Jennifer M. Brown Named Vice President, Publisher, Knopf Books for Young Readers at Random House Children’s Books
New York, NY (July 23, 2015) — Jennifer M. Brown, a 25-year veteran of the children’s book industry, will join Random House Children’s Books as Vice President, Publisher, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, effective August 24, it was announced today by Barbara Marcus, President & Publisher.
As Publisher, Brown will oversee the direction and lead the long-range and daily activities for the Knopf Young Readers publishing program. An accomplished children’s publishing professional across many disciplines, Brown brings to Knopf a broad and deep knowledge of the industry, an extensive network of relationships, and impeccable taste in books, shaped by her years of critiquing, reporting, editing, and marketing them and by engaging with key influencers in the publishing community. A former children’s reviews editor for Publishers Weekly for 10 years, she is currently the children’s editor of Shelf Awareness, a daily e-newsletter for the bookselling and publishing trade, and director of the Center for Children’s Literature at the Bank Street College of Education.
“We are so incredibly fortunate to have Jenny join our team,” said Marcus. “Her background and experience give her, and us, a truly unique point of view that perfectly positions her to lead the gifted Knopf editorial team into the future. Her extensive knowledge, network, and genuine passion for authors and illustrators will ensure Knopf maintains its track record of publishing high-quality, literary and commercial books, while also enabling her and her staff to forge new paths for the imprint.”
Brown said, “It is a once-in-a-career opportunity to join this legendary imprint at Random House Children’s Books. To have the chance to work with the talented editorial team at Knopf and to build on its unbelievably strong foundation is truly a dream come true. This position allows me to unite all of my lifelong passions and professional experiences, and I greatly look forward to our collaboration.”
Brown has served on multiple industry committees, including the 2015 Newbery Committee and the 2014 New York Times Best Illustrated Books jury. Prior to Publishers Weekly, she was a children’s book editor at HarperCollins and an elementary schoolteacher (grades K–2). As children’s editor of the trade and consumer e-newsletter editions of Shelf Awareness, she oversees children’s book reviews and features and a team of 20 reviewers. In 2009, she founded the website Twenty by Jenny to recommend books to parents, grandparents, and others who wish to instill in children a love of reading. Since September 2012, she has served as director of the Center for Children’s Literature at the Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Her responsibilities include the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee, the Writers Lab, the Irma Black Award, the Cook Prize, and BookFest @ Bank Street.
Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company’s website, Kids @ Random (randomhousekids.com), offers an array of activities, games, and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.
###
