Publisher Lauri Hornik says, “It has become more and more important to me to provide books that offer comfort and support. That comfort might be through a belly laugh or a gorgeous, genuine expression of what it means to be human, or seeing yourself and your culture depicted on the page. That support might be through a picture book that sparks empathy, or an inspiring nonfiction read about a hero or important moment in history. And that comfort and support will certainly be books that depict all aspects of the mental health experience in an authentic way.”

The name Rocky Pond comes from Lauri’s childhood swimming hole. It represents exploration, rites of passage, and coming into your own. And beyond that, it also symbolizes growth in that everyone needs to stumble on a few rocks before they can sun themselves on the raft.

Life is a rocky pond. Don’t let the rough spots keep you from swimming.

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Viking Mission Statement

Historically, Vikings were known for their drive to explore the world and discover uncharted lands. At Viking Children’s Books, we are similarly compelled to seek out new voices, uncover innovative ideas, and publish themes that children need and want to read. Tales of Vikings have endured and captivated the world for generations, much like the classic books that make up our rich backlist. These books have become true mainstays of countless childhoods and today serve as the foundation from which we will evolve our list for generations to come. Our mission is simple: to publish books that will earn their place alongside our classics.

In recent years, Viking has sought to bring new perspectives to traditional genres, including fantasy, romance, and thriller. With our firm belief that children should see themselves represented in the books they read, our editors have published a wide variety of genre fiction from underrepresented groups that celebrates the joy of identity. Every Viking book embodies the tradition of excellent storytelling set by our own unparalleled backlist. By honoring our roots with high standards and careful curation, and striving for the intersection between commercial and literary, we are able to give voice to the writers we welcome onto our ever-seafaring Viking ship.

About Viking

Viking Children’s Books was founded in 1933 as a department of the prestigious Viking Press, known for publishing such authors as Sherwood Anderson, James Joyce, John Steinbeck, and Rebecca West. Under the Viking Children’s Book imprint, many classics such as Make Way for Ducklings, The Story of Ferdinand,  Pippi Longstocking, and the Madeline books were published.

Throughout Viking’s history, it has been known for innovation as well as dedication to quality that has created the rich backlist the house enjoys. Viking has published ten Newbery Medal winners and ten Caldecott Medal winners, more than any other publishing house. Among the groundbreaking titles published by Viking are The Outsiders (1969), still the bestselling young adult book ever published; The Snowy Day (1963), which brought multicultural books mainstream recognition; and The Stinky Cheese Man (1992), widely hailed for its innovative design. The current Viking list is known for such classic characters as Madeline, Corduroy, Roald Dahl’s Matilda, Llama Llama, and Angelina Ballerina, as well as the Last Kids on Earth series and the work of presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman.

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People are talking about RISE

• Publishers Weekly article on the launch of RISE
• Cecily Kaiser talks with Roger of Horn Books
• Kirkus’ STARRED REVIEW of The Invisible Alphabet
• Kirkus’ STARRED REVIEW of I Am the Storm
• Publishers Weekly Review of I AM! Affirmations for Resilience
• Publisher’s Weekly Review of Families Belong
• Who Was Martin Luther King, JR.? named an Amazon BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH!
• Families Belong named an Amazon BEST BOOK OF 2020!
• I Am the Storm named an Amazon BEST BOOK OF 2020!

Submission guidelines

At RISE, we welcome any submission, text or art, that sits within our mission to empower the youngest readers, ages 0-5. We accept submissions from agents, previously published authors and illustrators, and aspiring authors and illustrators.

Follow us on Instagram @risebooks

The post Rise X: Read More appeared first on Penguin Books.

