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Isobel Doster is joining Simon & Schuster Children’s Books as picture books editorial director in July 2023. She will report to picture books publisher Helen Mackenzie Smith as the team looks to build on recent UK picture book TCM and market share growth.
Since 2021, Doster has worked at Hachette Children’s Group where she is currently editorial director for colour non-fiction, with responsibility for key acquisitions across the Laurence King, Wren & Rook and Hodder Children’s lists, as well as developing IP publishing. She has commissioned talent including Em Lynas, Freya Hartas, Aysha Awwad, Peter Bently and Tim Budgen, and looked after authors such as Lu Fraser and Onjali Q Raúf.
Prior to this, she worked at Bloomsbury for six years, with highlights including the strategic management of Kate Pankhurst’s Fantastically Great Women series and the acquisition of Grown: The Black Girls’ Guide to Glowing Up, which was shortlisted for Children’s Non-fiction Book of the Year at the 2022 British Book Awards.
Doster said: "The S&S picture book list is one of the best in the industry, known for publishing funny, moving and completely immersive books that children love to read. I hugely admire Helen Mackenzie Smith and the creative team’s commitment to exceptional writing, nurturing brilliant partnerships and discovering the most exciting new talent. I can’t wait to help grow the list in the UK and internationally."
Smith added: "We are so delighted to welcome Isobel to Simon & Schuster. She has a terrific eye for the very best, child-focused books and I know she’s going to bring so much to our fantastic team."
Rachel Denwood, managing director at Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, commented: "Under Helen Mackenzie Smith’s direction we have been on an impressive growth trajectory for several years.
"This area is of critical importance to us, we are passionate about picture books at Simon & Schuster, and I’m delighted that we have attracted a publisher of Isobel’s talent, commerciality and reputation as we embark on this next phase."