Secret spice from a lobster shack in NYC.
Here is a list of selected publisher clients, along with some reviews of books I’ve edited or co-edited.
I helped edit the following titles for Readers to Eaters (a San Francisco-based children’s book publisher specializing in food literacy): Cynthia Lair’s Feeding the Young Athlete (2012); Rick Swann and Christy Hale’s Our School Garden (2012); Katherine Pryor and Anna Raff’s Sylvia’s Spinach (2014) and Zora’s Zucchini (2015); Eric-Shabazz Larkin’s A Moose Boosh: A Few Choice Words About Food, a 2015 ALA Notable Book; Kim Binczewski and Bethany Econopouly’s Bread Lab! (2018), illustrated by Hayelin Choi; and The Thing About Bees by Shabazz Larkin (2019).
The Thing About Bees by Shabazz Larkin
Readers to Eaters
(September 2019)
★ “In a holistic—and wholly original—treatment, Larkin spins a buoyant monologue to his (actual) young sons about why bees are to be valued and how they are analogous to rambunctious children; the narrative is threaded with unconditional love for both subjects.” ―Starred Review, School Library Journal
“Starring an affectionate family and a whole lot of bees, Larkin offers up a sparkling celebration of necessary pollinators…” ―Publishers Weekly
“Larkin delivers a love poem to bees and his children… The playful tone set in [the] first sentence carries throughout this loosely rhymed book… This paean to bees is just the ticket.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Bread Lab! by Kim Binczewski and Bethany Econopouly, illustrated by Hayelin Choi
Readers to Eaters
(September 11, 2018)
“Sensory details of sounds, smells and tastes throughout the story intrigue readers and the facts about bread are organically introduced… A fun way to introduce food science and bread making to young readers.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Choi’s soft, warm cartoon illustrations add levity to Binczewski and Econopouly’s winsome, pun-filled text and help illuminate not only the steps involved but also some of the science.... Curious culinarily inclined kiddos will want to take a bite out of this.” ―Booklist
A Moose Boosh: A Few Choice Words About Food by Eric-Shabazz Larkin
Readers to Eaters
(October 7, 2014)
A 2015 ALA Notable Children’s Book
“Very funny book.” –Michael Pollan
“In 40+ energetic poems, Larkin celebrates the good and decries the bad in the food world... A kid-friendly companion to Michael Pollan’s Food Rules.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Karin has been my go-to editorial advisor for years. She has a sixth sense for a good story, a keen eye for details, and is a creative problem solver. She makes every project better and is a great collaborator, in the most professional and encouraging way. She’s a great asset for every publisher or writer.” —Philip Lee, co-founder and publisher, Readers to Eaters
Enchanted Lion Books is a Brooklyn-based independent children’s book publisher of gorgeous illustrated books from around the world. I co-edited The Elephant by Jenni Desmond (third in her award-winning nonfiction series after The Blue Whale and The Polar Bear) and co-translated the French picture book Jerome By Heart, by Thomas Scotto, which won a 2019 Batchelder Honor.
The Elephant by Jenni Desmond
Enchanted Lion Books
(September 25, 2018)
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2018
A 2018 EUREKA! Honor Award Winner
The Children’s Book Review Best Non-Fiction Picture Book of 2018
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Gift Guide Selection of 2018
A Capitol Choices Book of 2019
Selected for the 2019 Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) Choices List
★ “There are quite a few children’s books about these magnificent, endangered mammals, and this one is among the best. The text covers elephant territory, anatomy, behaviors, and more, ending with comparisons between sleep for elephants and sleep for humans―a perfect ending for a well-executed book. A must-have for anyone who loves elephants.” ―Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
★ “An affectionate and informative celebration of two magnificent species.” ―Starred Review, Publishers Weekly and a PW Best Book of 2018
★ “Desmond’s illustrations are show-stoppers... A memorable introduction to a living wonder.” ―Starred Review, Booklist
★ Starred Review, The Horn Book
Jerome By Heart by Thomas Scotto, illustrated by Olivier Tallec, translated from French by Claudia Bedrick and Karin Snelson
Enchanted Lion Books
(April 3, 2018)
A New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2018
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2018
A Brain Pickings Best Children’s Book of 2018
A 2018 New York Public Library Best Books for Kids Selection
“Originally published in France, this gentle, sweet-spirited story is a testament to the power of childhood friendship and the timeless power of love. The softly colored cartoonlike illustrations by Tallec perfectly capture the mood and spirit of the text, deftly translated by Bedrick and Snelson. The result is a book to treasure.” ―Michael Cart, Booklist
★ “Subtle, joyous, affirming.” ―Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
“A small boy’s passion for his best friend is expressed in heart-rendingly direct terms in this enchanting book.” ―The New York Times
My Fluorescent God: A Memoir by Joe Guppy
Twirling Dog Press
(August 7, 2014)
Finalist for the 2015 Pacific Northwest Book Award
A 2015 Nonfiction Winner of the Kirkus Prize
★ “Beautifully written, honest, enlightening, hope-giving and valuable—essential for anyone interested in or struggling with mental health issues.” —Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
BEASTS!
Fantagraphics Books
(February 26, 2007)
A classic mythological menagerie, comprised only of creatures that were thought at one time to actually exist, depicted by about a hundred acclaimed artists and cartoonists.
“Really kick-ass, fun and well-done.” —The Comics Reporter
“Another stroke of genius from the folks at Fantagraphics.” —Boston Globe
“The Best Cryptozoo Art Book of 2007” —Cryptomundo.com
“I am more than happy to suggest you as a meticulous, patient, and wonderful editor any chance I get to any audience I corner.” —Jacob Covey, Fantagraphics Books designer and curator of Beasts!
Helped develop, edit and shepherd a series of illustrated chapter books (pre-graphic novels) about pint-sized superheroes for Harcourt Children’s Books.
“Karin Snelson is the consummate publishing professional. She is extraordinarily skilled as an editor, writer, and project manager. Karin’s professional talents are all the more formidable (and unusual) in that she has both big-picture focus and razor-sharp vision that takes in the nuts-and-bolts details. As deputy publisher/executive managing editor for Harcourt Children’s Books, I worked closely with Karin on a complicated project that required her to juggle several new titles at once on an impossibly tight deadline. The scope of the project also required her to task, motivate, and track an army of writers, designers, marketing colleagues, various executives, and others to move quickly and steadily forward. It’s testimony to Karin’s organizational skills that she managed to keep the project on track while shaping the content brilliantly—and it’s also to her credit that she did so with grace and good humor. Karin is both revered and beloved by those who have had the good fortune to work with her. I recommend her heartily.” —Robin Cruise (former deputy publisher of Harcourt Children’s Books)
Edited a series of 20 children’s mystery novels, which involved project management, series design and developmental editing.
“Karin Snelson did an excellent job as the Wright Group’s editorial coordinator for our Woodland Mysteries. This series of 20 children’s chapter books was revised and updated with new illustrations, requiring complex style guides and illustration specifications. Karin organized all the complicated layers of this project, working well with both our editorial and art departments. We also appreciated her skillful, mature approach in working with the author of this series. Karin was a pleasure to work with in all regards, with a pleasant, helpful, and always professional attitude as well as superb editing and writing abilities. —Marcie Bovetz (former senior editor at the Wright Group—now owned by McGraw Hill Education)
