About Laughing Elephant Books

Laughing Elephant Books, based in San Diego, is an acclaimed independent publisher celebrated for its exquisitely designed, tactile, and often whimsical books. Known for blending classic imagery with contemporary publishing sensibilities, the company has carved a unique niche in the worlds of classic children’s literature, pop culture, gift books, and culinary titles.

The publisher's catalog boasts best-sellers such as Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Led Zeppelin, lauded for its playful yet insightful homage to the iconic band, and the beloved Good Dog Carl series by Alexandra Day, which has been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and French and has earned accolades from The New York Times and Publisher’s Weekly.

Founded in 1993 by Harold and Sandra Darling, Laughing Elephant Books is the successor to their pioneering imprint, Green Tiger Press. Established in 1970, Green Tiger Press gained renown for its finely crafted publications and its vast archive of pre-1940s illustrations drawn from antique children’s books, posters, and ephemera. Works such as The Unicorn Book, If You’re Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow, and The Teddy Bear’s Picnic received critical acclaim, with features in The Los Angeles Times and Smithsonian Magazine highlighting the company’s meticulous approach to bookmaking and visual storytelling.

After Green Tiger Press was acquired by Simon & Schuster in 1990, the Darlings shifted their focus to creating books and gift products under the Laughing Elephant brand. The Good Dog Carl series found a new home with Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, while the Darlings continued producing distinctive, art-forward titles. In the early 2000s, Harold and Sandra Darling re-acquired the Green Tiger Press imprint, reviving classic works and introducing new publications under the Laughing Elephant umbrella.

Today, Laughing Elephant Books remains a family-run enterprise, helmed by their son Benjamin Darling, who has reinvigorated the publishing house with fresh creative energy while honoring the company’s legacy. Harold Darling, who passed away in 2016, left behind a collection of over 20,000 rare books and 100,000 pieces of vintage paper ephemera—an extraordinary archive that continues to inspire Laughing Elephant's publications and fuels licensing partnerships with leading museums and cultural institutions worldwide.

For those who cherish beautifully made books that connect the past with the present, Laughing Elephant Books stands as a beacon of creativity and craftsmanship—an essential name in independent publishing.

The Mithras Bookstore was the precusor to the Green Tiger Press and the genesis of it alll was the love of books and bookselling. Elizabeth Ratisseau, seen in this photo, behind the counter, was an essential part of the Mithras and the La Jolla community.