becker&mayer! Books Mission:
We create extraordinary books for our publishing partners worldwide, anticipating their needs and exceeding their expectations.
Who's Really In Charge?
For years, becker&mayer! staffers looked to Mona, one of the office's two resident dogs, for steady leadership and camaraderie. (Just check out this TV clip, courtesy of Seattle's Evening Magazine and King 5 TV.)
After Mona's passing in early 2006, Lucky and Bella stepped in to hold down the fort for a few years, and these days, Scout has taken on the mantle of Chief Canine Officer.
The Story of Jim & Andy
Jim Becker and Andy Mayer, the founders of becker&mayer!, have known each other for a long time (truth be told, since before either of them were fully potty-trained).
Growing up just outside of New York City, the two friends went to elementary through high school together at the Fieldston School. Shortly after college, Jim (Brown University, '77) and Andy (Occidental College, '77) joined together to form becker&mayer!
In the 1980s, Jim and Andy's primary focus was designing electronic children's toys and authoring a variety of humor books—among them The Official Book of Thumb Wrestling. With over 400,000 copies sold, this Workman Publishing Co. title remains in print after twenty years—and no wonder, as it is THE definitive book on the subject.
Many books followed from these early creations, and today becker&mayer! is one of the largest book producers in the U.S.