Philomel was created in the early 1980s as part of World Publishing Books for Young People, by editor and publisher Ann Beneduce. The imprint was named after the nightingale, using a term that literally means “lover of song,” which implied that these books would be lyrical, beautiful in concept and form, and fine enough to be celebrated as gifts. The early lists included such future classics as Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar; Virginia Hamilton’s Newbery Honor–winning Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush; and Ed Young’s Caldecott Honor–winning The Emperor and the Kite.
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 soon-to-be iconic animal fantasy series Redwall by Brian Jacques and the classic picture books of Patricia Polacco, including Thank You, Mr. Falker.
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 simultaneously beginning to publish more commercial fiction for middle graders and young adults. The Philomel list grew to include #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 up to the world around them and the feelings inside them, and showed them how they could make a difference in the world.
With an editorial staff of six and a design staff of two, all working to create books that open minds and hearts and celebrate the potential in every reader, the Philomel list also includes, among others, Ruta Sepetys’s award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling historical fiction titles Between Shades of Gray and Salt to the Sea, and the award-winners Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine, A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff, and Audacity by Melanie Crowder.
Whatever the genre, Philomel strives to foster a love of reading in children and young adults. 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.
AWARDS
Caldecott Medal Winner
- 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 Nominee
- 2012: Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
