Esteemed children’s book editor Christine Baker, a key figure in both English- and French-language children’s publishing, died April 20 after a short illness. She was 71.
Baker was born in Sens, France in 1952. She studied French literature and worked as a bookseller in her native country before accepting a position at specialty bookshop The Children’s Book Centre in London. She married the store’s manager, Robin Baker, in 1977, and the couple later welcomed two daughters.
In 1978, when French publishing house Gallimard launched its children’s division, Gallimard Jeunesse, Baker came on board. She remained based in London and worked with the company’s legendary publisher Pierre Marchand until his death in 2002 and then continued working with current CEO Hedwige Pasquet.
During her 44-year tenure with Gallimard Jeunesse, where she was most recently editorial director, Baker was widely respected for her keen market sense and her efforts to bring the best English-language authors and illustrators to French readers. Among her discoveries were J.K. Rowling—Baker was the first non-English-speaking editor to buy Harry Potter, according to the Parisien—Philip Pullman, Quentin Blake, Michael Morpugo, Julia Donaldson, and Axel Scheffler.
In a statement, Gallimard Jeunesse shared this tribute: “Always guided by a quest for excellence and innovation, Christine tirelessly developed and expanded the Gallimard Jeunesse list, creating unique cultural diversity across both fiction and nonfiction for all ages, shaping the minds of generations of French children. Her role as a bridge between two languages, English and French, was unique and irreplaceable.”
A funeral service for Baker will be held in London on Friday, May 12, at 2 p.m. at St. George’s Church, Aubrey Walk, Campden Hill.
