There are changes afoot at Penguin Young Readers, which announced the spring 2023 advent of a new imprint, Rocky Pond Books. The venture will be helmed by Lauri Hornik, who joined Penguin in 1999 as editorial director of Dial Books for Young Readers and currently serves as president and publisher of the imprint. Additionally, Jen Klonsky, president and publisher of Putnam and Razorbill, will assume leadership of Dial Books for Young Readers, effective immediately.
Rocky Pond Books will publish titles by debut and celebrated authors and illustrators and will encompass books spanning a range of age levels, from toddlers to teenagers. The imprint will include fiction and nonfiction, with a focus on mental health and social-emotional learning.
“It has become more and more important to me to provide books that offer comfort and support,” said Hornik of the imprint’s genesis and scope. “That comfort might be through a belly laugh or a gorgeous, genuine expression of what it means to be human, or seeing yourself and your culture depicted on the page. That support might be through a picture book that sparks empathy, or an inspiring nonfiction read about a hero or important moment in history.”
Addressing her commitment to publishing mental health content, Hornik explained that Rocky Pond will emphasize “books that start conversations, that provide a step toward healing, and that show readers they aren’t alone. I’m so excited to now be dedicating myself full-time to editing, and thus bringing more of these much-needed books to kids and teens.”
Klonsky arrived at PYR from HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2018 when she was named publisher of Putnam, and assumed leadership of Razorbill later that year.
“I have had a front-row seat in the admiration section watching Lauri and the Dial team for the last four years,” she said. “I know them to be a passionate group with a list that is intentional, innovative, and fun and I can’t wait to join them. Following Lauri will not be easy but working alongside Nancy Mercado and Lily Malcom—experts in all they do and in the Dial business—will make it possible. I’m so excited to work with them and with the whole team.”
From her perspective as president of Penguin Young Readers, Jen Loja looks forward to witnessing Klonsky and Hornik’s future accomplishments at the house. She anticipates that Dial will “continue to thrive” under Klonsky’s leadership. “Jen’s vision for both list building and career growth, for her team and for our creators, is key to our continued growth,” she noted. “With her guidance, Dial’s editors and designers will continue to publish acclaimed, award-winning books and carry on the imprint’s mission and legacy of excellence.”
And Loja expressed confidence that Hornik’s navigation of Rocky Pond will be smooth sailing. “I am delighted to see Lauri take on her own imprint,” she said. “She has brought so many of our favorite voices to the world in her time at Dial, and I can’t wait to see her add more wonderful creators to her existing list of trusted authors and illustrators.”
Yet the new imprint’s evocative name begs the question: why Rocky Pond? Hornik offered a reflective answer: “Rocky Pond was the swimming hole in my hometown, and so it represents joy and growing up to me. And I love the symbolism of needing to stumble over some rough ground before being able to ‘swim.’ ”
