Viking Children’s Books Team
Kim Sandve is a publishing assistant at Viking Children’s Books. She began her publishing career as a member of the Writers House Intern Program. In May of 2023, Kim graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in communications studies (with a specialization in film studies!) and minors in English and creative writing.…
Read MoreAZ Hackett is an editorial assistant at Viking Children’s Books, assisting Tamar Brazis and Jenny Bak. She began her publishing career as an editorial intern at Candlewick Press and a We Need Diverse Books grantee. AZ has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (Emerson College) and a Master of Fine Arts degree (the New School) in…
Read MoreMeriam Metoui (she/her) is an associate editor at Viking Children’s Books, where she primarily edits pictures books and graphic novels of all ages. She especially loves lyrical or funny picture books, grim and adventurous middle grade, and a wide variety of young adult too difficult to narrow down but knows that she can’t resist emotional…
Read MoreAneeka Kalia is an Editor at Viking Children’s Books, where she primarily focuses on picture books and graphic novels for all ages. The books that she works on often explore themes of home and community, and she’s worked with creators like Anoosha Syed, Bianca Xunise, Frank Morrison, and Scott Magoon. She loves a story with…
Read MoreMaggie Rosenthal is an editor at Viking, which she joined in 2014 after graduating from Kenyon College with a degree in anthropology and a minor in English. She works on books for kids of all ages, from board books through young adult, as well as graphic novels, with an emphasis on middle grade and young adult.…
Read MoreKelsey Murphy, editor at Philomel Books, joined Penguin Random House as an editor in 2018. She graduated from New York University with a degree in dramatic literature, film studies, and theater history, and a minor in creative writing. Kelsey edits picture books, middle grade, and young adult fiction and nonfiction, as well as select graphic novels.
Read MoreDana Leydig is Executive Editor at Viking Children’s Books. She began her publishing career as an intern for Puffin Books in 2008, and returned full-time in 2010 before moving to her current role at Viking in 2018. A graduate of the University of Florida (Go Gators!), she earned a degree in English with a minor…
Read MoreJenny Bak is Senior Executive Editor at Viking Children’s, where she edits middle grade and young adult fiction, as well as the occasional picture book. She is drawn to stories at the intersection of commercial and literary, especially those with irresistible hooks, a swift pace, clever storytelling, unexpected twists, and authentic, diverse voices. In young adult,…
Read MoreTamar Brazis joined Viking Children’s book in 2018 as Editorial Director of Illustrated Publishing, specializing in children’s picture books. Her background in poetry led her to acquire the debut picture book Change Sings, by presidential inaugural poet and #1 New York Times bestselling author Amanda Gorman, as well as Gorman’s first full-length poetry collection for adults…
Read MoreKenneth Wright is the president and publisher of the Philomel Books and Viking Children’s Books imprints. After graduating with a BA in English from the University of Colorado at Boulder, he worked his way up the editorial ladder to become an editorial director at Scholastic in 2001. In 2006 he joined Writers House as a literary agent, where he represented many award-winning and bestselling creators, including the award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors Ruta Sepetys, Steve Sheinkin, and Deborah Heiligman.
Read More