About Simon Spotlight

Simon Spotlight is an imprint devoted to licensed properties, brands, and original paperback series, publishing across a wide array of formats and age ranges. From board books to storybooks, unique novelty books to chapter books, and every format in between, Simon Spotlight is dedicated to creating innovative publishing programs that are specially tailored to each brand and its identity.

For media tie-ins, Simon Spotlight has a proven track record with television properties such as OLIVIA, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Batman, and PJ Masks and blockbuster movies such as The Peanuts Movie, Kung Fu Panda 3, and Hotel Transylvania 2. The tie-ins capture the spirit of the brand and provide young fans with great stories featuring their favorite characters. The various formats also appeal to children with different reading levels and interests.

Spotlight also houses Simon & Schuster’s Ready-to-Read program, a line specifically dedicated to emerging readers, which includes the popular series Robin Hill School, Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, and many others. Spotlight's leveled nonfiction readers such as History of Fun Stuff, Science of Fun Stuff, and Living In... bring fun to learning.

In addition to licensed tie-ins, Spotlight also publishes original paperback series for readers of all ages, with a focus on middle grade. These titles include the successful Cupcake Diaries, Sew Zoey, and Billy Sure Kid Entrepreneur series.

Simon Spotlight is one of the leading mass-market imprints in the children’s book industry.

Our Team

Valerie Garfield, Vice President, Publisher of Novelty and Licensed Publishing used to get into trouble for reading way, way past her bedtime, but once she started a book she just had to finish it. She still reads that way, even if it means a lot of 3:30 a.m. bedtimes. Her favorite childhood series was Paddington Bear, and today her office houses a few Paddington bears she can’t bear to part with.

Siobhan Ciminera, Vice President, Editorial Director once read a book at a baseball game. The pitcher ended up pitching a no-hitter, but she kept reading—the book was even more exciting! Her favorite childhood author was Shel Silverstein who made her laugh, cry, and dream big.

Lisa Rao, Executive Editor knew she was destined to work in publishing when she was the only one of her friends who asked for books for Christmas. Lisa’s favorite book was The Secret Garden which she read and reread over and over again. A close second was The Little Prince which contains her favorite quote, “What is essential is invisible to the eye.”

Beth Barton, Senior Editor has always been a bookworm and dreamed of working in publishing from a young age. As a child, she escaped the Arizona heat by heading to the local used bookstore, ice cream cone in hand, to add to her carefully curated “library” at home. She loved old books about spirited girls in faraway places, like the Little House in the Big Woods and Anne of Green Gables series. To this day, ice cream still tastes better with a book!

Lisa Lauria, Editor hated playing kickball at summer camp so much,  she would sit on the sidelines and read instead. She spent her childhood looking forward to weekly bookstore trips with her mom to buy the latest Sweet Valley High book. Nancy Drew original hardcover books were a favorite from the library, and her most favorite book is a tie between Ramona and her Father and Blubber.

Sally Hosokawa, Associate Editor always thought that she wanted to be an author and illustrator. After reading The School Story by Andrew Clements, though, she decided that editorial publishing was her dream job! Today, Sally enjoys reading books in English and Japanese. Every time she sees a bookstore, she can’t walk by it without first pressing her nose up against the shop window.”

Nicole Fox, Assistant Editor spent the majority of her childhood in a cupboard under the stairs (just like Harry Potter) reading Harry Potter. Nicole still enjoys reading; taking long walks with her schnauzer, Gatsby; rock climbing; and escaping the city into nature at every opportunity.

Libros Para Niños

Libros Para Niños is a Spanish-language imprint of the children’s division, publishing simultaneous editions of our popular books.

Including Spanish language and bilingual books, the publishing list includes translations of classic storybooks and best-selling English titles from such great authors as Karen Katz, Lauren Thompson, and Sandra Boynton, in addition to translated media tie-ins from popular television series and movies.

Click here to browse our latest titles.