Gina Gagliano to start Random House Graphic, a new kids GN line at PRH

The musical chairs continue!!!!  But this is the big one: Gina Gagliano, a key architect of First Second’s rise, is moving over to Penguin Random House as Publishing Director of a new line of kids and YA GNs, Random House Graphic. 

The line will launch in 2019 with both kids and YA titles, with a mix of literary and commercial titles, adding its own team .

While PRH starting its own kids GN line is huge enough, Gagliano getting to head it up is huge in many ways as well. Gagliano was recently promoted to associate director for marketing and publicity at First Second, a well deserved reflection of her 13 years at the imprint.

Gagliano (who is a Beat contributor with the podcast Graphic Novel TK) is one of the key behind the scenes players in comics, expanding far beyond her role with First Second to work with shows, programming, tours, libraries, secret action groups and countless other things. She’s also worked with Vera Brosgol, Ben Hatke, Faith Erin Hicks, Lucy Knisley, Scott McCloud, Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki, Tillie Walden, Jen Wang, and Gene Luen Yang, helping make their books the award-winning perennials.

In short, no one is better equipped to run a line of kids comics from the publishing powerhouse of PRH.

“From awards to bestsellers, graphic novels have been advancing from success to success over the past decade. It’s the perfect time to take the next step forward with a kids comics imprint at Random House,” says Gagliano. “I’m excited to be part of building a brighter future for the medium—one where there are comics for every reader, in every home, on everyone’s bookshelves—with Random House Graphic.”

Their current line-up of kids/YA graphic novels includes such series as Lucy & Andy Neanderthal by Jeffrey Brown, Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, Rickety Stitch by Ben Costa and James Parks, 5 Worlds by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel, and illustrated by Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller, and Boya Sun, and Hilo by Judd Winick, and stand-alone titles including The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell.

The news was announced by Barbara Marcus, President & Publisher, Random House Children’s Books. Gagliano will report to SVP, Associate Publisher, Judith Haut.

 “It is a truly exciting and important time of growth for comics and graphic novels within the kids market, and we see a distinct opportunity to reach even more readers,” says Haut. “We are thrilled to have Gina, with her creativity, expertise, and passion for the medium, at the helm of our new venture.”