My connection with the Horn Book dates back to the regime of Ethel and Paul Heins. Perhaps because I was so young at the time, it seemed like the Red Sea parted whenever they arrived — always together, ­inseparable — at any children’s book gathering. Though they were small, tweedy, and rather ­unprepossessing, their ­encyclopedic knowledge of children’s books and their power (yes, power!) preceded them wherever they went. Now that I think of it, were they the first power couple in children’s books?

After Paul, then Ethel, retired, the incomparable Anita ­Silvey, a peer I knew well, stepped into the role, and a new era began. I was at Little, Brown, at the time, and I recall chatting with Anita about Martin Handford, the creator of Waldo, who had just landed thunderously on our shores. Waldo, that is, not Handford. When I mentioned to Anita that Handford was quite reclusive, she commented on the paradox of his peripatetic character traveling tirelessly around the world whilst Handford remains at home, safe and sound. ­Brilliant, right?

I remember vividly when Anita decided to step down and Roger Sutton arrived from Chicago (of all places!) to take over the editorship. We at Little, Brown, joined forces with the company formerly known as Houghton Mifflin to host a gala event welcoming Roger to Boston in high style. Like all of us, he was much younger then and, believe it or not, seemed rather shy and somewhat overawed by his grand new position. Time has certainly changed all that. If you grab me at a cocktail party, I’ll happily “spill the tea” about those years. There’s plenty to talk about. But not here. And not now.

In addition to anticipating and appreciating the fulsome reviews and invariably interesting essays, interviews, and editorials in the magazine, I got to choose the books that would appear in an ad on the inside front cover. The coveted spot had been “owned” by Little, Brown, for as long as anyone could remember, though I’m told it’s no longer the case. It was always a hard decision since it was such a great place to tell the world about a new ­publication, a new award, or anything we wanted to crow about at the time.

Throughout the decades, even when I left the field to work in public broadcasting for a while, I continued to admire the Horn Book for its enduring and unswerving commitment to the importance of good books for children. It was a beautiful thing back in the day, and though times, literary trends, editors, and owners have changed, it’s a beautiful thing now, especially with the estimable Elissa Gershowitz at the helm. Long may it wave. Those of us who care deeply about children’s books need the Horn Book to celebrate its bicentennial, with or, inevitably, without us.

From the July/August 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine: Special Issue: ALA Awards. For more Horn Book centennial coverage, click here.

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