From : http://www.penguinputnam.com/static/packages/us/about/children/grosset.htm

Yes, Virginia, there really are (or we should say, were) a Mr. Grosset and a Mr. Dunlap, who started their own publishing company in 1898. In the modest words of the late George T. Dunlap, Grosset & Dunlap was begun "in the minds of Mr. Grosset and myself, more or less as a temporary gesture" after the two gentlemen were left jobless by the demise of the American Publishers Corporation.

From "this rather vague idea," Grosset & Dunlap was born, first rebinding and selling popular novels of the day at fifty cents a copy, and then, with the purchase of the renowned Stratemeyer Syndicate (currently owned by Simon & Schuster), publishing Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the Bobbsey Twins, and other tremendously successful children's series. These were probably the first mass-market series for children, and a walk into any bookstore today proves the vision of Mr. Dunlap and Mr. Grosset; the books are still widely purchased and read by young people today.

Grosset & Dunlap was in the forefront of publishing books derived from what Mr. Dunlap referred to as "the moving picture," and today Grosset still publishes movie tie-in titles. In the 1960s picture books by well-known artist Gyo Fujikawa broke new ground, being among the first to show babies and small children of different races.

The acquisition of Platt and Munk in 1977 brought to the house an icon of American culture, The Little Engine That Could. The original hardcover book still sells more than 180,000 copies a year. And from that single title, the little blue engine has developed into a program of mass market books in a variety of formats—cloth, lift-the-flap, pop-up, board books, and more.

In 1982, Grosset & Dunlap was bought by G. P. Putnam's Sons (later known as The Putnam Berkley Group), which merged with Penguin USA in 1996 to become Penguin Putnam. One of several imprints among the Books for Young Readers division, Grosset remains a mass-market publisher of children's books, issuing approximately 100 to 125 new titles a year.

Since the 1940s, in addition to the original Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, Grosset has published the Illustrated Junior Library. This collection of hardcover editions of Little Women, Tom Sawyer, and more than twenty other classics is a mainstay of practically every bookstore selling children's books.

Known for originality, quality, and value, Grosset & Dunlap currently publishes many well-known book lines, including the ALL ABOARD READING series of leveled paperpack readers and READING RAILROAD paperback 8x8s. Another Grosset series that continues to sell well is THE ZACK FILES, a chapter book series by humorist Dan Greenburg. This series is now a TV show and we will be launching the first TV tie-in book in March 2002. We have recently launched two new series. The first one is SMART ABOUT ART, an innovative new way to bring nonfiction subjects to life for kids ages 5-9.

"Written in the voice of a young student and presented in the format of a school report, the books recount events in each artist's life and offer insight into his work, using charming childlike drawings and reproductions of the artist's paintings in scrapbook-style layouts to illustrate both the stories and the artistic explanations. The result is a successful blend of fact and humor that makes sophisticated concepts completelyaccessible and even entertaining."—Booklist, starred review.

Also new for Grosset & Dunlap this spring, WHO WAS...? a biography series for kids 8-11 who are beyond easy-to-read books about famous people but not quite ready for those really long biographies. Each book is written by well regarded kid-friendly authors who know how to make really famous dead people come alive!

Among our novelty series are STICKER STORIES, JEWEL STICKER STORIES, TATTOO BOOKS, and STICKER STYLES. We will be launching a new line of books targeted for tween girls in Spring 2002, license some new properties, and launch two brand-new series coming Summer 2002.

Our commitment to children and reading is stronger than ever, and we will continue to publish books with high interest and affordable pricing which will entice even the most reluctant reader.