• 2001: So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George, illustrated by David Small
• 1990: Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China, translated and illustrated by Ed Young
• 1988: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr

Caldecott Honor Book

• 1993: Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
• 1968: The Emperor and the Kite by Ed Young

Carnegie Medal Winner

• 2017: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Carnegie Medal Nominee

• 2020: The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
• 2020: Hello Now by Jenny Valentine
• 2020: Otto Tattercoat and the Forest of Lost Things by Matilda Woods
• 2016: Fire Color One by Jenny Valentine
• 2015: Bone Jack by Sara Crowe
• 2014: Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
• 2012: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Newbery Honor Book

• 1983: Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush by Virginia Hamilton

National Book Award Winner

• 2010: Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

National Book Award Nominee

• 2013: A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff

National Jewish Book Award Nominee

• 2015: Audacity by Melanie Crowder

The New York Times Best-Illustrated Books of the Year

• 2016: The Cat from Hunger Mountain, written and illustrated by Ed Young
• 2012: The Hueys in: The New Sweater, written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
• 1993: The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida, illustrated by Joanna Yardley
• 1993: Gulliver’s Adventures in Lilliput by Jonathan Swift, retold by Ann Kay Beneduce, illustrated by Gennady Spirin
• 1988: Cats are Cats, compiled by Nancy Larrick, illustrated by Ed Young
• 1988: Swan Sky by Tejima
• 1987: Fox’s Dream by Tejima
• 1982: Anno’s Britain by Mitsumasa Anno

William C. Morris Award Winner

• 2023: The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum

William C. Morris Award Nominee

• 2012: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

The post Philomel Awards appeared first on Penguin Books.

In 1985 Patricia Lee Gauch took over as editor-in-chief of Philomel. Under her leadership, Philomel published Caldecott winners Owl Moon by Jane Yolen and John Schoenherr, Lon Po Po by Ed Young, and So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George and David Small, as well as the iconic animal fantasy series Redwall by Brian Jacques and the classic picture books of Patricia Polacco.

Michael Green took the helm as publisher in 2003. Under his direction, Philomel continued its tradition of producing quality picture books for the youngest of readers while publishing more commercial fiction for middle graders and young adults. The Philomel list grew to include the #1 bestselling blockbuster The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers, Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers, Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider spy novels, Mike Lupica’s sports-centered novels, and John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice epic. This quest to reach reluctant readers added to Philomel’s initial mission and expanded the type of books published under the imprint’s name.

In 2018, Kenneth Wright became Philomel’s publisher and, working with Jill Santopolo as associate publisher, continued to expand the definition of a Philomel book, publishing books meant to enlighten, inspire, and empower young readers. Philomel’s list grew to include the #1 New York Times bestsellers She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, Just Ask! by Sonia Sotomayor and Rafael López, Superheroes Are Everywhere by Kamala Harris and Mechal Renee Roe, and Girling Up: How to be Strong, Smart and Spectacular by Mayim Bialik. These books and many others opened readers’ eyes to the world around them and the feelings inside them, and showed them how they could make a difference.

The Philomel team creates books that celebrate the potential in every reader, and its list of award-winners also includes, among others, New York Times bestselling historical fiction titles Between Shades of Gray, Salt to the Sea, and The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys, all recognized by the Carnegie committee, and Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine and A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, both recognized by the National Book Award committee.

Whatever the genre, Philomel strives to foster a love of reading in children and young adults. We aim to publish books that offer insight and new perspectives, and that show children what they can accomplish. It is an appreciation of story, of language, of books that can be read over and over and yet lose none of their magic that drives Philomel to make distinguished, meaningful books year after year.

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Nancy Paulsen Books launched its first hardcover list in Fall 2011. The imprint publishes approximately thirty books a year and focuses on picture books that are eye-opening and empowering, and fiction from diverse and distinct voices, especially stories that are inventive and emotionally satisfying.

Recent picture books include the New York Times bestsellers I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon James, The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López, and Caldecott Honor winner Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer. Fiction includes National Book Award winner Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, Printz Honor winner Starfish by Lisa Fipps, Walter Award winner The
Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman, and New York Times bestsellers Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Thirst by Varsha Bajaj, and Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed.

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Kokila (pronounced KO-ki-la) brings together an inclusive community of authors and illustrators, publishing professionals, and readers to examine and celebrate stories that reflect the richness of our world. 

By centering historically marginalized stories and making space for storytellers to explore the full range of their experiences, we deliver books that inspire and entertain readers and add nuance and depth to the way children and young adults see the world and their place in it.

