Emily Meehan, Executive Editor
Emily has worked on almost every aspect of trade publishing for children: picture books, middle grade, young adult, original paperback series, and in most every genre, from general interest fiction to nonfiction, to fantasy, romance, religious, and historical. Her current list focuses on teen novels, including the New York Times Best selling Private and Privilege series by Kate Brian and the New York Times best selling debut novel Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. Her current projects include the Summer Trilogy by Jenny Han, and the debut novel in a trilogy by Kieran Scott, She’s So Dead to Us. She also publishes picture books by Douglas Wood and Paula Deen as well as middle grade novels with authors like Dan Gutman. She sets the same standards for her list that she sets in her own reading: engaging, well-conceived and -written plot, strong and believable characters, and overall a experience that feels like a reward at the end of a long day.
RESOURCES
Alexandra Cooper, Senior Editor
Alexandra works on hardcover trade picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult novels. She is the editor of the #1 New York Times bestseller Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Bryan Collier, as well as Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin, winner of the 2010 Schneider Family Award. Alexandra is privileged to count Jane Yolen, Kathy Krull, Bagram Ibatoulline, and Heather Vogel Frederick among the talented writers and artists she works with.
David is especially interested in acquiring middle-grade and teen fiction and has a special affinity for realistic contemporary novels. Novelists he works with include Tony DiTerlizzi, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Pete Hautman (National Book Award), Chris Lynch, James A. Owen, Alex Sanchez (Lambda Literary Award), Neal Shusterman, Sonya Sones, Ellen Wittlinger (Lambda Literary Award, ALA Michael L. Printz Honor), and Rick Yancey (ALA Printz Honor). His picture book authors and illustrators include Henry Cole, Emily Gravett (New York Times Best Illustrated), John Lithgow, Barry Moser, and Margie Palatini. Before joining Simon & Schuster in 1993, David worked at HarperCollins, Dell/Delacorte, as a book review editor at School Library Journal, and in textbook publishing. He holds a B.A. degree in English and history from Case Western Reserve University and an M.A. degree in Early Childhood Education with concentrations in children’s literature and in the teaching of reading from New York University.
Navah Wolfe, Editorial Assistant
Navah joined Simon & Schuster in April 2007 and assists David Gale. Before she came to Simon & Schuster, Navah held a variety of jobs, including bookseller at Books of Wonder, and intern at the veterinary clinic of the Jerusalem Zoo. Some books that she has worked on include Chaucer’s First Winter by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Henry Cole, and the forthcoming Undertaken trilogy by Ari Berk. Navah seeks strong middle grade and teen novels with compelling characters and fresh voices, engaging commercial picture books, and is, in particular, interested in YA and middle grade science fiction and fantasy.
FEATURED BACKLIST
Anne Zafian, Deputy Publisher
As Deputy Publisher, Anne works closely with the Publisher on key aspects of our business. She oversees our marketing team and marketing plans; and works closely with both the sales team and supply chain organization to maximize sales and manage inventory. Anne has been with S&S for more than 5 years, previously as a VP in our sales department responsible for both adult and children’s book sales. Prior to that, she worked at what is now known as Hachette Book Group USA, including Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, where her love of children’s books was first fostered.
Michael L Printz Honor
The Monstrumologist
by Rick Yancey
Schneider Book Award
Middle Grade Category
Anything But Typical
by Nora Raleigh Baskin
2010 ALA/YALSA
Best Books for Young Adults
The Monstrumologist
by Rick Yancey
The Summer I Turned Pretty
by Jenny Han
2010 Edgar Allan Poe Award
Nominee for Best Juvenile Book
The Case of the Case of
Mistaken Identity
by Mac Barnett,
with illustrations by Adam Rex
OUR EDITORIAL TEAM
Julia Maguire, Editorial Assistant
Julia started with the imprint in September 2008. Prior to BFYR, she interned at Bloomsbury Children's Books. She has worked on several picture books, including the GM Spoonful of Stories winner 1 Zany Zoo and Piggies in the Kitchen illustrated by New York Times bestselling illustrator Ard Hoyt. She is looking for short, snappy picture books and young adult fiction with a strong plot and unique characters that are grounded in reality. She assists Emily Meehan and Alexandra Cooper.
Seasonal Catalog
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Backlist Catalog
See our titles from previous seasons ►
Activity and Coloring Sheets
See titles with activity and coloring sheets►
Courtney Bongiolatti, Associate Editor
Courtney has edited the New York Times best-selling 7 Habits of Happy Kids, What’s Under the Bed by Joe Fenton, and Long Shot by Chris Paul, illustrated by Frank Morrison. Upcoming, she has the Yankees middle-grade historical fiction title, Lucky, by Wes Tooke and Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs. She is actively looking for middle-grade, especially boy, but anything not too girly, edgy YA, and sports-themed books for any age.
NEW RELEASES
Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers is the Flagship imprint of the S&S Children’s Division. We are committed to publishing an wide range of contemporary, commercial, award-winning fiction and non-fiction that spans every age of children’s publishing. BFYR is constantly looking to the future, supporting our foundation authors and franchises, but always with an eye for breaking new ground with every publication. We also are deeply invested in developing new talent, new formats and new avenues of publication. S&S BFYR’s publishing program’s eclecticism, elasticity and sensibility to the ever changing market place makes it the home for a vast array of blockbuster children’s titles.
LATEST NEWS
New York Times Bestselling Chapter Book
(2/14/10)
#10 Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
MTV.com is featuring
Hush, Hush this week!
The Boys, written and illustrated by Jeff Newman, was reviewed by School Library Journal!
Read it here.
Justin Chanda, Vice President and Publisher
Justin joined the editorial staff at Simon & Schuster in 2005 after an eight year stint at HarperCollins Children’s Books. A graduate of New York University, Justin was named publisher of the S&S Books for Young Readers imprint in 2007 and McElderry Books and Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2009. He is keenly interested in publishing books that are equal parts commercial and literary, books that make a contribution to the tradition, while truly entertaining kids. Aside from having the honor of working with the best editorial staff in the industry, he also has the opportunity to edit some of its best talent including the likes of: Jon Scieszka, David Shannon, Loren Long, Kenneth Oppel, Patricia MacLachlan, Mac Barnett, Adam Rex and Michael Ian Black.
Lydia Frost, Editorial Assistant
Lydia began working with Books for Young Readers in May 2007 and assists Justin Chanda. She has worked on a wide range of novels and picture books, including Puppy Love, written by Gillian Shields and illustrated by Elizabeth Harbour, and Dogs Don't Do Ballet by Anna Kemp, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie. While she clearly enjoys picture books about adorable dogs, she is also interested in short texts with modern and bold illustrations. With fictional work, she is looking for middle-grade with quirky characters who have a sense of adventure and teen novels that have a strong, realistic voice.
