While I was attending art school in Boston in the 1990s, an illustration class piqued my interest in children’s book publishing. At that time Boston housed several publishers, the Horn Book, and Simmons College (now University), which made it a small hub for children’s literature. In a “right place, right time” moment, I was given an entrée into the world of children’s literature as an intern at the Horn Book. I started work at 11 Beacon Street, one block from the State House, while still in school. There were so many things to see and explore in that spot, but I did all of my exploring right in the office. Bookshelves lined the walls of an office staffed by smart, discerning champions of children’s books — kind coworkers willing to educate me.

Illustration (c) 2024 by Liza Woodruff.

Readers of the Magazine may ­recognize names of the editorial staff and reviewers, but there was someone who worked behind the scenes that I would like to highlight: Thomas Todd. Mr. Todd acted as president of the Magazine when I started as an intern and during my tenure in the marketing department from 1994–1999. A gentleman of imposing appearance (a WWII vet, no less), he was tall with bushy eyebrows and ear hair. He worked on accounting out of the back office after his family’s printing company — a ­Boston institution started in 1864 — closed up shop in the 1990s.

Being near retirement, he seemed keen to impart the vast knowledge he had gathered in the years spent running the Beacon Hill print shop. First and foremost, he believed that any font worth its mettle was derived from the chisel or quill, and he frequently called me in for lectures on letterform. When I proudly shared my first published picture book with him, after a brief congratulations he made a case for a career in investment banking for me. Though I don’t consider my first book to be my very best, I think he was responding more to the ­uncertainty of my financial prospects than to the quality of my work.

In contrast to his age and life ­experience, the generation and ideas of the rest of the staff were ­­different — younger and newer. But like in a big family, there was room for everyone at the Horn Book, and everyone had something to offer. Mr. Todd brought history, past accomplishments, and experience,­ while the rest of the staff brought forward-thinking and new ideas about the path ahead in children’s literature. Together, the mission was, and always will be, to get good books into the hands of children.

From the May/June 2024 special issue of The Horn Book Magazine: Our Centennial. For more Horn Book centennial coverage, click here. Find more in the "Blowing the Horn" series here.

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