Christopher Franceschelli has announced his plan to step back from Handprint Books, the Brooklyn-based children’s publishing outfit he formed in 2000, which became an imprint of Chronicle Books in 2008. “I’m ending my work at Handprint as of the end of the year,” he told PW. “I’m willing to take on the occasional project if that makes mutual sense to the folks at Chronicle, but I’ll largely be retired from the day-to-day of it all.”
Franceschelli noted that his decision to begin a new phase professionally was shaped by his contemplation of a more personal timeline. “I will turn 70 later this month, and my approaching birthday has given me an opportunity for reflection on what I want to do,” he said. “I have felt, with increasing urgency, the need to devote the majority of my remaining energy and resources to being politically active in countering the current administration and its draconian and destructive policies.”
Though his traditional workload may be shifting, Franceschelli is not leaving publishing entirely. He will continue creating and writing novelty books, including for the Abrams Block Book and Abrams Trail Tale lines, and selling titles internationally in his role as co-founder and principal of the packaging operation SmartInk Books. “I have at least six books under contract to deliver to Abrams, and I will also be delivering books to our international co-publishers,” he said.
In his more than 25 years at Handprint’s editorial helm, Franceschelli has overseen numerous successful titles under what he once told PW was his original goal for the company: “a place where I could publish idiosyncratic but hopefully also very saleable books.” Some of his best known Handrprint projects include Casey at the Bat by Ernest Thayer, illustrated by Christopher Bing, a title from his inaugural list which earned a Caldecott Honor in 2001; Press Here and subsequent bestselling books by Hervé Tullet; and Brother Son, Sister Moon by Katherine Paterson.
Prior to establishing Handprint and SmartInk, Franceschelli was president and publisher of Dutton Children’s Books for 10 years, and left the company in 1997.
Several of Francheschelli’s Handprint authors and colleagues offered their well wishes for his next chapter.
Tyrrell Mahoney, president of Chronicle, wrote: “To say we will miss Christopher is an understatement. He has been a valued partner, trusted mentor, and sage counsel to many of us. We shall cheer him on in his future endeavors with as much passion and care as he devoted to Chronicle Books as a cherished colleague and friend.”
Author Katherine Paterson reflected on her extensive history with Franceschelli. “It’s hard to believe that Christopher is old enough to retire. I thought of him as a wunderkind when we began our time together at Dutton. Since then, there have been three beautiful books at Handprint Books that I’ve had the joy of providing words for. I am very grateful for our partnership and friendship.”
And author-illustrator Hervé Tullet recalled a few favorite moments to date with his trusted publisher. “Christopher is my dear friend, my buddy. When Christopher discovered Press Here in 2009, he wrote the most beautiful letter in the world to the publisher [Bayard Jeunesse] to obtain the [U.S. and U.K.] rights to this book. He constantly watched how these little dots evolved and even suggested that I look into color mixing when we met for the first time. He also wrote a beautiful letter so that I could obtain a green card to come and live and work in the U.S. For 15 years now, we have been in constant dialogue about the evolution of the book and my work, a joyful, funny, and good dialogue. Once, I even told him that this book will be the last one I will do, and I still remember his beautiful smile, as an answer, when I told him. In short, Christopher is my friend, and I can’t wait to show him my next project and hear about all of his. And of course, I can’t wait to share with him a glass of wine.”
