
  • Spring 2023, 32 pages, 21.0 x 27.0 cm
  • Picturebook
  • 4+
  • All rights available
  • Website

It’s not easy when others make fun of you: Are you smaller than a mouse, as timid as a rabbit, or as slow as a snail? It doesn’t matter! This picture book encourages children to stand up for themselves and their appearance, and then proudly say: “I am ME!” Everyone is special, unique and good at something! And when everyone sticks together, a strong, open “I am Me” becomes a happy, colourful “We are We”. An empowering picture book that celebrates each child as unique and promotes mutual understanding.Encourages self-confidence and tolerance – a positive message for all children and a more colourful, tolerant world.

Magic Hooves - Our Magic Pony Farm: A Chaotic Pony to Fall in Love With

  • Amelie Plaas-Link
  • Illustrated by Miriam Cordes
  • Spring 2023, 112 pages, 15.5 x 21.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • 7+
  • All rights available
  • Website

Lina’s big dream has come true: there is a pony farm near her new home and she gets to learn to ride during the Magic Pony holiday week! But then, Kaspar, the farm’s chaotic horse, chooses Lina as her rider. Oh dear! But Kaspar and Lina learn to get along better with every riding lesson. And after Kaspar has been shod with magical glittering horseshoes, something quite magical happens: suddenly Lina speaks Kaspar’s language! And their first adventure together can begin.An exciting and enchanting read-alone story for children aged 7+.

Sick? Healthy? Your Body Is Always Busy!

  • Katja Ludwig
  • Illustrated by Dorothee Mahnkopf
  • Spring 2023, 48 pages, 24.0 x 32.0 cm
  • Picturebook
  • 5+
  • All rights available
  • Website

Cyto and Phago are white blood cells. They hunt down harmful invaders and are busy cleaning up day and night. It’s never boring with them – because new and exciting things are constantly happening in your body that require their input. No matter whether you have a scratchy throat or a tummy ache: they find the cause of your discomfort and take care of it right away. They do everything they can to make sure you’re healthy again soon!Author and doctor Katja Ludwig explains what happens in your body when you are ill – and gives tips on what you can do to feel better.

Jobs

Karriereportal der Verlagsgruppe Random House

Events

All events in German language!

Currently no events. Visit the publisher’s website for up-to-date events (visit website).

Contact

cbj Verlag in der Verlagsgruppe Random House

Neumarkter Straße 28
81673 München

Germany

Phone +49 (0)89 41 36-0

presse@randomhouse.de
www.cbj-verlag.de
www.youtube.com/user/RandomhouseOnline

Contact Person

Publishing Director Carina Mathern

Sales Director Christina Wätjen

Marketing Director Ellen Bartels

Public Relations Kristina Kredler
kristina.kredler@penguinrandomhouse.de

Events Verena Otto
verena.otto@penguinrandomhouse.de

Foreign Rights Leah Francis
leah.francis@penguinrandomhouse.de

Customer Service
kundenservice@penguinrandomhouse.de