Shelf Awareness joins Greenwillow Books in celebrating 50 years of publishing books for children of any age. To celebrate this milestone—and Greenwillow's mission to make honesty, emotion, and depth the heart of every book—Children's Literature Legacy Award and Caldecott Medal winner Kevin Henkes designed a beautiful new 50th anniversary logo that was inspired by Janina Domanska's illustrations in Under the Green Willow, by Elizabeth Coatsworth.

Virginia Duncan is the vice president and publisher of Greenwillow Books. She edits a wide range of titles for readers of all ages. 2025 marks her 28th year at the imprint.

Virginia Duncan

Greenwillow Books was founded by Susan Hirschman on December 16, 1974, and published its first list in the fall of 1975. Hundreds of award-winning, bestselling, high-quality, boundary-breaking, entertaining, informational, joyful, and child-friendly books followed, all with one common thread: a deep and abiding respect for young readers, whether they are two or ten or sixteen.

The original Greenwillow staff: Ada Shearon, Libby Shub, Ava Weiss, and Susan Hirschman

Now as Greenwillow celebrates 50 years of publishing—HOORAY!—and as we sow the seeds for many more, we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on our distinguished backlist ("Wow, that's just about all I can say!") and on our phenomenal and beloved authors and artists past, present, and future. May we all continue to thrive and grow under the Greenwillow!

The Crews Family (Photo: Courtesy of Gordon Trice)

The Crews family—Donald Crews, Ann Jonas (1932–2013), and their daughter, Nina Crews—have between them published nearly 50 books with Greenwillow during the last 50 years. Here, father and daughter share some bookmaking memories.

Nina Crews: You first published with Greenwillow in 1978, just a few years after the imprint was founded. Could you talk a bit about those early years?

Donald Crews: Picture books were a part of my life before I met the principals who became Greenwillow. I created We Read: A-Z as a portfolio inclusion while still in the service. One of the first art directors I met was Ava Weiss at Macmillan. She recommended me to Libby Shub at Harper & Row, where I also met Susan Hirschman.

On to Greenwillow: our business, Ann's and mine, was freelance design. First, as a design team, Ann and I did book jackets and whatever assignments Greenwillow offered. I illustrated several texts, including Rain by Robert Kalan, which is still in print today. The Greenwillow team—now Susan, Ava, and Libby—gently encouraged me to do something of my own, and Freight Train, Truck, and more followed.

Enthusiasm is a word that defines Greenwillow. The meeting where I showed Freight Train was brief and Susan only looked at half of it before accepting it. That's the type of response you want but don't usually receive. Ava and Libby were equally effusive. That kind of energy ran—and runs—through Greenwillow old and new.

Nina Crews: I agree. Mom's first two books with Greenwillow were published in 1982. Can you talk a bit about her beginnings?

Donald Crews: Our freelance work was slowing down as I focused more on picture books. After encouragement from me (along with Susan and Ava), Ann decided to try her hand at picture books. She thrived. Two Bear Cubs, When You Were a Baby, Round Trip (of course), and many others would not have happened without that Greenwillow openness, enthusiasm, and "we are all in this together" attitude.

Nina Crews: I see two primary sources of inspiration for Mom's books: her experience raising her daughters and her love of puzzles and wordplay. Color Dance is a perfect synthesis of the two—the dance recitals of our childhood and color mixing.

Donald Crews: What about you? 

Nina Crews: It was your encouragement and Susan and Ava's openness and enthusiasm that led me to my first book (celebrating 30 years in print!), One Hot Summer Day. After The Neighborhood Sing-Along, I had a long gap between books with Greenwillow. They continued to support my backlist, but my new proposals weren't right for them.

But in 2020, as I was looking to take my work in a new direction, I told my agent that I'm Not Small seemed like something Virginia Duncan might like, a "Greenwillow" book. It's a simple story with a spare text, told from a young child's perspective. Simplicity and spareness are the hallmarks of so many fantastic Greenwillow picture books, including yours.

It has been great to "come back home" and to work with Virginia and Sylvie Le Floc'h again. They are enthusiastic collaborators; giving me the space and support I've needed. I'll have a book on Greenwillow's 2025 list too, Big Family Beach Day.

Emma Hunsinger is the author and artist of How It All Ends, which was an Indie Next Pick, received five starred reviews, and was named to six "best of the year" lists. She is also the creator of the comic "How to Draw a Horse," which was nominated for an Eisner Award and included in the prestigious annual "Cartoon Takeover" print edition of the New Yorker. She lives with her family in Vermont.

Emma Hunsinger

It seems that your first graphic novel follows a similarly atmospheric trajectory to "How to Draw a Horse." What does that feel like?

To be honest, it was pretty unexpected in both cases. I'm just so thrilled to be making comics that were published. So, the rest feels like gravy.

