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. Since 2001, the Bertelsmann Group's book publishers have been known as the Random House publishing group. 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 represents a wide range of high-quality books for children starting age three up to novels for adults. Our offer of hardcover books ranges from picture books and illustrated children’s books to books for reading out loud and thrilling children’s novels as well as young adult literature. A small, finely chosen range of non-fiction books rounds off our program.

cbj takes it upon itself to approach children’s books and young adult literature in a colorful, fresh, diverse, emotional and unique way. The publishing house picks up subjects that concern and affect kids and adolescents: friendship, fears, family, love, identity struggles as well as the coexistence of generations, including social and personal topics. The program mixes international and unique German titles in both our children’s and our youth program, serving all kinds of genres from fiction to non-fiction. That way, every child and adolescent finds a gem of a book, depending on their reading age, preferences and mood.

cbj strives to inspire and arise a love for reading. By publishing reading samples via ‘read’n’go’, cbj-books are just as mobile as their young target group (read-n-go.de). That way, young adults can access their readings anywhere at any time. It is especially the promotion of reading during the transition from primary to secondary school that is close to cbj’s heart: With its project “I’ll give you a book”, cbj donates over a million books to fourth and fifth graders in need every year, being supported in this charity act by the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, the Deutsche Post and the ZDF.

Endearing children's figures whose adventures readers can follow in high-quality stand-alones as well as in series have always been at the heart of the cbj children's book.

cbj publishes both realistic and fantastic young adult books. It obtained an especially grand competence in regard to all age literature, which accompanies young adults from the age of 14 and is often appreciated by much older readers as well.

The extensive and carefully composed paperback program offers everything that children and young adults love to read.

A matter close to our hearts is that all our books are climate-neutral. From beginning on, we have supported Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe’s climate-protection project to reforest the rainforest of Campo Grande in Brazil with all our products.

Current awards

  • Lesekünstler des Jahres 2022 – Rüdiger Bertram
  • Friedrich-Glauser-Preis 2020 – Wulf Dorn: 21 - Dunkle Begleiter
  • HUCKEPACK Bilderbuchpreis 2020 – Marcy Campbells und Corinna Luyken: Adrian hat gar kein Pferd

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Minna Melon – Wonderful Stories from Truthful Woods

  • Sven Gerhardt
  • Illustrated by Mareike Ammersken
  • Spring 2022, 128 pages, 17.0 x 24.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • ab 6
  • All rights available
  • Website

Adventures for every evening!

On a normal day in Truthful Woods the animals do what they always do. Hardly anyone notices that something wondrous is about to happen. A strange figure appears at the edge of the forest pulling a heavily laden handcart.
Only Zara the squirrel sees the brown rat, dressed in elegant trousers and a shawl and smelling of the big city, set up a stage. On a sign it says, “Adventures for Every Evening!” – and Minna Melon is about to change the animals’ lives.

A wonderfully poetic book about the inspiring power of imagination.

Adelheid of All People!

  • Sabine Ludwig
  • Illustrated by Barbara Jung
  • Spring 2022, 192 pages, 15.0 x 21.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • ab 8
  • All rights available
  • Website

Best friends and other catastrophes

Adelheid is repeating the third grade, and does not have the easiest life: Constantly competing with three gifted, beautiful sisters is exhausting. And then there is her best friend Benni who she can’t leave hanging – Every time Adelheid tries to save Benni from whatever trouble he has caused, she suddenly finds herself in the midst of it all as well …

Blossom

  • Amelia Cadan
  • Spring 2022, 350 pages, 13.5 x 21.5 cm
  • Paperback
  • ab 16
  • All rights available except French
  • Website

Two hearts looking for love. One dark secret

Leith, 22, baseball prodigy, law student and perfect Southern State gentleman and Jun, 20, brilliant and beautiful acting student, meet at an East Coast Ivy League college. It seems obvious from the get go that they will NEVER become friends. Let alone more than that. Yet, when fate leads them to the same college dance and sparks suddenly fly between them, unexpected feelings ignite …

