About E.D.C. Usborne Books

In 1973, Peter Usborne decided that educational, nonfiction books would need to change in order to compete with TV and comics. He borrowed some ideas from these two media and hired educational consultants to oversee the writing to make sure that the books would satisfy the child’s interest but also arouse it.

Explanatory books which merely explain are doing only half the job; if a book fails to make its subject attractive and interesting to the reader, chances are that the explanation will fail. Usborne Books are designed graphically to draw the students in, to make them want to learn the material and to help them retain that knowledge. The magic of Usborne Books is that they make both reading and learning fun and not a boring or intimidating experience. Peter Usborne set out to break down a child’s resistance to reading and learning at home. These books are so well organized that children absorb and recall much of the vast amount of information presented.

Usborne Books are fascinating, lavishly illustrated books written with humor, surprise and drama. They incorporate activities and puzzles to challenge a child’s observation and intelligence. Their superb printing quality and exceptionally well-produced graphics, high ratio of pictures to text, short magazine-like format and unique detail set Usborne Books apart from anything yet produced. There is a wide range of subjects covering hobbies, history, science, nature, foreign language, parent’s guides and more. Usborne Books truly appeal to all ages, infants to adults, with prices to suit everyone. The books are printed on acid free paper, so the pages will last forever if taken care of properly.

EDC is a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock market and was recognized in November 1997 by Forbes Magazine as one of the 200 Best Small Companies in America.

I am very proud of our company and the product line we represent, and also very pleased with the response from our customers. Our goal is to continue to provide the finest educational books for your children.

Randall White
President and CEO
 

The Company

Educational Development Corporation, a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 1965 to develop curriculum materials for schools. In 1978 the Publishing Division was created to distribute Usborne children's books, and the Home Business Division was started in 1989.

Educational Development Corporation is the United States trade publisher of a line of children’s books produced in the United Kingdom by Usborne Publishing Limited. The Home Business Division distributes these books through independent sales consultants who hold book showings in individual homes and through book fairs, fund raisers and direct sales. The Home Business Division is also responsible for sales to school and public libraries. The Company’s Publishing Division distributes the books to book stores, toy stores, specialty stores and other retail outlets throughout the United States.
 

Our Product Line

Usborne Publishing Limited produces award winning books that are of excellent quality and cover the ages of preschool to adult. The subject matter includes a wide range such as history, languages, natural science, crafts, parent guides, puzzles and beginning readers. These subjects along with many other subjects make our product line one of the most complete in the industry. The Company presently offers over 1100 different titles in its product line and has recently added a line of fiction titles.

The Company’s product, "Usborne Kid Kits," combines some of our more popular titles with special items to complement the information obtained within the book. These are packaged in a reusable vinyl bag with handle and snap closure. There are currently 65 different kid kits available with more in the planning stages.

Other products include CD-ROMS, such as Frog Prince and Noah’s Ark, as well as several jigsaw puzzles.
 

EDC Mission

"The future of our world depends on the education of our children.
EDC delivers educational excellence one book at a time.
We provide economic opportunity while fostering
strong family values.  We touch the lives of children for a lifetime."