How It All Ends weaves together family, friends, and school in a way that feels realistic and natural. How did you balance these topics?

I vividly remember the way time at home blended into time at school. And that balance is important because who we are at home is different from who we are in the classroom. Who we are can even change based on which friend we're with. Showing the range of a teenager's life validates that feeling of "containing multitudes." 

Your characters are super expressive. How do you capture that in your illustrations?

I sit at my desk and contort my face for hours. Funny enough, I don't do it in front of a mirror. I did a lot of penciling for this book in the Dartmouth College library. So not only was I a townie in the library, but I was also a townie in the library mugging for hours.

Could you tell readers a bit about the decisions you made around your color palette?

I wanted to make something that could only be a graphic novel, and having a color story was part of that. Blue represents reality and red represents imagination. I used yellow when it felt "right." I think that's what makes it work. The reader doesn't have to decode it; they can just feel.

What were the editorial and design processes with Greenwillow like?

My editor, Martha Mihalick, was so patient with me as I learned on the job. Over the course of two years, I made about three rough drafts, then a pencil draft, then did the final art. Martha helped me level up my storytelling in a way I never could have managed on my own. Art director Paul Zakris and I collaborated closely, especially on the cover design and title treatment. It means a lot to me to have a say in how the reader enters the book before the story starts.

Are you working on anything new?

Yes, my second graphic novel! I'm so honored to be part of Greenwillow. I was a huge Amelia Bedelia fan as a child, so I like to tell people I'm part of the "House of Bedelia."

Is there anything else you'd like to say to Shelf readers?

I've gotten incredible notes from booksellers and those compliments hit different. To have someone who is always reading books tell you they liked your book is special. Thank you all for reading! I look forward to making so many more books for you. ♥️

The Greenwillow staff and two Greenwillow authors with new books on the 50th anniversary list share some exciting upcoming titles with readers!

Sun Bird: The Amazing Journey of the Arctic Tern by Lindsay Moore ($19.99, ages 4-8, 9780063061002, February 18, 2025)

"In this beautifully told and beautifully drawn real-life epic, Lindsay Moore shares her deep love for our world. I was convinced she had painted the opening spread from within the Arctic Ocean, looking up at the watery sun. Though being a watercolorist myself, I am fairly sure that is not possible. A wondrous picture book." —Lynne Rae Perkins, Newbery Medal winner and author of At Home in a Faraway Place

Be the Light: How She Became Angela Davis by Daria Peoples ($19.99, ages 4-8, 9780063206786, May 7, 2025)

"Be the Light shares Angela Davis's extraordinary story, brought to life by Daria Peoples's evocative writing and illustrations. It's a jaw-dropping masterpiece that bursts with hope and possibility. And the portrait of Davis that Daria painted is one of my favorite pieces of jacket art—it steals the show!" —Sylvie Le Floc'h, Associate Art Director

Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breaker by Heidi Heilig ($18.99, ages 8-12, 9780063348363, March 25, 2025)

"Heidi Heilig and I have worked on five epic teen novels together. But with her middle-grade debut, Cincinnati Lee, Curse Breaker, Heidi finally had the chance to flex her sense of humor to its fullest. And frankly, I would follow her and her irrepressible heroine into any ill-advised adventure!" —Martha Mihalick, Executive Editor

At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom by Erin Entrada Kelly ($18.99, ages 8-12, 9780063218901, May 6, 2025)

"I adore learning about forgotten women in history, and Filipino World War II spy Joey Guerrero's incredible story, especially as told by the effervescent and recent National Book Award finalist Erin Entrada Kelly, is unforgettable. I was happily led down the rabbit hole of history many times. The best part of an editor's job!" —Virginia Duncan, VP and Publisher

Cat Nap by Brian Lies ($19.99, ages 4-8, 9780062671288, September 30, 2025)

"Cat Nap by Brian Lies is a truly exceptional picture book. Brian's paintings and his 3D recreations of art from the Metropolitan Museum's collection are spectacular. He actually recreated an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic tablet, a medieval stained-glass window, and a Georgia O'Keeffe painting! But my favorite is the cat... Amazing." —Paul Zakris, Art Director

Wally Mammoth: The Sled Race by Corey R. Tabor, illus. by Dalton Webb ($12.99, ages 4-8, 9780063434912, September 2, 2025)

"Wally and his friends have a sled race. As it gathers momentum—snowballs, you might say—all three get a taste of victory. Wally Mammoth: The Sled Race is a gem, perfect for new readers who need a helping of giggles with their earliest reading adventures." —Rosanne Parry, independent bookseller and New York Times bestselling author of A Wolf Called Fire

For more information about Greenwillow Books including backlist spotlights, behind-the-scene stories, and creator profiles, please sign up for our 50th anniversary newsletter here.