Charlesbridge publishes books twice a year -- in the “spring” (Feb. 1) and the “fall” (July 1). It makes about 30 books a year. The amount of copies depends on the book. Sometimes it makes 10,000, 7,500, or 5,000 copies. Sometimes the book is made in paperback and hard cover at the same time.

     Lynne works in editorial. She said the editors are the first people to work with authors. Editorial is in charge of fact checking.

     “We especially do it for science books,’’ said Lynne. “Part of our job is to make sure that everything is correct.’’

     The editors work closely with the design department. Whitney, who works in design, said design organizes pages and works with the illustrators. When the book is ready, the sales and marketing department makes sure the public knows about the books. 

     Not just one person at Charlesbridge decides to make a book. A team meeting with all of the editors and designers picks the books.

    About 200 pieces a month come from authors who want Charlesbridge to read and publish their stories. They go into a “slush pile.”

     “Sometimes there are stories and authors that are really, really good,’’ said Lynne. 

     “What REALLY happened to Humpty’’ was a typewritten story by Jeanie Franz Ransom that came into the slush pile in 2003. “Humpty” went back and forth with the author four times. It took six years to publish. Each project is different, Lynne said, but the average time for a book to be published is three years.

     “Humpty” is a funny story about Humpty Dumpty, so Charlesbridge wanted drawings that fit the story. Whitney said design has its own slush pile and it has a file with pictures. She said design tries to match the story with the illustrator.

     “We said, ‘Who is a funny illustrator?’ That's how we found Stephen Axelsen,” said Whitney. “We sent him the story and he said, ‘It could be like a comic book.’

     Whitney said design works with the illustrator. The artist sends along a first set of drawings and then a second set, and then sends “final art,” which is scanned onto computers and sent to Singapore. Many of Charlesbridge’s books are printed in China.

     Taylor said one year before the book is ready, marketing sits down and makes a plan.

     “We get it to the bookstores and tell people about it,’’ Taylor said.

     Book are sent out for reviews to newspapers and magazines, and authors do interviews on talk shows, like “Oprah,’” and news shows, like  “The Today Show.’’

     Books are sold to bookstores, schools, museum gift shops, parents, teachers, schools, and libraries. Marketing also makes posters, T-shirts, bookmarks, and catalogues.

     Whitney, Taylor, and Lynne had a hard time picking a favorite Charlesbridge book. Taylor and Whitney had the same favorite new book, “Unite or Die,” which is about the Constitution.