Aladdin Paperbacks

**Aladdin Paperbacks** is one of several children's-book imprints owned by Simon & Schuster.

It was established by Jean E. Karl at Atheneum Books where she was the founding director of the children's department (1961). Atheneum merged with or was acquired by Scribner's in 1978, then MacMillan in 1984, before the acquisition by Simon & Schuster in 1994.

There may have been previous uses of 'Aladdin' as a brand name in the book industry.

## Remit

Aladdin Paperbacks are aimed at readers aged 4 to 12 and most are reprints from other (hardcover) imprints, which include what Simon & Schuster term some of the most enduring children's books of the modern era. Its ranges include the "Ready-to-Read books," and the slightly older "Ready-for-Chapters" titles aimed at younger age-groups and beginners. Aladdin also publishes a "limited number" of original titles and series entries, across multiple genres including action, adventure, and relationships novels.

### Executives

The first children's book published by the dependent imprint seems to have been in 1967. Karl ran the Atheneum Books for Younger Readers, Aladdin, and Argo imprints until she retired in 1985.

In October, 2002, Eloise Flood was appointed to the newly created position of "Vice President and Publisher" of Simon & Schuster's Children's Publishing Paperback Group, the role encompassing both the Aladdin Paperbacks and Simon Pulse imprints.
As of April, 2008, the current executives overseeing the entire Children's division currently include Rick Richter (President), Robin Corey, who holds the title of "Executive Vice President & Publisher, Novelty & Media Tie-Ins, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing," and Liesa Abrams, a Senior Editor.

## Books

Titles include:

* The Henry and Mudge Series by Cynthia Rylant and Suçie Stevenson
* *Strega Nona* by Tomie dePaola
* The *Shiloh* trilogy by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
* The *Pendragon* series by D. J. MacHale
* The *Bunnicula* books by James Howe
* The *Canterwood Crest* series by Jessica Burkhart
* The *Dork Diaries* series by Rachel Renee Russell
* The Goddess Girls series by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
* *The Melting of Maggie Bean* by Tricia Rayburn
* The Story Thieves series by James Riley
* The Half Upon a Time series by James Riley

### The Splashinis Series (in collaboration with Splashinis Consumer Products)

* The *Lady in Pink* series by Joe Horne
* The *The Backyardigans* series by Victor Cook
* The *Agent Secret* series by Steve Wolderman
* The *The Snow Fort* series by Jonathan Anderson
* The *Ryan & Isabella* series by Peter Robinson

### Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Series

* Nancy Drew, Girl Detective series by Carolyn Keene
* Hardy Boys, Undercover Brothers series by Franklin W. Dixon
* Nancy Drew Diaries series by Carolyn Keene
* Hardy Boys Adventure series by Franklin W. Dixon

Arguably, Aladdin's (and parent Simon & Schuster's) best-known titles are the later (non-Grosset & Dunlap published) titles in several of the Hardy Boys (written under the pen name Franklin W. Dixon) and Nancy Drew (written under the name Carolyn Keene) series, including the original series and the more recent lines.

## References

1. ↑ Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. Simon&Schuster.biz. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved on September 26, 2010.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 About Simon & Schuster's Publishing Divisions and Imprints: Children's. Simon&Schuster.biz. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved on September 26, 2010.
Jean Karl, 72; A Publisher Of Books For Children (obituary). 2000-04-03. Eden Ross Lipson. *The New York Times*. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
Karl, Jean (Edna) **Script error: No such module "webarchive".**. Summer 2006. Alan Jalowitz. Pennsylvania Center for the Book. Penn State University. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
Birthday Bios: Jean E. Karl **Script error: No such module "webarchive".**. No date. Vicki Palmquist. Children's literature network. (c) 2002–2008.
Retrieved October 21, 2011.
6. ↑ Eloise Flood Named Vice President, Publisher Of Simon & Schuster Children's Paperback Publishing Program (October 1, 2002). Retrieved on April 3, 2008.
7. ↑ Young Adult Novel Writing Course run by Lisa Abrams. Northwestern University. Retrieved on September 26, 2010.

## External links

* Aladdin Paperbacks website
* Details at JacketFlap.com