Nosy Crow publisher Katie Cunningham, who championed representation in children's books, died July 4. She was 43. Cunningham joined Nosy Crow as publisher in March 2025, following a celebrated career at Candlewick Press.
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| Katie Cunningham (photo: Erin Cunningham) |
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She began her career at Candlewick as an intern in 2003, and rose to become senior v-p, editorial, and associate publisher. Among the debut works she identified and developed were the award-winning Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love; Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, illustrated by Scott Magoonwhich; and Kenneth M. Cadow's Gather. She also acquired and edited books by author-illustrator Matt Tavares, poet Charles R. Smith Jr., and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, among many others.
"Every child deserves a favorite book," Cunningham once said, summing up her child-first editorial philosophy.
"It's difficult to convey not only Katie's extraordinary talent as an editor and publisher, but also the light she brought into every room and every interaction," said Nosy Crow president John Mendelson. "Her energy, vision, and profound empathy were unique. She was kind and funny. She was a good friend. Her passing is an enormous loss, not only to us at Nosy Crow, but to the entire industry and to future readers. I am heartbroken for us all."
Kate Wilson, group CEO of Nosy Crow, commented: "Every one of us who had anything to do with Katie knows how magnificent she was. Her integrity, careful thought, and shining vitality leave a profound mark. I count it a privilege and inspiration to have shared as much time as I did with her."
Liz Bicknell, former executive v-p, executive editorial director, and associate publisher at Candlewick and Cunningham's mentor, observed: "Having worked with Katie for more than two decades, I knew her to be a brilliant editor of vision and integrity as well as a generous, caring colleague impossible not to respect and love. While the majority of her career was at Candlewick Press, I know she would have gone on to even greater heights as publisher at Nosy Crow. I'm personally devastated to lose her, and I am heartbroken for the world of children's literature that her daring and passion for the best books has been cut short far, far too soon."
"Katie and I started at Candlewick more than 20 years ago," Candlewick editorial director Kate Fletcher recalled, "and I was lucky enough to call her a dear friend as well as a colleague. Katie was kind, generous, and always eager to jump in and offer support. Her gift for connecting with creators and bringing out their best work was truly remarkable. I know she will be missed by co-workers, creators, and anyone lucky enough to have known her."
Belinda Rasmussen, president and publisher of Walker Books Group, parent company of Candlewick Press, said, "Katie was an extraordinary publisher--the books she leaves behind are a testament to her talent and vision. But it was her wisdom, warmth, and empathy that made her presence a gift to us all--and her absence all the more deeply felt. The world is a lesser place without her."
Cunningham was also beloved by the creators whose work and careers she fostered. Gather author Cadow said, "There was simply nothing like being believed in by Katie. She made the hard work of writing, of addressing 3,500 edits, of painstaking page break design fun. I knew I was a part of something beautiful and energetic and good, working with her. I also really appreciated her permission to take off my uncomfortable shoes at the National Book Awards and wear clogs. (This was because Katie was wearing sneakers.) Who could make you laugh so hard, and also be so effective at calling people, systems, governments on their BS?"
Tavares noted that Cunningham "was my editor for 17 years. She was a brilliant editor, and more importantly, a dear friend. During those years, I watched her rise to senior vice-president. But I don't think she ever cared much about her job title. Her only professional ambition was to make great books. She will be missed by so many people who loved her, but I know her legacy will live on in all the books she helped put into the world, and in her son, and in all the lives she made better. I know that to so many of us in the children's book world who knew her, Katie wasn't just a coworker, or an editor. She was family."
In the years following her diagnosis, Cunningham worked to bring attention to ovarian cancer research and fundraising. Two months ago, she wrote: "I hope you have never had a cancer diagnosis touch your life, but if you have or if you will, I want you to have every piece of weaponry humanity can dream up. I want you to have every tool to fight like hell to get to the other side. I don't know if I'm on the other side, but I know where I am is absolutely beautiful."
A funeral will be held at Unitarian Church at 80 Main Street in Hudson, Mass., at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 11. In lieu of flowers, her family has suggested donations in her memory to the Pan Mass Challenge: Katie's Ride, Team Ovarian Cancer, MGH Cancer Center, or the Center for Coastline Studies. Memories of Cunningham, which are being compiled to share with her family, friends, and colleagues, may be e-mailed to phoebe@nosycrow.com.