Sunday, December 13, 2015

Albert Whitman & Company

Independently owned since 1919, Albert Whitman & Company publishes 40 hardcover titles for children and teens each year. The "Heart and Culture" page on their website lists the company's mission and values, then lists several (really good!) reasons to collaborate with them.

They have a blog with posts penned by authors, illustrators, and editors alike. Staff bios can be found here. Manuscript wish lists for the editors can be found here.

They accept unsolicited manuscripts via email. See their submission guidelines for more information.

Getting to know Albert Whitman & Company (Source)

Editorial Director - Kelly Barrales-Saylor (Ms. Barrales-Saylor is back as Sourcebooks as of 2016)
Interview from when she was senior project editor at Sourcebooks, Inc.
Interview with one of her authors on landing a publishing deal with Ms. Barrales-Saylor

Senior Editor - Wendy McClure
Q&A on writing her own novels and editing
Editor interview
Interview about her book, The Wilder Life
Red Sofa Chats interview

Editor - Kristin Zelazko

Assistant Editor - Andrea Hall

Editorial Assistant - Alexandra Messina-Schultheis

Nick Tiemersma, Art Director
Q&A

Books we had on hand (*indicates books we read):

*Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America (2015); Written by Carole Boston Weatherford­; Illustrated by Jamey Christoph
Author interview

*How to Spy on a Shark (2015); Written by Lori Haskins Houran; Illustrated by Francisca Marquez; 137 words




*Janine (2015); Written and illustrated by Maryann Cocca-­Leffler; Edited by Kelly Barrales-Saylor; 300 words








Meditation is an Open Sky: Mindfulness for Kids (2015); Written by Whitney Stewart­; Illustrated by Sally Rippin







Show Me Happy (2015); Written by Kathryn Madeline Allen; Photography by Eric Futran








Sun Above and Blooms Below: A Springtime of Opposites (2015); Written by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky; Illustrated by Susan Swan







*Trick Arrr Treat: A Pirate Halloween (2015); Written by Leslie Kimmelman; Illustrated by Jorge Monlongo





Día de los Muertos (2015); Written by Roseanne Greenfield Thong; Illustrated by Carles Ballesteros; Edited by Wendy McClure





PB&J Hooray!: Your Sandwich's Amazing Journey from Farm to Table (2014); Written by Janet Nolan; Illustrated by Julia Patton; Edited by Wendy McClure





The Ghosts Go Haunting (2014); Written by Helen Ketteman; Illustrated by Adam Record






*Jacob's New Dress (2014); Written by Sarah and Ian Hoffman; Illustrated by Chris Case








*The Short Giraffe (2014); Written by Neil Flory; Illustrated by Mark Cleary








*Snow Dog, Sand Dog (2014); Written by Linda Joy Singleton; Illustrated by Jess Golden






Stone Soup with Matzoh Balls: A Passover Tale in Chelm (2014); Written by Linda Glaser; Illustrated by Maryam Tabatabaei







*Sugar Hill: Harlem's Historic Neighborhood (2014); Written by Carole Boston Weatherford­; Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie; 238 words







A Trip into Space: An Adventure to the International Space Station (2014); Written by Lori Haskins Houran; Illustrated by Francisca Marquez; 87 words
With Books and Bricks: How Booker T. Washington Built a School (2014); Written by Suzanne Slade; Illustrated by Nicole Tadgell; 1016 words







City Street Beat (2014); Written by Nancy Viau; Illustrated by Barbara Bakos; Edited by Kelly Barrales-Saylor





Picture a Tree (2013); Written and illustrated by Barbara Reid­








*Theo's Mood (2013); Written and illustrated by Maryann Cocca-­Leffler








*What's Bugging Nurse Penny?: A Story About Lice (2013); Written by Catherine Stier; Illustrated by Suzanne Beaky; 1342 words







All Kinds of Friends (2013); Written by Norma Simon; Illustrated by Cherie Zamazing






*Baby Parade (2013); Written by Rebecca O'Connell; Illustrated by Susie Poole






*Dig those Dinosaurs (2013); Written by Lori Haskins Houran; Illustrated by Francisca Marquez





*The Eighth Menorah (2013); Written by Lauren L Wohl; Illustrated by Laura Hughes; 1258 words







Erik the Red Sees Green: A Story about Color Blindness (2013); Written by Julie Anderson; Illustrated by David Lopez; 1390 words







*Mary Walker Wears the Pants: The True Story of the Doctor, Reformer, and Civil War Hero (2013); Written by Cheryl Harness; Illustrated by Carlo Molinari; 1290 words










At our next meeting on February 13, we will focus on books published by Peachtree Publishers. (The January meeting was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances involving my attic, electricity, and fire...but all is well now!)