Rocky Pond

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Overview

Rocky Pond Books is Penguin’s newest children’s and YA imprint, which launched in Spring 2023. The imprint publishes books for two through teen, both fiction and nonfiction, with a primary focus on mental health and social-emotional learning.

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.

Meet the Team