As part of a category-focused editorial structure at Candlewick Press, Emma Ledbetter has been appointed executive editorial director of picture books, a newly created role. Ledbetter is joining the company on October 6, and will report to Andrew Smith, who in April was appointed senior VP and publisher of Candlewick Press, Holiday House, and Peachtree, the U.S. divisions of Walker Books Group.
Most recently she served as editorial director of picture books at Abrams Books for Young Readers, where she acquired and edited titles including Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham and C.G. Esperanza, and edited the I Am series, including I Am Courage and I Am Me by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds.
“Emma has an impeccable eye and outstanding taste and knows what appeals to today’s picture book audience,” Smith said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to have her join the team and lead our editorial efforts in this key category and help shape and focus our award-winning picture book program.”
Ledbetter said she is “honored, humbled, and delighted to join” Candlewick’s “incredible team,” adding that she is looking forward to helping “carry on the tradition of timeless, top-notch illustrated stories for children” that Candlewick is known for.
A New Structure
Along with Ledbetter’s newly created role, Candlewick has announced a number of other shifts in its editorial structure. “While editors will continue to acquire across categories and age groups, key staff will now help set the publisher’s strategy for leading categories,” according to a company statement. Kate Fletcher will serve as editorial director: preschool and novelty category and external publishing partnerships; Sarah Ketchersid has been named editorial director: early fiction (readers and chapter books), character, and entertainment; Kaylan Adair is now senior executive editor: fiction (middle-grade and YA) and graphic novels; Hilary Van Dusen is senior executive editor: nonfiction. Both Andrea Tompa, senior executive editor, and Mary Lee Donovan, executive editorial director, will continue to work across teams and categories. Smith said, “This new approach will ensure that our list is well-balanced, increase our strength in essential areas, and better equip us to meet and anticipate the needs of the children’s book market with the goal of continued profitable growth.”
Walker Books Group was purchased by Trustbridge Global Media in 2020. Walker Books UK announced a restructure of its U.K. team this past July. In August, the company announced an editorial restructuring at Holiday House, including the promotion of Mary Cash to VP, associate publisher at Holiday House and Peachtree, and the promotion of Sally Morgridge, formerly executive director at Holiday House, to editorial director.
