State of Children's Publishing: What's Selling and What's Not - Maya Gartner

Maya Gartner has worked in children's books at Walker, Penguin Random House, and now as an associate publisher at Phaidon Press where she's been since 2021. She specializes in acquiring unique art and design led non-fiction children's books for children ages 0-14 in a range of formats (board books, novelty books, picture books and gift books). 

Moderator TeMika Grooms asks Maya to describe a typical 'day in the life' as an associate publisher:

Maya is based in London (Phaidon is a global company with offices all over the place) where she goes into the office 3 days a week. She loves going into the office because she loves to see her colleagues. Maya project manages about 20 books at the same time and mornings are when she is working on these titles (currently those publishing out into Fall of 2028). Afternoons are when she has video meetings with her NY office colleagues.

Maya was brought up in four different countries and is interested in stories and creators from all over the world. As a kid she was obsessed with Studio Ghibli before it was well-known to her friends and classmates. As a publisher Maya continues to look globally for artists and writers who might delight kid audiences in different countries and markets. 

TeMika asks the panel how they choose what's going to be 'next' and Maya reminds us that Phaidon is traditionally an art book company, so even if she receives an amazing middle grade or YA romantasy novel submission, that is not Phaidon's forte (hopefully spelled 'phorte' internally).

Phaidon Kids doesn't focus on predicting trends but on publishing concept-driven formats where the design reinforces the story. An example Maya shares is the Our World book (by SCBWI success story and member Sue Lowell Gallion!) which is a globe-shaped geography book for younger readers.

Our World: A First Book of Geography

 by Sue Lowell Gallion, illustrated by Lisk Feng

Maya is looking for books that are technically innovative and playful, she shares a lavishly designed book all about the table of elements for older kids as well as Phaidon Children's best selling title—an interactive recipe book series with novelty/pop-up elements. 

Exploring the Elements: A Complete Guide to the Periodic Table
by Sara Gillingham, with words by Isabel Thomas

Panelists shared additional tips about submitting, what they were looking for, and how they find authors and illustrators. To view this session and hear the rest of their answers (along with every other conference session!) you can still register at https://www.scbwi.org/events/virtual-summer-conference-2026. Replays of the sessions will be available until mid-September 2026.

Spread from COOKIES an interactive recipe book (the sifter really sifts!),
part of the COOK IN A BOOK series by Lotte Nieminen