Have a kids book ready to hit the world? Get some pointers from Leonard Marcus first!

We’re proud to have Leonard Marcus as a faculty member of MFAVN. His decades of experience in kids book publishing gives our students a long-term view of the market. If you’re working on a kids book of your own, or if you have a few already published, you’ll want to attend his workshop this May.

In this intensive workshop, students will receive a comprehensive introduction to the contemporary book publishing industry’s most dynamic sector. Each session will focus on a key element of the publishing process: the job (and vocation) of the children’s book writer and illustrator; the critical, supporting roles played by editors, art directors and designers; sales and marketing; librarians; and other opinion makers. Guest lecturers will include award-winning illustrators, writers and editors who provide pragmatic, insiders’ views of the talent-rich and rapidly changing field of children’s book publishing.

REGISTER HERE

Here’s the lineup!

May 1

Emily Arnold McCully. Author and illustrator of numerous picture books, including the 1993 Caldecott Medal winner, Mirette of the High Wire and the 2008 Jane Addams Peace Award title, The Escape of Oney Judge

Susan Kuklin—author/illustrator of award-winning non-fiction books for children and teens; documentary and portrait photographer. @susankuklin

May 2

Susan Rich—editor-at-large, Little Brown Books for Young Readers; editor of the Lemony Snicket books, Frank Viva, Sophie Blackall, Maira Kalman, Jon Klassen, and others. @SusanmRich

Susan Van Metre—v.p. and editor-in-chief, Abrams Books and editorial director of Abrams’ Amulet imprint. @skeetermeeter

May 3

Cecilia Yung—v.p. and art director, Penguin Books for Young Readers. 

Marth Rago—executive creative director, Penguin Random House Children’s Books, with overall design responsibility for the Knopf, Crown, Delacorte, Doubleday, Little Golden, and Random House imprints.

May 4

Tracy Van Straaten—executive v.p. for publicity, Scholastic Children’s Book Publishing; formerly, v. p. of publicity & education/library marketing at Simon and Schuster. @TvS_557

Kate R. Kubert—independent publicist/events coordinator; formerly, publicity and marketing manager, Bloomsbury Children’s Books and Farrar, Straus and Giroux; former manager of Books of Wonder Bookstore. 

May 5

Judy Zuckerman—director of youth and family services, Brooklyn Public Library; chair of 2011 Caldecott Medal Committee and member of numerous other major awards committees.

Judith Rovenger—children’s literature instructor, Long Island University; formerly, youth services consultant, Westchester County (NY) Library System; member of the 1987 Caldecott Medal committee, the 1993 Newbery Medal committee, and other major awards juries.