Teacher-made, Mom-approved

I'm a mom and a teacher with a passion for creating educational materials for kids.

What began as a personal project has blossomed into Piccolo Press: a growing collection of books, puzzles, postcards, and activities designed to foster creativity, joyful learning, and family connection.

Every product I create is something I’d want to share with my own children—they are often the best market research!

I’m grateful to everyone who has supported our journey and I can’t wait to share what we have in store.

Thank you for being part of the Piccolo Press community.

— Katie Merkle, Founder

Our Story

  • 2022

    Shortly after my second child was born, and as my mom was facing an intense cancer diagnosis, I made the decision to leave the classroom and focus on caring for my family. During those quiet, challenging months at home, I found myself returning to an old love: writing and creating educational material.

  • 2023

    My mom, always my biggest supporter, encouraged me to follow my passion. With her support, I published my first book—The Alphabet in Bloom—a project inspired by her love of gardening and dedicated to her. The book surpassed my expectations, selling over a thousand copies in its first year. It continues to be a best-selling product for Piccolo Press.

  • Today

    From our desk in Columbus, Ohio, we continue to dream up new ways to spark creativity and curiosity, working in collaboration with fantastic illustrators and retailers across the country to bring our ideas to life.