Expedition Polarstern – On the Tracks of Climate Change

  • Katharina Weiss-Tuider
  • Illustrated by Christian Schneider
  • Spring 2021, 128 pages, 24 x 32 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 10+
  • All rights available

It’s the largest polar expedition of our time. Moored to an ice floe, the German research icebreaker Polarstern went on a year-long journey drifting through the Arctic Ocean. On board were more than 600 crew members from 20 countries researching how the climate has been changing. For the polar region is its “engine room” – whatever happens here affects the whole planet.

“Expedition Polarstern” tells of the people on board, the thrilling endeavour itself and its historical predecessors. It provides key information about how the Arctic came to be, and explains what each of us can do to slow down climate change and make the Earth’s future – our future – a little bit better.

My Adventure Comic – Pug and Kat Discover the Woods

  • Vera Schmidt
  • Illustrated by Vera Schmidt
  • Spring 2021, 80 pages, 17 x 24 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 7+
  • All rights available

Pug and Kat are the best of friends. But while Kat is always looking for the next adventure, Pug prefers to lounge around on the sofa. When Kat convinces him to come on a walk through the woods, he’s bored – until the friends meet Rocky. The laid-back roebuck takes them on a thrilling trip: he shows them the magic of the forest, how trees communicate, where you can find the tastiest elf cakes, and how beehives are organised. A magical discovery tour into the woodland realm.

Vol. 2 to be published in May 2021!

Joy Lives in Your Heart

  • Reinhard Friedl
  • Illustrated by Maria Over
  • Spring 2021, 40 pages, 24,5 x 24,5 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 4+
  • All rights available

What does it feel like to be happy or sad? The heart is far more than just a muscle; it’s the place where all your emotions live and feelings are born. Sometimes it’s as quiet as a mouse, sometimes it pounds so hard you can feel it right in your throat. And when you place your hand on the left side of your chest, you can feel it beating. It’s like a good friend, who is always by your side, ready to give you advice. You just have to listen.

A moving and philosophical book about our most important organ: our heart!

The Muscleteers. Picandou and the Little Cry-Baby

  • Ute Krause
  • Autumn 2014, 208 pages, 17.0 x 24.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • 7+
  • Rights sold to Hungary
  • Website

Fast-paced adventure story with surprising turns
The Muscleteers are having visitors! The rats have popped in again and as always it turns into a pretty boisterous get-together. What fun it could all be if it weren't for the tiresome baby rat that makes sure the Muscleteers are always on the go, keeps demanding "CAKE" and generally wants to be entertained the whole time. A unanimous sigh is to be heard when the whole rat gang at last moves on the next day. But what's that – wasn't it someone shouting "CAKE"?

The Muscleteers. One for all, all for one

  • Ute Krause
  • Illustrated by Ute Krause
  • Autumn 2014, 208 pages, 17.0 x 24.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 8+
  • Rights sold to Hungary
  • Website

Fast-paced adventure story with surprising turns

While goldhamster Bertram de Bottomville sits somewhat bored in his golden deluxe cage on the patio of an upscale penthouse apartment in Hamburg, two mice and a white rat tumble from the gutter into his home. When the three of them introduce themselves as Picandou C. Saint Albray, Pomme de Terre and Gruyère, the hamster is thrilled! The French names remind him of the stories he loves so much about the “Muscleteers”. And when hamster Bertram discovers that the white rat Gruyère has lost his memory and his family, he is determined to help his new friends and have all sorts of exciting Muscleteer adventures.

