Janet Schulman facts for kids

Janet Schulman (born September 16, 1933 – died February 11, 2011) was an important author and editor of children's books. She worked for major publishing companies like Macmillan Publishers and Random House. Janet Schulman helped famous writers like Dr. Seuss and Virginia Hamilton share their stories. She also played a big part in promoting popular books, including Watership Down.

Her Career in Publishing

Janet Schulman started her career in publishing in 1959 when she moved to New York City. She joined Macmillan Publishers in their advertising department. She worked on many different types of books.

Focusing on Children's Books

Janet became very interested in children's literature. She even helped rewrite one of C. S. Lewis' famous The Chronicles of Narnia books. This experience made her decide to focus on books for young readers. She helped create one of the first paperback book collections just for children.

A Big Success with Watership Down

Janet Schulman was in charge of marketing Watership Down. This book was a huge success! It was the first children's novel to appear on New York Times bestseller list. This was a big achievement for children's literature.

A Challenge at Macmillan

In 1974, Macmillan Publishers let go of many employees, including Janet. She and eight other women felt they were not treated fairly. Janet believed she was let go because she helped start a group to support women in the company. She spoke out about this situation.

Moving to Random House

After leaving Macmillan, Janet Schulman joined Random House in the 1980s. She continued her important work in children's books. She became an editor for well-known authors like Dr. Seuss and Virginia Hamilton. She also became a director and publisher for several of Random House's children's book divisions.

Helping Beginner Readers

In 1984, Janet helped Random House create a new series of paperback books. These books were special because they were designed for beginner readers. They were also the first books to show the reading level right on the cover. This helped kids and parents choose the right books. In 1994, she stepped down from her main roles but continued to work for Random House as a Vice President-at-large.

Her Passing

Janet Schulman passed away on February 11, 2011, in New York City. She was 77 years old. Her work greatly influenced the world of children's books.