Origami holds sway as the premiere craft line at Tuttle Publishing, but the Vermont-based (and Japan-founded) house is spinning its list out in new directions, with such titles as Happy Homemade: Sew Chic, Happy Homemade Chic Kids (both in English for the first time) and Itty Bitty Crochet Critters. The crochet book is based on amigurumi, the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. "We're bringing the latest Asian trends and aesthetics to a Western audience," says sales and marketing director Christopher Johns, happy to be pitching toward the sew-your-own crowd.
Johns notes a couple of other new directions for the house, including an expansion of its YA and kids lines. Continuing a project rolled out last year at BEA is the second installment of Benjamin Martin's shape-shifting YA novel, Revenge of the Arkuma Clan (the first in the series, Samurai Awakening, was the first YA book from the house). Also coming is Jet Black and the Ninja Wind, the initial book in a projected trilogy by poet Leza Lowitz. "Jet Black is the last living female ninja—and the first teenage ninja protagonist in a YA novel," notes Johns.
Also in the kids line is My Awesome Japan Adventure, a story about a fifth-grader's trip to Japan as an exchange student. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid goes to Japan is the fun premise behind the book," says Johns.
Tuttle (booth 2051) invites everyone to stop by at 2 p.m. for dessert treats based on recipes from its cookbook line, including Thai-spiced cashews and Thai basil lemon soda from Katie Chin's Everyday Thai Cooking and chocolate truffles and mocha truffles from Kelly Bronzyna's The Paleo Chocolate Lovers Cookbook. Also at the booth: an origami display of selected extraordinary projects, ARCs of the new YA books (while supplies last) and "our famous" (to quote Johns) tote bags.
