In 1838, George Palmer Putnam and John Wiley established the publishing house of Wiley & Putnam, which became known as G. P. Putnam's Sons in 1872, when three of George's sons inherited the firm. One of the first children's titles published by G. P. Putnam's Sons was the 1925 Newbery Honor book Nicholas by Anne Carroll Moore. Another classic title from the earlier years of Putnam is Little Toot by Hardie Gramatky. In 1936, Putnam merged with Coward McCann, bringing The Five Chinese Brothers by Clarie Hutchet Bishop, illustrated by Kurt Wiese, and Millions of Cats by Wanda Gág to the list.

In 1980, Eric Hill's Where's Spot? was published, which was the first title in this ongoing series of beloved flap books. With the acquisition of Dodd, Mead's juvenile division in 1989, Putnam welcomed one of its brightest stars--Jan Brett whose picture books annually climb to the top of the best-seller list. Other celebrated picture book creators include Tomie dePaola, Rachael Isadora, Maira Kalman, Keiko Kasza, and Caldecott Award Winner Peggy Rathmann. Two recent successes are Newbery Honor winner Show Way, by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Hudson Talbott, and the New York Times best-selling picture book edition of Eats, Shoots & Leaves, by Lynne Truss, illustrated by Bonnie Timmons.

In recent years, Putnam has been acclaimed for publishing some of the very best voices for older readers including Jacqueline Woodson, Joan Bauer, Adele Griffin, Paula Danziger, Jean Fritz, Suzy Kline and Robin McKinley. Gennifer Choldenko’s Al Capone Does My Shirts and D.M. Cornish’s Monster Blood Tattoo series are some of the newest books garnering wide-spread attention and praise.

A division of Penguin Young Readers Group since 1996.

Nancy Paulsen, President and Publisher

Nancy Paulsen has been President and Publisher of G. P. Putnam's Sons Children's Books since 1994. She has expanded the line of fiction to include authors such as Joan Bauer, Adele Griffin, Michael Hoeye, G.P. Taylor, and Jacqueline Woodson and has added picture-book talent such as Maira Kalman, Daniel Kirk, and Hudson Talbott to a list that already included Jan Brett, Tomie dePaola, and Peggy Rathmann. Before coming to Putnam, she was Vice-President and Publisher of Puffin Books where she published authors Roald Dahl, Gary Paulsen, Mildred Taylor, and others.

Awards

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults

2006: Jacqueline Woodson

The Caldecott Medal

1996: Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
1993: Mirette on the Highwire by Emily Arnold McCully

The Coretta Scott King Author Award

2001: Miracle's Boys by Jacqueline Woodson

The Coretta Scott King Author Honor

2004: Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
2003: Red Rose Box by Brenda Woods

The Newbery Medal

1942: The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds, illustrated by Paul Lantz.

The Newbery Honor

2006: Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson
2005: Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
2001: Hope was Here by Joan Bauer
2000: 26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie dePaola
2000: Getting Near to Baby by Audrey Couloumbis
1983: Homesick: My Own Story by Jean Fritz
1934: The ABC Bunny by Wanda Gag
1929: Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag
1925: Nicholas by Anne Carrol Moore

The Printz Honor

2003: Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going

National Book Award Nominees

2005: Where I Want to Be by Adele Griffin
2003: Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
2002: Hush by Jacqueline Woodson

The New York Times Best Illustrated Books

2005: Chato Goes Cruisin’ by Gary Soto
1992: Mirette on the Highwire by Emily Arnold McCully
1977: Jack and the Wonder Beans by James Still, illustrated by Margot Tomes
1966: The Magic Flute by Stephen Spender, illustrated by Beni Montressor
1954: The Animal Frolic by 12th century Japanese artist, probably Toba Sojo