The Worthy Publishing Group announced the acquisition Friday of the Ideals children’s book brand and product lines. Ideals is a children’s category-leader previously owned by Danbury, Connecticut-based Guideposts, which was founded by Norman Vincent Peale and publishes Guideposts and Ideals magazines.

A 50-year-old company with offices in Nashville, Ideals publishes 25 to 30 books each year, including picture books, board books, and novelty and sound books. With this transaction, Worthy gains access to licenses for VeggieTales with DreamWorks Animation, as well as with Warner Brothers for the Berenstain Bears.

The Ideals Christmas picture book The Sparkle Box won the 2014 Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Christian Book Award for children’s books. Holiday board books from Ideals regularly rank at the top of Nielsen BookScan charts each year.

“My roots in children’s books are more than two decades deep, having launched WordKids, Tommy Nelson and now WorthyKids,” said Byron Williamson, president and publisher at Worthy. “I got my start in children’s publishing with the conception and development of the International Children’s Bible (ICB). Worthy is excited to welcome the Ideals team into the Worthy family, effective immediately.”

Connecting the Ideals brand and product line with WorthyKids brings about the return of former associate Dale Wilstermann, who will continue serving as vice president of sales at Ideals/WorthyKids. Peggy Schaefer, a children’s specialist serving as vice president and associate publisher, will continue to lead the product-development team.

Ideals joins Worthy’s trade book, Bible and premium journal and gift book businesses. During 2014, Worthy’s New York Times best-seller Four Blood Moons by John Hagee and The Jeremiah Study Bible by David Jeremiah are each category-leaders at such retailers as Family Christian Stores, LifeWay Christian Stores Barnes & Noble and Walmart.

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