The novelist James Patterson is so prolific that his annual output rivals that of many small publishing houses. Last year, with help from his stable of co-authors, he published 16 new novels, and sold around 20 million copies of his books.

Now Mr. Patterson is seeking to extend his brand even further, by creating his own publishing imprint, Jimmy Patterson.

The imprint, which will be part of Little, Brown & Company, will release eight to 12 children’s books a year, with a focus on middle grade and young adult fiction.

Mr. Patterson will oversee it all, choosing manuscripts and shaping the marketing plan for each title. He will publish four to six of his own children’s books a year under the new imprint, and will acquire books by other writers.