CHILDREN’S EBOOKS history
Anne Garton began writing text and storybooks for primary and secondary students in 1993, selling her work through various publishing companies. In 2006, a friend suggested she sell her books online, so in 2007 CHILDREN’S EBOOKS began producing beautifully illustrated classic children’s stories to be sold digitally. Anne wanted to create a wide selection of children’s books for Kindle, iPads, tablets, phones, and computers so that children could download the stories and read them anywhere, at any time.
Anne’s own children loved playing computer games, but she worried this was limiting their reading ability. To encourage them, she decided to publish her stories as ebooks rather than in paperback. That way, her children could still enjoy their computers while, she hoped, discovering a love of reading too.
Anne had plenty of children’s stories she wanted to publish and began illustrating her own work, but it soon became clear she needed to enlist the help of more talented artists. Her father, Derek Garton, was the first person she called. As a young man, Derek had trained as a graphic artist, and throughout his life he continued to draw and paint as a hobby.
All the illustrations Derek has created for CHILDREN’S EBOOKS are drawn meticulously by hand, using pen and watercolor paints, no computer graphics here! His artwork brings warmth and vibrancy to Anne’s children’s stories.
Anne also reached out to an incredible young artist, Cailin Carrier, who was eager to be involved. Talented cartoonists Leigh Brown and Rebecca Hughes soon followed, using their wonderful skills to bring Anne’s stories to life. You can read more about these special people on our Authors and Illustrators page.
When the CHILDREN’S EBOOKS website launched in 2007, there were just six ebooks available. Today, there are seventeen, with another seven in development and a whole team of people contributing to their production, including Anne’s husband, Greg, who has been a driving force in sustaining and growing the CHILDREN’S EBOOKS brand.
In Anne’s words, ‘I write because I love to put the ideas and stories in my head onto paper. I hope that in some small way they bring happiness to the people who read them. If my stories make just one person’s day a little brighter, then I’ve made the world a better place. What more could a writer ask for?’
We hope you enjoy CHILDREN’S EBOOKS.
