WW Norton Expands Young Readers Line with New Waverly Imprint

After 103 years, W.W. Norton is now looking to expand their young readers and children's titles to grow with today's readers. A new trade imprint for young readers is being introduced at W.W. Norton, 8 years after they announced their Young Readers imprint. The Norton Waverly will officially launch in the spring of 2027 and is looking to publish at least 6 titles a year.

The imprint aims to reach readers from early to middle childhood and teenage years who share a love of good storytelling, seeking "singular and satisfying reading experiences, with themes to spark dialogue and engagement across the generations," as its website states. The namesake comes from where William Warder Norton and Mary Dows Herter Norton, the founders of W.W . Norton, first lived: 109 Waverly Place in New York City. It was their first home as newlyweds and also the home where they started their publishing company. 

The recent addition is spearheaded by Karen Lotz, who joined the company just last year in September as the Director of Children's Books and Strategic Development. Now, after nearly a year with Norton, she's looking to expand their reach to multi-generational readers and have a wide range of readers to cater to. 

This wouldn't be the first partnership for Lotz and DiCamillo, as they have worked together in the past: when Lotz was with Candlewick from 1999 to 2023 as the President and Founding U.S. publisher, and was the group managing director of Walker Books, Candlewick's parent company, from 2010 to 2023, she was DiCamillo's international publisher.

“The True Story of Edith Leapyear, Child Outlaw: As Told by Herself” by Kate DiCamillo will be the imprint's first title (Pub date: April 6, 2027). The fictional memoir was picked up by Lotz this past April for the world English rights and is targeted towards middle-aged readers 8-12. DiCamillo is a two-time Newbery Medalist who stated to the Bookseller she is "deeply moved that The True Story of Edith Leapyear will be the first book to bear the Norton Waverly imprint. I believe in the power of stories to connect us, to change us. This imprint embodies that belief."

Other titles within the Waverly lineup are said to be the “Heir to Magic” duology by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis, the debut novel of Agathe Chave-Lucas, "The Many Revolutions of Sophie Germain," and two untitled books by Autumn Loyal Watkins.

Julia Reidhead, W.W. Norton's President and Chairman, told The Bookseller that the company began as a way to seek out "readers across all backgrounds and experiences in a dialogue with the great ideas of their time." Lotz agrees, saying, "We want our books, with the high quality of their content and artwork, to be friendly for teachers, librarians, and story times."