July 1, 2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of the merger that brought together two companies with long, rich histories to create Penguin Random House. Ten years ago, we set a goal, as the first truly global book publisher, to continue publishing the highest caliber of books and to bring diverse stories to our readers. Together—alongside authors, readers, and our publishing community—we have remained committed to this goal all while growing, learning, and evolving in the process. In celebration of the past ten years, we bring you a small selection of books from around the world that have been especially meaningful to our readers and our work. These titles are representative of the breadth of our publishing programs.

We hope you enjoy these picks, and we look forward to the next decade with you all!

ABC PRIDE is a vibrant first ABC book designed to introduce young readers to the world of Pride. An exciting and groundbreaking collaboration between DK and Pride in London, ABC PRIDE’S publication was timed perfectly to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Pride March in the UK. DK’s goal was to take a standard educational format and give it a twist for young children. This book is important because it creates a platform for children early in life to have these crucial conversations and embrace inclusivity.

ANTES DE DICIEMBRE by Joana Marcús, is one of the emblems of the Wattpad phenomenon. The novel was largely popular both online and in print. ANTES DE DICIEMBREis a passionate love story following Jenna Brown, a first-year college student, who begins a troubled romance while in an open relationship with her high school boyfriend. This romance novel has captivated readers worldwide.

BECOMING by Michelle Obama is a memoir that invites readers into the extraordinary journey of one of the most influential women in recent history. As the first Black First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama captivated the world with her intelligence, grace, and unwavering commitment to public service. In BECOMING, Michelle Obama shares the triumphs and challenges that shaped the former FLOTUS into the person she has become. The memoir has been a worldwide publishing sensation, a NAACP Image Award winner, and named one of Essence’s 50 most influential Black books of the past 50 years.

THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE has been shared millions of times online. Children have also recreated these beloved characters in schools and hung them on hospital walls. They appear on lamp posts and on cafe and bookshop windows. This book of Charlie’s most-loved drawings shows adventures into the Wild and explores the thoughts and feelings that unite us all. The wisdom and warmth of Charlie and his characters have guided readers through the trickiest and darkest moments, encouraging cross–generational conversations about grief, loneliness, and mental health. They have captured our human need for connection, kindness, and friendship, especially when many of us were forced apart. The book has consistently remained in the charts, clocking up over 100 consecutive weeks on the UK Sunday Times best seller list, and remains in the top twenty in the non-fiction hardback charts.

BRAZIL: A Biography is a remarkable account of Brazil’s diversity and history, from its origins to the modern day. The book provides a general history of the country, and aims to be critical in its approach and broad in reach. BRAZIL: A BIOGRAPHY relies on previous historiography, new research, and a decolonized take to deliver an original inquiry on such a complex subject. Packed with information, authors Heloisa Starling and Lilia Schwarcz have created a fascinating, accessible, and fluent read. A testament to the strength of BRAZIL: A BIOGRAPHY is the considerable impact of the book since its publication, as it has widely sparked public debate.

HEARTSTOPPER by Alice Oseman ticks all the boxes of a good YA graphic novel: it’s beautifully written and drawn, it has charismatic and diverse characters that the readers can’t help but fall in love with, and it creates that special feeling that love can happen to anyone, at any time. The story revolves around Charlie and Nick, two British schoolboys who form a connection and eventually fall in love.  Publishing these comics — after a competitive auction – represents the mission of Seguinte’s catalog: stories that can make teens, girls, boys and those who are unsure about their identities recognize themselves and smile while reading.

JAMLO WALKS by Samina Mishra is a hard-hitting story about children’s experiences, hopes, and fears during the 2020 lockdown. Samina Mishra’s writing highlights the importance of recognizing how injustice and privilege changed this experience. Throughout the story, various lives are juxtaposed in order to show children the broad range of human experience through an empathic gaze.  The book highlights the need for a kind and just world where all lives are seen as important. Jamlo Walks is a relevant reminder of the times that we survived— a book that sheds light on the migrant exodus and hardships that came along with it.

The unbroken success of DAS KIND IN DIR MUSS HEIMAT FINDEN shows how essential books are to us as human beings, and how much they can enrich and improve our lives. Stefanie Stahl reveals that in order to achieve happiness, you must befriend your inner child. Last year, it was number one on the German annual bestseller list in paperback for the sixth time in a row (2017-2022), making Stefanie Stahl the only author to date to have achieved that milestone.  In 2020, a U.S. edition was published, and in total THE CHILD IN YOU MUST FIND HOME has been published in 34 countries.

