Sparking the Interest of Young Readers
● What are the challenges in selecting material to publish for children today compared to those of previous generations?
Karen Lotz: It truly seems to me that we are living in a golden age of publishing for children. Technology, changes in values and the phenomenal success of certain titles in recent years have created an alchemical situation that means many more writers and artists are attracted to the field than ever before. [And] other brilliant talents who have been working in the field for decades can find their work showcased as never before. We also can, from a production standpoint, manufacture books of even greater and more innovative quality. The biggest challenge we face is not in finding wonderful and appropriate material to publish, but in selecting the very best books from all the great offerings out there—and, of course, in finding new and better ways to reach young readers with our books in a very volatile marketplace.