 |
|
| Eric Carle and Ann Benaduce in 2016. (via the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art) |
|
Ann Beneduce, the longtime children's book editor who founded Philomel Books, died last week at the age of 102.
Beneduce's publishing career began in 1960, and over the years she worked at J.P. Lippincott, World Publishing and T.Y. Crowell, before founding Philomel Books, an imprint of G.P. Putnam's Sons, in 1980.
She edited and published books by award-winning authors Jane Yolen, Ed Young, Tasha Tudor and Katherine Paterson, but she was perhaps best known for discovering Eric Carle when he was working as an advertising artist. The pair worked on more than 40 titles together, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Beneduce continued to edit his work after she retired.
"A special relationship between author and editor is crucial to the success of a book," Carle wrote in The Art of Eric Carle, describing his and Beneduce's relationship as "marked by deep mutual respect and affection. Neither of us has ever imposed his or her will upon the other. An organic and easy flow of ideas, just plain talking and a lot of listening to each other, has given birth to many books since we first met. In that way some ideas have also faded away--quietly and peacefully, without a rejection slip."
Patricia Gauch, Beneduce's successor at Philomel, called her an "editor's editor. She had an extraordinary eye for design and illustration. When I came to Philomel, Ann and I overlapped, and she mentored me, inexperienced writer turned editor. It was an extraordinary privilege to learn from the gracious Ann, who believed so passionately in the power and beauty of a picture book."
In 2006, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art gave Beneduce the first Carle Honors Mentor Award, which goes to editors, designers and educators who champion the art form of the picture book.