Atheneum Books
| Company type | Imprint |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Founder | Alfred A. Knopf Jr., Simon Michael Bessie, Hiram Haydn |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster |
Atheneum Books is a publishing firm located in New York City, established in 1959 by Alfred A. Knopf Jr., Simon Michael Bessie, and Hiram Haydn. Since 1994, it has operated under the ownership of Simon & Schuster, which also created Atheneum Books for Young Readers as a dedicated children’s literature imprint during the 2000s.
History
After departing from his family’s publishing enterprise, Alfred A. Knopf Jr. co-founded Atheneum Books alongside Simon Michael Bessie and Hiram Haydn. The press issued works by distinguished Pulitzer Prize recipients including Edward Albee, Charles Johnson, James Merrill, Nikki Giovanni, Mona Van Duyn, and Theodore H. White. Among its notable publications was Ernest Gaines' first novel, Catherine Carmier (1964). In 1961, editor Jean E. Karl established the Children's Book Department at Atheneum. The company expanded by acquiring the reprint publisher Russell & Russell in 1965.
In 1978, Atheneum combined forces with Charles Scribner's Sons, resulting in The Scribner Book Company and the acquisition of Rawson Associates. Subsequently, Scribner was purchased by Macmillan in 1984, which itself was acquired by Simon & Schuster in 1994. Following this acquisition, Atheneum’s adult book catalog was consolidated into Scribner, while Scribner’s children’s titles were integrated into Atheneum.
During the 2000s, Atheneum Books for Young Readers released the acclaimed May Bird fantasy series beginning with May Bird and the Ever After (2005), as well as the Olivia picture book series featuring the character Olivia the pig (launched in 2000). The title The Higher Power of Lucky earned the 2007 Newbery Medal. Furthermore, Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery was selected among the National Education Association’s Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children in 2007.
Publications
External links
- Atheneum Books for Young Readers, a Simon & Schuster imprint
- Articles with short description
- Book publishing companies based in New York (state)
- Book publishing company imprints
- Children's book publishers
- Fantasy book publishers
- Simon & Schuster
- American companies established in 1959
- Publishing companies established in 1959
- 1959 establishments in New York City
- 1984 mergers and acquisitions
- 1994 mergers and acquisitions