The children's book community suffered a great loss this week with the passing of legendary editor and publisher Margaret K. McElderry. In her long career as a children's book editor, she edited Newbery and Caldecott winners and brought us such influential books as The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper and The Borrowers series by Mary Norton. She was the first editor to have books win the Newbery and the Caldecott in the same year, in 1952. Indeed, her biographies are filled with such superlatives. But what I found the most moving was hearing yesterday from people who actually knew her. She sounds like she was a wonderful and amazing person.
Here are some articles and obituaries:
School Library Journal obituary
Locus Magazine Online Obituary
Margaret K. McElderry and the professional matriarchy of children's books
Once Upon a Time, And for Years After (1997 New York Times article)
"A Valentine for Margaret" -- tribute from author Ellen Hopkins
I invite you to share your own tributes in the comments here, whether or not you knew her.
Sheila Ruth
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