As the New Year nears, School Library Journal explored the consolidation and staff cuts that lead to the creation of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.

Henry Holt's Dan Farley will lead the new division, bringing together seven different parts of the company. The article also looked at the new leadership of this giant new force in children's publishing. Read it here: "[The group unites] "Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Roaring Brook Press , Feiwel and Friends, Square Fish, First Second, and Priddy Books ... Assisting Farley will be Jean Feiwel, publisher of Feiwel and Friends, and Simon Boughton, publisher of Roaring Brook Press, both named as Senior Vice Presidents."

While the restructuring resulted in 64 layoffs, one journal reader worried about more cuts in 2009. For more news about the cuts, check out GalleyCat's reporting on the restructuring, including an exclusive interview with Jean Feiwel. (Via.)