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 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're 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 my favorite hobby: 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 dedicated to her and inspired by her love of gardening. The book surpassed my expectations, selling over a thousand copies in its first year.

  • 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 who bring our ideas to life. Our products can be found on shelves at some amazing independent retailers across the country.