Something steady to steer by
North Star Publisher is an independent press for honest, hopeful books: memoir and poetry about finding the way back, family stories, and picture books that teach kids courage and kindness.
Why the North Star
Polaris sits less than a degree from the sky's north pole. As the Earth turns, every other star wheels around it, and Polaris barely moves. For centuries sailors read their latitude from its height above the horizon, and travelers on land kept it ahead of them to hold a course.
That is the job we want our books to do. When life is spinning, a good book holds still long enough for you to get your bearings, whether you are seven years old and nervous about a new belt, or forty and finding your way back from something hard.
Our mark
Our colophon is Polaris rising over an open book. Look again and the pages are also the sea, because a story is a way across. You'll see it on this site and on everything we send you.
Our four points
- True
- Honest stories, told without varnish.
- Brave
- Getting back up, at any age.
- Kind
- Lessons that start on the mat and carry home.
- Home
- Family, food, and a quiet hour to yourself.
What we publish
- Memoir and poetry that tell the truth about addiction, family and recovery.
- Family stories, including a cookbook that is really a love letter to Mom.
- Picture books that teach focus, kindness and courage, many of them set in a karate dojo.
- Quiet books for an hour to yourself, like our adult coloring book.
Work with us
We visit schools, libraries, dojos and book clubs, and we sell classroom and group sets.