Library Resources: Request a Free Book

Beehive Books is a Philadelphia-based publisher specializing in art editions of distinctive literary and pictorial works. With a focus on comics and graphic arts, we strive to produce books infused with singular design sensibilities and the highest production values. Our production costs are crowdfunded through Kickstarter, but our titles are also available wholesale through Ingram via Consortium Book Sales & Distribution.

We are aware that our higher end titles can be cost-prohibitive for some libraries. Nonetheless, Beehive deeply appreciates all that libraries do to inspire literary discovery, intellectual exploration, and community engagement. We are also well aware of the part libraries have played in supporting the creators behind  some of our most successful and daring projects. Last week, the Kickstarter campaign for our latest Illuminated Edition, Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio, with artwork by Mike Mignola and annotations by Lemony Snicket, closed at over 800% funding.

Beehive has decided to use some of these surplus funds to set aside free standard Illuminated Editions for libraries to request for their collections.

How it works:

• There are 25 request slots available, although more may be added in the future depending on demand.
• Offer is only open to libraries located in the United States.
• One request slot per library, one title per request slot. Libraries can choose from the list of eligible titles below.
• Once the initial 25 request slots have been claimed, any other library requests will be put on a waiting list for future opportunities as they arise.
• Any questions or concerns can be directed to ops@beehivebooks.com.

To place a donation request:

Contact us at ops@beehivebooks.com using an email affiliated with the requesting institution with the following information:

• Title requested
• Email and phone number of primary contact for the donation order
• Mailing address of where the title should be sent
• Whether you would like to place the order through the Beehive webshop OR have Beehive place the order for shipment through iPage

If the request is to be fulfilled through the webshop, Beehive will provide a personalized one-time use discount code for 100% off.

If you are currently unable to add an Illuminated Edition to your institution’s collection but are interested in hearing about future library-related events, resources, and opportunities from Beehive, you can sign up for our library mailing list here or contact us at ops@beehivebooks.com.

Eligible Titles:

Beehive Books’ Illuminated Editions are an ongoing series featuring classic works of literature illustrated by established graphic designers and contextualized with essays by leading literary experts and contributors.

Standard Illuminated Editions are printed on uncoated acid-free paper and feature 10 full-color illustrations and several spot illustrations. All have a trim size of 9” x 12” and come in a die-cut slipcase.

 Currently Available for Request:

156 pp, ISBN 978-1-948886-01-7

• Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu (Barbed Wire Baseball, The Unwritten)
• Introduction by Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham (The Hours)

• Reviewed in LOCUS Magazine, Hyperallergic
• Awarded ADC Silver Cube Award for Illustration (2019), ADC Bronze Cube Award for Publication Design (2019)

See more images and full specs on the Edelweiss page.

Note: This item is a preorder for the second edition, expected to ship in August 2023.

346 pp, ISBN 978-1-948886-12-3

• Illustrated by Dave McKean (Arkham Asylum, Cages)
• Introduction by Dr. Lonny Harrison, professor of Russian literature at the University of Texas

204 pp, ISBN 978-1-948886-32-1

• Illustrated by painter Kent Williams
• Introduction by filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Whale)
• Foreword by writer and translator Kyoko Yoshida (Disorientalism)
• Biographical afterword by Bon Koizumi, Hearn's great-grandson and director of the Lafcadio Hearn Memorial Museum

• Reviewed in Foreword Reviews

See more images and full specs on the Edelweiss page, or download the sales sheet here.

292 pp, ISBN 978-1-948886-30-7

• Illustrated by Jim Woordring (One Beautiful Spring Day, Congress of the Animals)
• Introduction by Alan Moore (Watchmen, From Hell)

168 pp, ISBN 978-1-948886-28-4

• Illustrated by Anna and Elena Balbusso (Sisters in Science, Folio Society's The Handmaid's Tale)
• Introduction by William Cain, professor of English at Wellesley College

• Awarded Merit Award 3x3 International Illustration Show No.19 (2022), American Illustration 41 selected Winner Annual Book (2022), Communication Arts Award of Excellence (2021), Society of Illustrators 64 Annual Competition (2021)

See more images and full specs on the Edelweiss page.

172 pp, ISBN 978-1-948886-10-9

• Illustrated by Brecht Evens (The City of Belgium, Panther)
• Introduction by Maria Tatar, specialist in children’s literature and folklore at Harvard University

168 pp, ISBN 978-1-948886-03-1

• Illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin, Big Numbers)
• Introduction by Academy Award winning filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro

• Awarded ADC Bronze Cube Award for Publication Design (2019)

See more images and full specs on the Edelweiss page.  

138 pp, ISBN 978-1-948886-13-0

• Illustrated by editorial illustrator Rebekka Dunlap (Washington Post, Vice, Wired)
• Introduction by author Brooke Bolander (The Only Harmless Great Thing)
• Afterword by Cavendish scholar James Fitzmaurice

144 pp, ISBN 978-1-948886-00-0

• Illustrated by Paul Pope (Batman Year 100, Battling Boy)
• Colors by Omar Abdullah
• Introduction by Ramsey Campbell (Midnight Sun, The Wise Friend)

• Awarded ADC Bronze Cube Award for Publication Design (2019)

See more images and full specs on the Edelweiss page.

To be added to our library mailing list, sign up here or contact us at ops@beehivebooks.com.