Kokila will publish work for children and young adults across all formats and genres.

Submissions Window

We are no longer having an open submissions period. The Penguin Young Readers division has created the Emerging Voices & Visions program that hosts a free yearly live Zoom event for unpublished, early career writers and artists from historically marginalized communities to connect with editors. Going forward, our imprint will only accept submissions from attendees of this event. Learn more about when the next Emerging Voices & Visions event will be here: tinyurl.com/44sazdcb.

Educator Guides

• THE EPIC FAIL OF ARTURO ZAMORA, MARCUS VEGA DOESN’T SPEAK SPANISH, and EACH TINY SPARK by Pablo Cartaya
• THE NIGHT DIARY and HOW TO FIND WHAT YOU’RE NOT LOOKING FOR by Veera Hiranandani
• STAND UP, YUMI CHUNG! by Jessica Kim 
• THE FIRST RULE OF PUNK and STRANGE BIRDS by Celia C. Pérez
• FAUJA SINGH KEEPS GOING by Simran Jeet Singh and illustrated by Baljinder Kaur
• ANTIRACIST BABY CARETAKER GUIDE and ANTIRACIST BABY EDUCATOR GUIDE by Ibram X Kendi and art twink
• PATRON SAINTS OF NOTHING by Randy Ribay
• MY TWO BORDER TOWNS and MIS DOS PUEBLOS FRONTERIZOS by David Bowles and Erika Meza
• AT THE MOUNTAIN’S BASE by Traci Sorell and Weshoyot Alvitre
• JD AND THE GREAT BARBER BATTLE by J Dillard

The post Kokila appeared first on Penguin Books.

During the second half of the nineteenth century, Warne’s firm built a reputation based upon its children’s list, publishing illustrated books by such well-known authors and artists as Edward Lea, Kate Greenaway, and Walter Crane. Toward the end of the century, Frederick Warne retired and handed the management of the business over to his three sons, Harold, Fruing, and Norman.

Warne was among the six publishers to whom Beatrix Potter submitted her first book, the story of a rabbit called Peter. As did the other five, Warne turned the proposal down. People at the company changed their minds, however, when they saw the privately printed edition of the book in 1901. They offered to publish it if Potter redid the illustrations in color. The next year, Warne published The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and by Christmas had sold 20,000 copies. Thus began a forty-year partnership that saw the publication of twenty-two additional Little Books and the development of a flourishing merchandising program, the first of its kind based on a children’s book.

Beatrix Potter was engaged to marry Norman Warne, her editor and the youngest of the three Warne brothers. However, he died tragically in 1905, only a few weeks after their engagement. Harold, the eldest brother, took over as Potter’s editor. She continued to produce one or two new Little Books each year for the next eight years until her marriage in 1913 to William Heelis. During the next few years Potter turned her attention to her farm work, but when the company fell on hard times and Harold was imprisoned for embezzlement, she came to the rescue with another new title to support “the old firm.” Potter, who had no children, left the rights to her works to Warne upon her death. The company continued to publish them; it also brought out several biographical works about its most renowned author. Over the years, Warne also expanded its nonfiction publishing, issuing among others the world-famous Observer books.

In 1983, Frederick Warne was acquired by Penguin Books. As a division of Penguin, it began developing classic book-based children’s character brands. Over the years Warne acquired a number of other classic book properties, including Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies in 1989 and Eric Hill‘s Spot in 1993. The hallmarks of the publishing program are beautifully produced editions of the original works, plus lively spin-off books include treasuries, board books, novelty titles, 8x8s, and leveled readers. All of Beatrix Potter‘s original artwork was re-photographed in 1986, and the new editions launched in 1987 were recognized for the quality of reproduction. In 2012, the first new Peter Rabbit tale in 110 years was written by Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson. This beautiful, critically acclaimed book, The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit, was followed up with The Christmas Tale of Peter Rabbit in 2013, also written by Emma Thompson. The Flower Fairies books were re-originated in 1990. And Eric Hill continues to create new Spot titles.

