From 7 to 11 October 2026, Buttercup Publishing – London exhibited at the 78th Frankfurter Buchmesse, the world’s largest book fair and the most important rights marketplace in the publishing calendar. Our stand (Hall 4.2, Stand B-86) was built as a storybook forest – paper trees in coral and violet, Hop the hare and Shelly the tortoise at the door, and a wall of brand-new children’s books waiting to be discovered by publishers from every corner of the world.
This year’s fair, with Czechia as Guest of Honour, drew publishers, rights agents, distributors and educators from across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia. For a UK children’s book publisher like Buttercup, it is the week where a year of writing, illustrating and designing meets its audience. Here is what we showed, what we heard, and what comes next.
Why Frankfurt matters for a children’s book publisher
Buttercup Publishing creates original children’s books for ages 3 to 10 and licenses them to publishers worldwide – as co-editions, translation rights and digital rights. Frankfurt is where those conversations happen face to face. Over five days our team met partners looking for picture books, activity books, early learning titles and illustrated story collections that travel well across languages and cultures.
Our mission is simple: we nurture readership. Every title on the stand was created to help a child fall in love with reading, build a skill, or understand a feeling – and to do that just as well in Warsaw, Madrid or Dubai as in London.
What was new on the Buttercup stand
Visitors to Stand B-86 found our catalogue organised into six shelves: Picture Books, Activity Books, Colouring Books, Board Books, Early Learning and our new SEL Series. Here are the highlights.
1. The SEL Series: social-emotional learning picture books
The centrepiece of our 2026 list is a new collection of social-emotional learning (SEL) picture books that help children aged 4 to 8 name and manage big feelings. Our stand entrance asked one question in giant letters – “What happened when Maggie stopped comparing?” – and it became the most-photographed corner of our aisle.
Each SEL picture book comes with discussion prompts for parents and teachers, making the series a natural fit for classroom libraries, PSHE lessons and bedtime reading alike.
2. Fear Fighter and the Fear of… series
Building on one of our best-loved ranges, the Fear Fighter series tackles the everyday worries of childhood – Daisy and the Dark, Brave Benjamin Goes to School, Timmy and the Test, Fear of Separation and Fear of Being Bullied. Reassuring, warm and beautifully illustrated, these educational picture books were among the most requested titles for translation.
3. New adventure picture books
For pure story joy, we introduced a fresh set of adventure picture books: A Glittery Cake Adventure, Bubblegum Blush: Cora’s Cloudy Adventure, The Little Monkey’s Jungle Adventure, The Amazing Clean-Up Adventure and Science Beach. Bright, funny and full of heart, they sit alongside favourites such as Stanley Manley and Buddy’s Adoption Story.
4. Early learning and STEM for curious minds
Our educational picture books shelf showcased Little Science Adventures, Space Explorers, Jackson’s Animal Adventures, The Life of… series, Bob and Bot STEM and the Go Green series (Ways to Save Water, Ways to Protect the Planet, Ways to Save Animals). These non-fiction picture books introduce science, nature and sustainability to children aged 5 to 9 through story and illustration rather than textbooks.
5. Activity books, sticker books and colouring books
Activity books remain one of our most internationally successful formats. On show were the Skill Sharpener series (My First Phonics, Fun with Numbers, Logical Fun Activities, Little Brains), the Busy Buzz Series Activity Books, My First Sticker Shapes Books, My First Colouring Book and the Amazing Mexico Colouring Book. Easy to localise and loved by retailers, these activity books for kids generated strong interest from European and Middle Eastern publishers.
6. The Illustrated 365 Series and story treasuries
Our Illustrated 365 Series – 365 Animal Stories, 365 Princess Stories, 365 Fairy Tales – and our story collections (World Stories, Bedtime Stories, Timeless Stories, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales, The Fox and the Crow) continue to be a cornerstone of our rights business. Bilingual and Spanish-language editions were on the shelf too, including Cuentos y Fábulas.
What publishers told us
Three themes came up again and again in our meetings:
Rights available
All titles shown at Frankfurt are available for translation rights, co-edition printing and digital rights in most territories. We work with partners on flexible print runs, shared printing costs and adapted editions for local curricula. If you met us at the stand, our follow-up catalogue is on its way. If you missed us, we would love to send it.
Let’s keep talking
Frankfurt may be over, but the conversations are just beginning. Our next stop is Bologna Children’s Book Fair, 5–8 April 2027, and we are already taking meeting requests.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by Stand B-86. We nurture readership – and we would love to do it with you.
Buttercup Publishing – London, United Kingdom
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