Also available:
The Muscleteers on a Long Journey (Vol. 2)

FRRK! – My Alien and I

  • Nicole Röndigs
  • Illustrated by Zapf
  • Spring 2020, 208 pages, 15.5 x 21 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 9+
  • All rights available

Close encounter of the glibbery kind
Tom has made it: All the boys in class think he’s cool. Then, one day, a round flying object crashes in front of his feet. Out wobbles Frrk, a glibbery alien asking Tom to help him with repairing his spaceship. The needed nitric acid can be found in the school’s chemistry lab. Of course, Frrk can’t go there in his true form. So he transforms himself into an eleven-year old kid. But something goes terribly wrong… A madly funny story about boys, girls and other strange beings – and about what makes true friendship.

Crazy exciting, full of humour and rapid wit

Vol 2 out in September 2020

Pia and Poppy and the Missing Professor

  • Katharina Reschke
  • Illustrated by Anne-Kathrin Behl
  • Spring 2020, 208 pages, 13.5 x 21.5 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 8+
  • All rights available

Adventurous vacations with Poppy Williams
When Pia learns that she is going to San Francisco this summer, she is determined to dislike the unknown city. But, thanks to Grandma Maple’s great biscuit shop and the crazy Villa Futura, the colourful metropolis unexpectedly grows on her. Yet, the biggest surprise is Poppy – the extraordinary girl who suddenly appears and drags Pia into the adventure of her life in no time at all.

Wonderfully unique, courageous and likeable: Poppy is the new Pippi Longstocking!

Vol 2 out in September 2020

Look Over Here! What Animal Is Near?

  • Markus Spang
  • Illustrated by Markus Spang
  • Spring 2020, 32 pages, 23 x 27 cm
  • hardcover
  • Ages 4+
  • All rights available

Tricky picture book fun for clever kids and their parents
On every double page there is hidden an animal, within the pictures and the rhymes. The searching adventure leads Nele and her friends from her backyard through desert and jungle to the moon and back again. Only those who look closely will find the well-hidden animals in unexpected places.

Entertaining hide-and-seek game in pictures and words.

Benny and the Raccoon Gang – Adventures in the Humming Forest

  • Eleni Livanios
  • Illustrated by Eleni Livanios
  • Spring 2020, 128 pages, 17 x 24 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 6+
  • All rights available

Great excitement in the Humming Forest!
A stranger has arrived: Benny is quite the shady character, Lola, Indigo and Maggy think. And Benny’s friend Radish seems rather sly as well. Nevertheless, Maggy invites the two newcomers to her birthday party. And what a day that turns out to be. For Benny and Radish bring along a gift that enchants them all!

As warm-hearted as Winnie-the-Pooh, as cheeky as the Peanuts

Vol. 2 out in September 2020

Mr Marple and the Sleuth Gang (Vol. 2) – Meerkats on the Loose

  • Sven Gerhardt
  • Illustrated by Nikolai Renger
  • Spring 2020, 160 pages, 15.5 x 21 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 8+
  • Rights sold to Russia

A new case for the Sleuth Gang
Turmoil in the zoo: The meerkats’ small pups have become the new attraction. Yet, almost every day one of the little ones disappears. The zoo director and the animal keepers are at a loss. Neither are there any signs of theft nor have the pups dug their way out. During a school trip, Theo and Elsa are able to see firsthand what’s been going on. And indeed, again one of the meerkat pups has disappeared over night. A clear-cut case for hamster investigator Mr Marple and his two assistants Theo and Elsa!

Vol 3 – “Caught Red-Pawed” out in October 2020

Freddie and the Taming of Evil

  • Anke Stelling
  • Spring 2020, 256 pages, 13.5 x 21.5 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 10+
  • All rights available

Friends always stick together. Don’t they?
Freddie and Mattis have been friends since kindergarten. Now both turn twelve and still Mattis drives most adults mad with his big mouth and stupid ideas Contrary to Mattis, Freddie doesn’t want to be in the spotlight. He just goes along with everything Mattis does – even if only to prevent the worst. In the end, Mattis owes it to Freddie that he doesn’t get kicked out of school. For friends are always there for one another. At least, that’s what Freddie thinks.

