See that pretty lady up there? The one
beside the Olympian in purple (Kristi Yamaguchi)? That is my friend, Jenny Brown, though if I claim her as my own friend this morning, it is not to negate her friendships with and toward the entire world of children's publishing. Jenny has done it all in her publishing life—teacher, editor, mentor, reviewer, Twenty by Jenny-er, and (I like to call her this) crusader. You most recently know her as the children's book editor of Shelf Awareness, but as of today you will also know her as the part-time Interim Director of the Center for Children's Literature at the Bank Street College of Education, a position which she describes as "an organic evolution of my work on the Children's Book Committee, where we read books together as reviewers, social workers, teachers, librarians, historians, and art directors." Jenny calls the Center a think tank and she will have an opportunity to play a big role in shaping the reading life of children.
Who could be better for this position? No one. Jenny loves good books, she loves the people who make them, she loves the people for whom good books are made. She's also a very fine writer—and singer—as I found out when I interviewed her for
Publishing Perspectives. Here's
that piece, in case you somehow (how
could you?) missed it.
Congratulations, Jennifer M. Brown!
