Educational publisher Teacher Created Materials is starting up a new imprint, Curiosity Unlocked Books, which will publish high-interest fiction and nonfiction for young readers up to age 12. The imprint aims to release 30 books annually. Submissions are currently open for fiction that focuses on subjects relating to social studies and math.
TCM president Corinne Burton said in a statement, “Since 1977, TCM has endeavored to create a world in which children love to learn. Curiosity Unlocked Books expands the topics and genres we can publish. I’m thrilled to launch this new imprint that helps kids explore, connect ideas, and create with confidence—at home, at school, and in all the spaces in between.”
Curiosity Unlocked will be headed by Kyra Ostendorf, publisher of TCM’s trade division, including the social-emotional learning imprint Free Spirit Publishing, which TCM acquired in 2021. Ostendorf said in a statement, “Under Curiosity Unlocked Books, I’m excited to publish books that tap into kids’ natural curiosity about people and communities—how the world works, how it worked, and how it’s changing.”
The fall 2026 launch list will include That Stinks!, a book about the science behind odorous things; Be My Howlentine, a Halloween title with werewolves and witches; the One-of-a-Kind biography series, introducing historical figures such as George Washington Carver and Ruby Bridges; and Watch Them Move, a board book series showcasing six modes of transportation, with access to short videos in which readers can see the books’ photos come to life.