Today, Potter’s characters and others appear on a host of products worldwide. They are featured in events around the globe, from the Peter Rabbit exhibitions of original artwork in such prestigious venues as the Musée D’Orsay (Paris), the Morgan Library and Museum (New York) and the Tate Gallery (London), as well as museums in Australia and Japan. Warne has commissioned an animated Peter Rabbit television show in conjunction with Nickelodeon and Silvergate Media. The episodes, which air daily on Nick Jr. in the US, and on the BBC in the UK, are set in Potter’s beloved Lake District, ensuring that the real and natural worlds continue to provide a playground for the adventures of Peter Rabbit and his friends.

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Edward Payson Dutton opened the doors of his Boston bookshop in 1852 and shortly thereafter began to release “fresh and entertaining” books for young readers. Ingenuity has always marked Dutton’s publishing, and in January 2011, Dutton transitioned into a boutique middle grade and YA imprint, which now publishes 10–15 hardcover titles per year.

Exceptional literary works with distinctive narrative voices and strong commercial appeal are the heart of the current Dutton list. Rich with history, Dutton is committed to the next generation of excellence with a small and highly curated list that never loses sight of audience. Our goals are to build authors for their careers and create lasting relationships with readers.

Our list is home to classic pillars of children’s literature, like A.A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard’s Winnie-the-Pooh books, Newbery medal–winning The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin and My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, and works by Paul O. Zelinsky. Continuing the tradition of literary excellence and distinctive voice, Dutton’s current list includes authors such as John Green, Adam Gidwitz, E.K. Johnston, Stephanie Perkins, Ally Condie, Tahereh Mafi, Nina LaCour, and Ransom Riggs, to name a few.

The post Dutton Children’s Books appeared first on Penguin Books.

Dial publishes books for two through teen that aim to entertain, enrich, and encourage our readers. We care deeply about amplifying underrepresented voices and about artistic excellence, and we’re proud of the many awards that have highlighted our focus on these priorities.

Recent awards include Newbery Honors for Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson and Fighting Words and The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley; the Printz Medal for I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson;  a Geisel Honor for The Bear in the Family by Maya Tatsukawa; National Book Award Finalist When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed; the Morris and APALA Awards for Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram; a Caldecott Honor for One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo and David Small; a Coretta Scott King Honor for How I Discovered Poetry by Marilyn Nelson; a Sibert Honor for Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom by Lynda Blackmon Lowery; Schneider Family Book Award Honors for Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen by Sarah Kapit and When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed; Stonewall Honors for Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram and I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson; the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder; and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honors for Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram, The Best Man by Richard Peck, and It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee.

Established in 1961, Dial Books for Young Readers was an innovator of titles for the very young, including the first quality board books published in the U.S., Rosemary Wells’s Very First Books line, and some of the first wordless picture books, Mercer Mayer’sA Boy, A Dog, and a Frog titles. More recently we continue to publish acclaimed and kid-popular picture books, such as the New York Times Bestsellers Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri, The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak, The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld, If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen, and the Ordinary People Change the World by Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos.

Dial’s history of publishing change-making books by Black, Indigenous, and creators of color includes such classic titles as Mildred D. Taylor’s Newbery Medal winner Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Julius Lester’s Newbery Honor winner To Be a Slave, Leo and Diane Dillon’s Caldecott Medal winner Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears, s, Jerry Pinkney’s Caldecott Honor winner The Talking Eggs (written by Robert D. San Souci), and Joseph Bruchac’s acclaimed Code Talker.

Other exemplary middle grade and young adult titles from Dial’s backlist—all speaking to our “classics in the making” mission—include Richard Peck’s Newbery Medal winner A Year Down Yonder, Ingrid Law’s Newbery Honor Book Savvy, Holly Goldberg Sloan’s New York Times Bestseller Counting by 7s, Rob Harrell’s much-honored Wink, Jack Cheng’s award-winning See You in the Cosmos, Nancy Werlin’s National Book Award Finalist The Rules of Survival, Gabby Rivera’s acclaimed Juliet Takes a Breath, and Cassie Beasley’s New York Times Bestseller Circus Mirandus.

We do not accept any unsolicited submissions.

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