David Robertson is one of the most celebrated writers working today and the bestselling author of the ongoing THE MISEWA SAGA including THE BARREN GROUNDS, THE GREAT BEAR, THE STONE CHILD, and coming this Fall, THE PORTAL KEEPER. The Misewa Saga follows Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous foster children who discover a portal that takes them to another world. In this world, they encounter talking animals that help them reconnect to tradition and deal with the challenges they face in their world. Robertson is the two-time winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award, and the recipient of numerous other prestigious awards. Robertson has joined Tundra Books in order to launch a children’s imprint dedicated to publishing Indigenous stories.

NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH is a poignant and haunting tale that explores the horrors of war and the resilience of the human spirit. The novel follows an Australian doctor who grapples with haunting memories of a forbidden love affair with his uncle’s wife and his harrowing ordeal as a prisoner of war. With its powerful storytelling and evocative prose, NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH captivates readers, taking them on a journey of love, loss, and the indomitable strength of the human soul. NARROW ROAD TO THE DEEP NORTH won the 2014 Booker Prize and was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award.

The NATURAL HISTORY book is an extraordinary survey of Earth’s natural history, featuring over six thousand species. It is the only book to present a fully illustrated survey of Earth’s natural history; it remains peerless and has sold millions of copies around the globe. Originally a hugely ambitious publishing event, this reference book has been updated time and time again to include new species and revelations. THE NATURAL HISTORY BOOK is the ultimate guide to everything under the sun.

Damon Galgut’s THE PROMISE is a striking depiction of a white family in post-apartheid South Africa that speaks to matters making headlines in the present day. Galgut was awarded the Booker Prize for THE PROMISE in 2021, making him the third writer from South Africa to receive the prestigious accolade. “The legacy of colonialism and apartheid, and questions about who belongs — are still painfully resonant in his country,” Damon said. “The topic of land, who owns it, who used to own it, who is going to own it in the future, that topic is very central to South African political life now.” New York Times.

A tour de force of literature, PYRE is not only a riveting tale but peels back the layers of caste-based violence that still plagues large sections of society. PYRE is the story of Saroja and Kumaresan, an inter-caste couple, who get married and move to Kumaresan’s rural hometown in Tamil Nadu. What follows is a poignant, hard-hitting story of caste violence and intolerance. The book also brings to readers a setting in rural India that literature often misses and shines a spotlight on all that translations from South Indian languages have to offer. Its inclusion in International Booker longlist only underlines the novel’s import and impact.

TIEMPOS RECIOS is the fictionalized story of Guatemala’s political turmoil in the 1950s. Set during the era of the Cold War, the novel unravels a narrative steeped in international conspiracies and clashing interests. Vargos Llosa seamlessly combines politics and suspense. In this captivating novel, Mario Vargas Llosa masterfully blends reality with dual fiction. This was Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa’s last novel. TIEMPOS RECIOS is one of Llosa’s most important political novels.

When TRUTH TO POWER was published in 2023, it took South Africa by storm. André de Ruyter, the former CEO of Eskom, Africa’s largest manufacturer of electricity, speaks candidly about his tenure at the power utility and exposes the African National Congress’ plundering of South Africa’s national electricity utility. Eskom’s inability to deliver a steady electricity supply has cost the country billions through lost economic growth, lower investment, and destroyed jobs. Loadshedding, a practice where the electricity supply is intentionally interrupted, and Eskom’s lack of performance affect every citizen daily. De Ruyter’s revelations illuminate the fundamental issues at the core of these problems.

R.J. Palacio’s WONDER, a captivating story that revolves around a boy with a facial difference, has undeniably touched the hearts of millions across the globe. Through skillful storytelling, Palacio immerses readers in the remarkable journey of Auggie Pullman as he navigates the challenges and triumphs of his fifth-grade year. WONDER creates a portrait of a community’s struggle with empathy and acceptance. WONDER spent nearly five years on the New York Times Bestseller list, was adapted into a major motion picture, and inspired the Choose Kind movement.

Profoundly moving and exquisitely written, Tara June Winch’s THE YIELD is the story of a people and a culture dispossessed. It is as much a celebration of what was and what endures as it is a powerful reclaiming of Indigenous language, storytelling, and identity. The novel follows a young Australian woman on a hunt for her grandfather’s dictionary– the key to stopping a mining company from destroying her ancestor’s tribal land. THE YIELD is the winner of multiple awards, including the Prime Minister’s Literary Award, the Miles Franklin Award, and the Christina Stead Prize.