In 2017, author Jay Miletsky (later writing under the name Mr. Jay), was looking for picture books for and about children with disabilities, but was disheartened by the selection of titles he found. Most seemed depressing - not something he'd want to read or share with his daughter, Bria. Bria, who was 5 years old at the time, has severe cerebral palsy, and reading books to has always been one of Jay's great joys in life, as he believes that stories, words and language can can play an important roll in development; or at the very least be the foundation for creating stronger connections and relationships.
Knowing the difficulty families endure when they see their children struggle with disability, Jay wanted to create a book that was more positive and hopeful - but without alienating families of more developmentally typical kids.
And with that, Ricky the Rock was born. Ricky, the Rock that Couldn't Roll was a very carefully crafted story that was written as a metaphor: to most reader, it's a fun and heartwarming story about the importance of friendship and the power of perseverance. But to families like Jay's, it's deeper message of never giving up on our kids, no matter how difficult the road might be was immediately apparent.
As the popularity of Ricky grew, so did Lyric & Stone's portfolio, with Mr. Jay adding more "You Rock" books, launching the popular "Patrick Picklebottom" collection, and publishing array of other titles, each with its own, unique storyline, characters, purpose and origin.
Through the years, Lyric & Stone has continued to grow, adding more imprints and authors, including taking on the publishing responsibilities for the venerable Carol McCloud and her revolutionary "Bucket Filling" books - titles that have sold millions of copies, and whose timeless messages fit perfectly with Lyric & Stone's brand values and core purpose: to educate while entertaining, and bring joyful, hopeful messages to children of all ages throughout the world.
Looking forward, Lyric & Stone is excited to expand beyond children's books, adding imprints for teens and adults, as well as explore new and exciting media, including podcasts, TV and more. And through it all, staying true to its roots by bringing only the best stories and characters to our readers.
