Boynton Gets an Imprint | God's World News

Boynton Gets an Imprint

03/01/2022
  • 2 boyntonbookworks
    Sandra Boynton has written LOTS of stories. (Jamie McEwan)
  • 3 boyntonbookworks2
    Have you read this book? It is called The Going to Bed Book. (Handout)
  • 4 boyntonbookworks
    Mrs. Boynton works in a barn. It has a hippo weathervane on top. (Sandra Boynton/Twitter)
  • 1 boyntonbookworks2
    Boynton works in a barn with a hippo weathervane. (Sandra Boynton/Twitter)
  • 2 boyntonbookworks
    One of Boynton’s most popular card designs (Sandra Boynton/Facebook)
  • 3 boyntonbookworks2
  • 4 boyntonbookworks
  • 3 boynton2
  • 2 boyntonbookworks
  • 3 boyntonbookworks2
  • 4 boyntonbookworks
  • 1 boyntonbookworks2
  • 2 boyntonbookworks
  • 3 boyntonbookworks2
  • 4 boyntonbookworks
  • 3 boynton2

If you’ve ever wished someone “Hippo Birdie Two Ewe,” you’re likely a Sandra Boynton fan. Boynton’s whimsical illustrations of barnyard animals, dogs, bunnies, and hippos have sold millions of book copies. Now the prolific author, cartoonist, and songwriter has a major publishing imprint dedicated solely to her work.

Sandra Boynton grew up in a Quaker household in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She credits her education in an arts-centric Quaker school for her quirky, upbeat outlook.

Sometime during pursuit of a graduate degree, Boynton began writing and illustrating greeting cards. She printed them herself and convinced stores to purchase them.

Eventually, her style caught the attention of Recycled Paper Greetings. The company sold almost 500 million of her cards from 1973-2003.

Her greetings featured cartoon animals and amusing messages. Her best known is a 1975 birthday card showing four animals. It reads “Hippo Birdie Two Ewes,” a clever play on “Happy Birthday to You.” That card alone sold more than 10 million copies.

Boynton has since become famous for writing and illustrating more than 50 books, producing five music CDs, and designing calendars, clothing, jewelry, toys, and more.

Her first book, Hippos Go Berserk!, was published in 1977. Four books have been New York Times bestsellers: Chocolate: The Consuming Passion, Consider Love, Philadelphia Chickens, and Yay, You! Other faves include Barnyard Dance!, Snuggle Puppy!, The Going to Bed Book, and Moo, Baa, La La La!

Boynton also writes music and produces music videos starring her trademark animals—and some famous actors and musicians.

In January, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing announced the launch of Boynton Bookworks. The imprint will be home to all her works.

An imprint is a trade or brand name used for appealing to a specific audience. One publishing house can have many imprints. Simon & Schuster has 35. Little Simon and Paula Wiseman Books are two of their children’s imprints.

As an author, having an imprint allows for publishing books with your own expert team’s help—while keeping control of payments for your work.

“It’s completely unexpected,” Boynton says. “What an honor—and what a gift.”

Given her success, Boynton has considered licensing her characters for TV or other marketing purposes. “I love what I do, I love the people I work with, I care very much about the value of the work I create, and I don’t need more money than I have,” she says in a New York Times article. “This is not revolutionary philosophy. It’s just common sense.”

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have. — Hebrews 13:5

Why? As the Heavenly Father who owns the world and everything in it, God supplies the needs of His children. But He also wants them to be content with what He gives, whether it is little or much.