Richard Jackson (22) (1935–2019)

Richard Jackson discovered some of the most significant authors in the field of youth literature, including Judy Blume, Paula Fox, George Ella Lyon, Virginia Hamilton, Chris Raschka, Angela Johnson, and Brian Floca. He has brought forth writers who have challenged and widened the range of acceptable topics for youth literature, as well as authors and illustrators who have broadened the reach of multicultural youth publishing.

Jackson co-founded Bradbury Press in 1968, Orchard in 1986, and DK Ink in 1996. He retired from publishing in June 2005, but continued to be the Editorial Director of Richard Jackson Books, an imprint of Atheneum Books for Young Readers. In his forty-eight year career, Jackson published many award-winning authors and illustrators, and launched many young careers. Citations for works he has edited or published include: sixteen Newbery or Newbery Honors; five Caldecott or Caldecott Honors; one National Book Award, two Coretta Scott King Medals or honors; one Edgar Award, two Sibert Honors, seven Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards or honors; one Scott O’Dell Award; one Charlotte Zolotow Award, and two Mildred Batchelder Awards.

He has served as the Chairman of the Children’s Book Council, gave the 2005 Arbuthnot Honor lecture, and has been honored with a LMP Award for Editorial Excellence and in March, 2002, the Otter Award, given by the booksellers of Northern California.