Intelligently, the book explores what friendship, truth and loyalty mean

Anke Stelling won the Prize of the Leipzig Book Fair 2019

Why Konrad Cat Jumped into the Water and a Mouse into the Air

  • Sabine Ludwig
  • Illustrated by Astrid Henn
  • Spring 2016, 160 pages, 15.5 x 21 cm
  • Hardcover
  • Ages 8+
  • All rights available
  • Website

A magnificent adventure of growing up

Konrad Cat’s whiskers are standing on end – his sandwich has just spoken to him! His overprotective Mummy has again wanted to indulge him and given him a large organic mouse sandwich – but the mouse is by no means stonedead but seems to be fresh as a daisy. What’s more, she is called Marie-Antoinette and turns out to be particularly affectionate. No matter how hard he tries, Konrad just cannot get rid of the cheeky lady mouse – and before he knows what’s happening he has grown terribly fond of her.

A marvellous story told with witty humour and offbeat characters.

The Little Dragon Coconut and the Magic Student

  • • Ingo Siegner
  • Autumn 2014, 208 pages, 17.0 x 24.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • 6+
  • Rights sold to Spain
  • Website

Fast-paced adventure story

Coconut, Matilda and Oskar are flabbergasted when a flying carpet lands in a clearing in Cliff Woods. There is a little conjurer sitting on it with a huge book of spells. Coconut first watches the newcomer with great caution, but the little conjurer seems to be harmless. He is desperately trying to learn his spells for the forthcoming test in "Fruit and Vegetables". But what is he doing on Dragon Island and what is his connection with the dangerous wizard Goat Beard?

Bumble Bee Unicorn – If Only We Could Do Magic Tricks!

  • Jennifer Benkau
  • Illustrated by Cathy Ionescu
  • Spring 2016, 160 pages, 15.5 x 21 cm
  • Hardcover
  • 7+
  • All rights available
  • Website

A very different unicorn!
Unicorns? Aren't they those dainty magical creatures that look like horses and no longer exist? Wrong! Of course there are such creatures as unicorns! Lenja realises this when tiny little Möpp flies in on her. Unicorn Möpp, however, is anything but dainty. In fact, Möpp is more than a little plump. And he keeps on farting. That is because he definitely eats too many sweets. What's more, his magic tricks leave a lot to be desired. And this causes no end of chaos … Only if Möpp learns to conjure properly will he be able to go back to Golden Cloud Land and the other unicorns! Will Lenja be able to help him?

How the Bear Got Its Colours

  • Ingo Siegner
  • Illustrated by Ingo Siegner
  • Autumn 2018, 48 pages, 21.0 x 21.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • 4+
  • Website

A little bear has a big wish

The little bear is sitting angrily on the paper: the man drawing it has only used a black pencil. The little bear would love to have some brown fur and be romping around in a meadow full of brightly coloured flowers! So that night it steals away from the book and goes to look for the colours. It finds a wonderful red at Ayers Rock in Australia; the best blue of all is by the sea; and the brightest yellow in the moon. The little bear happily goes back to the book, for now his illustrator can mix the three basic colours to make all the other colours …

The first volume of a little »Bear Trilogy«

Rosa, the Robber Princess

  • Annette Roeder
  • Illustrated by Katrin Engelking
  • Autumn 2018, 176 pages, 17.0 x 24.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • 6+
  • All rights available
  • Website

Pink stinks? No way!!

Rosa is cheerful, cheek, and courageous, and climbs up the tallest trees. Instead of wearing the old trousers of her brothers she would like a pink frilly dress and a crown. But at her parents’ farm only the pigs are pink. Luckily Rosa has her donkey, and in reality he is a talking unicorn with lots of good ideas. Will they manage to make Rosa into a true princess after all?

Vol. 2 – »Rosa, the Robber Princess and the Cupcake Secret« out in March 2019

Pebble, the Elf – Summer Festival in Violet Valley

  • Nina Blazon
  • Illustrated by Billy Bock
  • Spring 2019, 144 pages, 17.0 x 24.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • 6+
  • All rights available
  • Website

Welcome to Violet Valley!

