Welcome to “Under the Greenwillow,” the 50th anniversary newsletter for Greenwillow Books. On December 16, 1974, Susan Hirschman founded Greenwillow Books, and for the past fifty years, we have published books for children of all ages. There have been books about trains, cars, and other things that go; about mice, cats, dogs, and all creatures furred, feathered, scaled, and hoofed; about heroes, thieves, and wizards; about family, friendship, school, and figuring out who you are—and who you can be. We hope that young readers have found friends, gone on adventures, learned something new, and most of all, enjoyed reading. Here’s to many more!
This newsletter will be sent once a month throughout 2025. In it, we’ll give you a peek at books publishing this year, offer a glimpse behind the scenes, feature conversations with authors, highlight photos and stories from our history, and more. Thank you for joining us!
And thank you to all the authors and artists who celebrated in New York City with us, and to those who sent us love and well wishes from near and far.
Comic Corner
Writing Process by Erin Entrada Kelly
Out on a Limb
Five Quick Questions with Kevin Henkes
What book do you have on your nightstand?
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
What is your favorite book from childhood?
Is This You? by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Crockett Johnson
Is there a place you haven’t been but want to visit someday?
The HarperCollins Archives
Early bird or night owl?
Neither
Pantser or Plotter?
Definitely, pantser
Remembering Our Roots
From the Archives
The original Greenwillow staff.
Fifty years later, the current Greenwillow staff at the HarperCollins offices during the Greenwillow 50th Anniversary Party.
From the Author’s Desk
With the publication of Big Changes for Plum!, author-artist Matt Phelan’s five-book series about the peppy young peacock will be complete. “It’s a wonderful thing to devote time and energy into creating a series of funny books about kindness, seeing the best in everyone, and showing children that things can work out, even if change or conflict is unavoidable,” he says. “Writing and illustrating the Plum books was a deeply joyful experience, and I hope that comes through to the readers.”
Here is a look at the big changes in Plum and his flock as they evolved from earliest idea to final design!
Lunar New Year is nearly here!
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with all the animals of the zodiac in The Year of the Cat, written by Richard Ho and illustrated by Jocelyn Li Langrand.
And Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!
Share some love with these sweet stories:
Let Me Call You Sweetheart, by Mary Lee Donovan, illustrated by Brizida Magro
Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine, by Herman Parish, illustrated by Lynne Avril
Lilly's Chocolate Heart, by Kevin Henkes
All the Things We Never Knew, by Liara Tamani
Entwined, by Heather Dixon
The Faint of Heart, by Kerilynn Wilson
New Books On Sale Soon!
Fox, Fox, and More Fox: Three Stories, by Corey Tabor, 1/7/2025
Plum to the Rescue! (paperback), by Matt Phelan, 1/7/2025
The Princess Protection Program (paperback), by Alex London, 1/14/2025
Where the Heart Should Be, by Sarah Crossan, 1/21/2025
Beep! Beep! Vehicles on the Go, by Byron Barton, 1/28/2025
Big Changes for Plum!, by Matt Phelan, 1/28/2025
A Wolf Called Fire, by Rosanne Parry, illustrated by Mónica Armiño, 2/4/2025
The Princess Protection Program #2: After Ever After, by Alex London, 2/11/2025
Where to See Our Authors This Month
January 16, 2025, Virtual Event: Elizabeth Rusch will be in conversation with her fellow YALSA Nonfiction Award Finalists, speaking about A Greater Goal. Register here.
Throughout January, online and in-person: The Rabbit hOle Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, will be celebrating the work of Vera B. Williams.