Abrams, formerly Harry N. Abrams, Inc. ( HNA), is an American publisher of art and illustrated books, children's books, and stationery.
The enterprise is a subsidiary of the French publisher Média-Participations. Run by president and CEO Mary McAveney, Abrams publishes and distributes approximately 250 titles annually and has more than 3,000 titles in print.
Abrams also distributes publications for the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate, Vendome Press (in North America), Booth Clibborn Editions, SelfMadeHero, MoMA Children's Books, and 5 Continents.
History
Founded by Harry N. Abrams in 1949, Abrams was the first company in the United States to specialize in the creation and distribution of art books.
[ Harry N. Abrams interview, 1972 March 14, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution][ "TIMES MIRROR TO SELL HARRY N. ABRAMS UNIT", The New York Times, March 11, 1997] Times Mirror Company acquired the company in 1966 and Harry Abrams retired in 1977. For many years, the company was under the direction of Paul Gottlieb (publisher) until January 2001, eighteen months before his death.
[ Paul Gottlieb, Longtime Publisher of Art Books, Dies at 67, The New York Times, June 6, 2002.] Abrams was acquired by La Martinière Groupe in 1997.
La Martinière was acquired by Média-Participations in 2018.
In 2018, Abrams acquired The Overlook Press.
Imprints
Abrams Books
Abrams publishes illustrated books on the subjects of art, photography, performing arts, fashion,
interior design, and nature and science. Titles published by Abrams include
The Art of Walt Disney,
,
, ,
Frida Kahlo,
,
Wes Anderson,
The Selby Is in Your Place,
Abrams Discoveries, and
Vanity Fair 100 Years (about the two U.S. magazines: 1913-1936 and from 1983 onward).
Abrams Appleseed
Founded in 2012,
Abrams Appleseed publishes board books, novelty books, and picture books for children up to age 5.
[ Abrams Unveils Appleseed Books Imprint] The imprint's list of titles includes
Alphablocks,
Hippopposites,
Pantone: Color,
In My Heart, and the
Mini Myths series.
Abrams Books for Young Readers
Abrams Books for Young Readers publishes picture books and illustrated nonfiction for preschool through middle-grade readers. The imprint's list of titles includes
Library Mouse,
Rosie Revere, Engineer,
I Am Yoga,
Animalia,
Babar's Museum of Art,
Separate Is Never Equal,
Maritcha, and
365 Penguins.
[ Andrew Smith to Head Children's Books at Abrams]
Abrams ComicArts
Abrams ComicArts was founded in 2009 under the editorial direction of Charles Kochman
and publishes
graphic novels and illustrated books about the creators and the history of comics art, animation, and cartoons. Its titles include
Mom's Cancer,
Kirby: King of Comics,
My Friend Dahmer,
The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis,
R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country, and
The Art of Rube Goldberg. In the 2010s, it also began publishing volumes compiling reproduction of vintage
trading card series for franchises such as
Star Trek. In 2024, the imprint became a full division of the company and also began licensing
manga and other international comic books.
Kana
Kana is a manga imprint launched in 2024. It shares its name and logo with the French imprint belonging to neighbor company
Dargaud.
Abrams Image
Abrams Image was launched in 2006 and publishes illustrated and non-illustrated books on music, humor, fashion, and popular culture. The imprint's titles include
Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar,
,
Understand Rap,
CBGB & OMFUG,
The Steampunk Bible,
Paris Street Style,
Sh*tty Mom, and
Cupcakes and Cashmere.
[ A Re-energized Abrams]
Abrams Noterie
Abrams Noterie is a gift and stationery imprint that collaborates with authors, artists, and brands to make paper goods. Recent publications include
Paris Street Style,
,
Hyperbole and a Half,
Daily Dishonesty, and
The Forest Feast gift and stationery collections.
[ Abrams Plus to Launch with Jess Brallier at Helm]
Abrams Press
Abrams Press publishes narrative non-fiction works relating to arts and culture, food, style, design, history, current events, science, technology, memoir, and biography. Titles include
,
[ Abrams Press's First Title Due in May] Unprotected by Billy Porter,
Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly by
Jim DeRogatis,
The Sopranos Sessions by Matt Zoller Seitz and
Alan Sepinwall.
Amulet Books
Amulet Books publishes novels, graphic novels, and nonfiction for young adults and middle-grade readers. The imprint has published many bestselling and award-winning books, including Jeff Kinney's
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series,
[ Kids' Choice Award 2009, winners list][ Between the Lines: 'Kid' Rocks, The rise of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," Entertainment Weekly, May 2, 2008][ Kids' Lit Gets Graphic, Two surprise best sellers may herald a young-adult revolution, New York Magazine, April 13, 2008][ Crossover Dreams:: Turning Free Web Work Into Real Book Sales, The New York Times, December 13, 2007][ 'Wimpy Kid' Keeps Kids of All Ages in Stitches, NPR, "All Things Considered," February 2, 2008][ 'Wimpy Kid' bullies its way to big success, USA Today, January 27, 2008][ Resorting to humor, and petty larceny, The Boston Globe, May 20, 2007] Margi Preus,
Cece Bell's
El Deafo,
Tom Angleberger's
Origami Yoda series, and Michael Buckley's
Sisters Grimm and
NERDS series.
Amulet Paperbacks
Amulet Paperbacks publishes original titles as well as reprints. Books published by Amulet Paperbacks include
Lauren Myracle's
Internet Girls series, A. G. Howard's
Splintered series,
Jesse Andrews's
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, and
Jonathan Auxier's
The Night Gardener.
Defunct imprints
Stewart, Tabori & Chang
Stewart, Tabori & Chang (ST&C), a publisher of cookbooks and craft titles, was purchased by Abrams in the late 1990s. In what CEO Michael Jacobs described in 2016 as a "unification strategy", all reprinted ST&C titles will appear under Abrams' other existing imprints. In addition, a new corporate logo was rolled out simultaneously.