The river elves and the fire fairies do not agree about everything, but they throw wild parties with the flower fairies and stone elves. They’ve always had to be especially careful with the sinister night elves … Or haven’t they?
Pebble and her friends, flower fairy Liliane and mini-monster Mino, try to find out what the night elves are really like.

Vol. 2 – »Riding Dragonflies for Beginners« out in July 2019

The Secrets of Oaksend – The Monster Test

  • Andrea Martin
  • Spring 2019, 320 pages, 15.5 x 21.0 cm
  • Hardcover
  • 6+
  • All rights available
  • Website

Two friends like monster spit and hydrangea juice

Legend has it that not far from the little town Oaksend there is a linkup between the human world and the monster world. Robin knows nothing about it until one evening a real live monster, is standing in the middle of his room!
As a budding protection monster it is Melvin’s job to protect his protégés from all manner of evil. And Robin is in urgent need of such help. With his magical express tunnel Melvin can get his friend to safety, because he is not the only monster in Oaksend – and not all monsters come with the best of intentions …

Vol. 2 – »The Monster Oracle« out in November 2019

Bitter Sweet Death

  • Elisabeth Herrmann
  • Spring 2016, 160 pages, 15.5 x 21 cm
  • Paperback
  • 14+
  • All rights available
  • Website

Mia grew up in her parents' small chocolaterie shop – with all its wonderful recipes but also with the puzzling family photo showing a life-size chocolate rhinoceros and her great-grandfather Jakob with his teacher during his apprenticeship. The teacher is white, Jakob black. Mia certainly knew that her great-grandfather left what was then German South-West Africa. But why? And how? When Mia asks the ancestors of Jakob's teacher awkward questions she stirs up a hornets' nest. Love and betrayal – they are the red thread running through the generations, and when Mia finally understands who is trying to silence her it is almost too late …

Code Genesis – They Will Find You

  • Andreas Gruber
  • Spring 2019, 336 pages, 13.5 x 21.5 cm
  • Paperback
  • 12+
  • All rights available
  • Website

More than 2.2 million of Gruber’s books sold

A relentless hunt round the globe

Terry West (14) grew up aboard the research submarine Kopernikus with her Uncle Simon, her nerdy cousin Ethan, ex-convict Johann, and the ferret Charlie. During a stopover in Miami Terry goes to see the house of her childhood for the first time since her mother’s mysterious death. But suddenly Terry is wanted by the police and her uncle is accused of murder. While fleeing via New York, the Niagara Falls and the Bermuda Triangle they realise that they are up against a powerful adversary who tracks them down wherever they are …

Vol. 2 – »They Will Hunt You« out in October 2019

Ophelia Scale – The World Will Burn

  • Lena Kiefer
  • Spring 2019, 464 pages, 13.5 x 21.5 cm
  • Hardcover
  • 14+
  • All rights available
  • Website

Hope is stronger than hate, love is stronger than fear

18-year-old Ophelia Scale lives in England in the not too distant future, where the regent has decreed that technology is forbidden. The technophile Ophelia has joined the resistance and is elected to apply to the royal secret service. If she wins the tough competition she will, as one of the body guards, be in a position to assassinate the regent. But when she arrives at the palace she falls desperately in love with the charming Lucien – the regent’s brother. And now Ophelia has to decide between loyalty and betrayal, love and hate …

Vol. 2 of the trilogy out in
August 2019

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Events

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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

Program Director Susanne Krebs

Sales Children's Books Christina Wätjen

Marketing Sonja Assfalg

Public Relations Julia Decker
julia.decker@@penguinrandomhouse.de

Foreign Rights Leah Francis
leah.francis@@penguinrandomhouse.de

Events Verena Otto (-3118)
Verena.otto@@penguinrandomhouse.de