Milky Way Picture Books publishes illustrated books that invite children to think, feel, and look a little deeper. We believe picture books can be global literature: rich in story, image, and meaning, and capable of traveling across languages and cultures without losing their power.

We seek out bold voices and distinctive visual worlds from around the globe, with a special commitment to translation. For us, translated books are not “imports”, they are doors. They offer children new ways of understanding family, community, nature, friendship, and belonging, and they broaden the framework through which young readers make sense of the world. Why should adults be the only ones with access to global literature? A child’s curiosity reaches far beyond their own backyard, and we see it as our responsibility to nurture it.

Our catalogue is built with care and intention. Each title is chosen for its narrative strength, artistic originality, and emotional resonance, and for the conversations it can spark between children and the adults who read with them. We publish books that are playful and surprising, but also thoughtful; books that respect children’s intelligence; books that can be read again and again, each time revealing something new.