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In the Spotlight
 Children’s Book Community Responds in Outrage to Comment by National Ambassador Mac BarnettChildren’s authors and educators are up in arms after words by National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Mac Barnett, from his new essay collection for adults, Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children, cast aspersions on the vast majority of work published for young readers. more  In the News
 Book Bans Increasingly Target Nonfiction, PEN America ReportsIn “Facts and Fiction: Stories Stripped Away by Book Bans,” PEN America’s Freedom to Read team reports on “a surge in the banning of nonfiction titles” and an erosion of civil rights in public classrooms and school libraries. more  Scholastic and 9 Story Lean into YouTube Since Scholastic acquired 9 Story Media Group, a creator, producer, and distributor of children’s content, in a deal that closed in June 2024, it has been expanding its YouTube footprint, using the platform as a driver to create awareness, engage existing fans of its brands and properties, and bring in new ones. more  TokyoPop Launches New Children’s ImprintThe manga publisher will release titles for young readers up to age 12 under TokyoPop Kids, starting this fall. The imprint marks TokyoPop’s latest expansion into children’s publishing. more  Prime Video Bets on YA Book-to-Screen Slate Amazon Prime Video, which will release 10 screen adaptations of YA and new adult romances in 2026, will host its first-ever fan con, Obsessed Fest, as part of a new initiative to leverage YA audiences. Scheduled for June 27 in L.A., the event will feature author signings, cast appearances, conversations, and workshops. more
On the Scene
 ‘A Book-Maker in the Truest Sense’: A Celebration of Neal PorterOn April 28, some of the brightest lights in the children’s book community gathered at the Society of Illustrators in New York City for a tribute to renowned editor Neal Porter, who retired from his eponymous imprint at Holiday House last November, after nearly 50 years in publishing. Click through for highlights from “An Evening with Neal Porter,” which included many heartfelt speeches. more Author Reflections
 Chrystal D. Giles on Confronting Pain and Doing Something to Change ItMiddle grade author Chrystal D. Giles reflects on how her experience of sexual harassment in middle school inspired her new novel, Listen to the Girls, and how she hopes her story helps young women to feel both seen and heard. more First Person
 Reading with Olympia, Ira, Harry, and Bhoomi: Readers One and AllFormer children's book publisher Betsy Groban continues her column charting the reading habits of her four young grandkids, including favorite titles and emerging literacy skills. more   Four Questions
 Lauren WolkNewbery Honor author Lauren Wolk makes her picture book debut with The Outermost Mouse, illustrated by Kristen Adam, about a little rodent whose idyllic life in a beach shack is threatened by rising waters. PW spoke with Wolk about the story's accidental beginnings, her life on Cape Cod, and how she keeps her antennae up for inspiration that drifts in. Q: How was the experience of pivoting to the picture book form? A: The Outermost Mouse was a real eye-opener. It taught me that I could find all the things I love—poetry and prose and place—and let an illustrator ice the cake. I could imagine completely immersing myself in the picture book world for a while. I would have been writing them a long time ago if I’d known how much fun it was. more Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Press: Week of May 11 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book showcasing love for a father, a middle grade novel about a reluctant Chosen One, a graphic novel highlighting queer history, and more. more In Brief
 In Brief: May 7, 2026Recently, a conference celebrated creators of color, an author and a comedian held a conversation, a publisher celebrated Earth Day, and a festival got young people reading. more
Rights Report
 Andrew Karre at Dutton Children's Books has acquired, at auction, Riseball by Stonewall Award-winning author Victoria Zeller (One of the Boys), a contemporary YA novel about estranged sisters who must play on the same softball team after one of them comes out as transgender. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Jordan Hamessley at JABberwocky Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American English rights.  Chris Schoebinger at Shadow Mountain has bought A Place Among Heroes, a duology by Mike Thayer (The Double Life of Danny Day; The Talent Thief), in which a boy and his father enter an epic reality TV competition set in an immersive "fantasy" village in hopes of repairing their fractured relationship, only to discover the stakes extend far beyond gold and experience points. Publication is slated for February 2027 and August 2027; Lauren Galit at LKG Agency sold world rights.  Sean Tulien at Lerner Publishing has acquired Girl in Space, a middle grade graphic novel by Reese Eschmann (l.), illustrated by Asiah Fulmore, about a girl battling an existential crisis at space camp who is sent on a mission to save a dying star, helping her learn to learn to love herself and find hope in the face of despair. Publication is planned for spring 2028; Danielle Burby at Mad Woman Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.  Natalia Vázquez Torres at Charlesbridge has bought the chapter book series The Creepy Creature Catchers by Ana Siqueira (l.), and Ellie Erhart has acquired world rights for illustration by Camila Siqueira. In Hunting for Cuca, the Alligator Witch, Carolina moves from Brazil to Tampa, Fla., for her mom's job, and Vovô gives her a mission: catch Cuca, an alligator monster who eats children and is on the loose. Book two follows the search for a lobisomem, a Brazilian werewolf; and book three is about uncovering Cobra Grande, an Amazonian serpent monster. Publication is set for summer 2027, spring 2028, and fall 2028; Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency did the deal for world rights.  Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to Sven, a picture book by Newbery Medalist Dave Eggers (l.), illustrated by Zachariah OHora. Sven is a pet cat who turns out to be an excellent plumber—which seems pretty remarkable until he surprises everyone in the neighborhood with what he decides to do next. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Steve Malk at Writers House represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the artist.  Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has bought world English rights to Ruby and the Burger That Saved a Tiny Town by chef, author, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and photographer George Motz (l.), illustrated by Greg Paprocki. This picture book captures Motz's love of small-town burger joints when a girl helps put her tiny town on the map with a unique and delectable new burger. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Laura Dail at Laura Dail Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.  Katie Heit at Scholastic Press has acquired world rights to Welcome to Iceberg Alley by Nell Cross Beckerman (l.), illustrated by Martin Stanev. In this narrative nonfiction picture book, every spring brings a string of spectacular icebergs to a small town on Canada's coast, which are celebrated by the community and provide refuge to wildlife, as seen through the eyes of a curious child and an iceberg-tracking mother. Publication is set for 2027; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Jess Lomax at Inkling Illustration represented the illustrator.  Maria Camila Correa at Random House Studio has bought author-illustrator Katie Palazzola's Sardines, a playfully surreal, intergenerational story that explores finding solitude, self, and belonging—even in a crowd. It's a tribute to big families, little fish, beautiful music, and the transformations that propel us through childhood. Publication is planned for summer 2028; Liz Nealon at Great Dog Literary brokered the deal for world rights.  Alisha Niehaus Berger at NorthSouth Books has acquired world rights to Olga & Oscar Take Off by German author-illustrator Benjamin Gottwald (Buzz! Boom! Bang!), the humorous tale of the best friendship between a boy and a horse, who help each other be brave during their great adventures. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; the artist represented himself.  Naomi Shulman at PJ Publishing has bought world rights to The Almost-True Story of the Very First Bunny Hanukkah by Varda Livney. This board book tells the story of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah with a twist—the Maccabees are bunnies! Publication is tentatively slated for fall 2027; the author-illustrator represented herself. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  Nest of TonguesRandy Ribay. Random House, $19.99 (384p) ISBN 979-8-217-02434-6 As manananggals, Filipino vampires who sprout wings and detach from their lower bodies to hunt, Bay Area high schoolers Lily and Caleb Abadiano have spent their entire lives masquerading as humans to hide their true identities. But when Caleb is marked for death by the Bayani, a legendary Filipino monster hunter, the siblings launch a desperate investigation into the Bayani’s true identity that forces them to disregard their elders’ restrictions against engaging in confrontation with humans and connecting with other paranormal beings. more  Raise the BarFernanda Frick H. Dial, $24.99 hardcover (352p) ISBN 978-0-593-40732-5; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-0-593-40731-8 A teenage amateur athlete experiences setbacks on her journey toward competing professionally in Frick H’s exceptional graphic novel debut. Chilean weight lifter Sam yearns to gain acceptance into the High Performance Center, an elite facility where young Latin American athletes train to qualify for the Olympics. Sam secretly attends HPC tryouts, where she impresses and soon finds herself under the tutelage of former Olympic weight lifter Eva. more  Roi and Me and the Double VSandra W. Headen. Holiday House, $17.99 (224p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5379-5 Two Black 12-year-olds organize their Wilmington, N.C., harbor town community to confront systemic racism during WWII in this empowering account of friendship and resilience. Track star Marvel Zander finds solace at Elderberry Farm, free use land that’s served as a Black community space for years, with her best friend Roi. After a local shipyard company blocks access to Elderberry Farm, intending to develop the land to accommodate their expanding workforce, the pair publish a neighborhood newspaper drawing attention to the situation. more  Survival ShowJuno Dawson. Simon & Schuster, $20.99 (368p) ISBN 979-8-3471-1056-8 Driven from their home in England due to war and climate change, 17-year-old Taryn Beck, a talented singer desperate to afford medication for her brother auditions for Starmaker, a popular televised talent competition. Participation comes at a steep price: while five winners find fame and fortune as a group, those eliminated are executed as part of a population control program. Taryn makes it into the top 10, but upon learning that the producers are manipulating the show for their preferred outcome, she realizes that the only way to win is to beat them at their own game. more  Swing!James Yang. Viking, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-5936-9310-0 A Korean-cued child shares with their father both a passion for tennis and an admiration for tennis player Arthur Ashe (1943–1993), whom the duo watch on television each week. Inspired by Dad and Ashe, the protagonist learns ways to self-center when “my brain feels like it’s bouncing, just like the tennis ball,” and to extend some grace to a classmate who genuinely admires the narrator’s game. more |
May 7, 2026
 
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People Bloomsbury Children’s Books has one promotion and one new hire. Jeanette Levy has been promoted to creative director, from associate art director. Catherine San Juan has joined as senior designer, having previously worked at Insight Editions, Callisto Media, and HarperCollins Publishers.PRH Corporate Bookmaking, Random House Children’s Books, has two promotions. Maggie Gibson has been promoted to manager, production, from associate manager, production. Lizzy Indek has been promoted to senior associate, production, from associate, production. Call for Info We’re collecting Authors to Meet information for our preview of the American Booksellers Association’s Children’s Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Ill., June 26–29. Deadline: May 18. Issue: June 15. For more information, click here. Mark Your Calendar  Under the Cork Tree: The Story of Ferdinand, a new exhibition in honor of the 90th anniversary of the classic picture book by Munro Leaf, opens May 9 at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass. The exhibit, which will run through November 8, features the original illustrations by Robert Lawson, along with the manuscript, materials from the Disney animated film, and memorabilia. On opening day, curator Jane Bayard Curley will lead a tour of the exhibit. For more information, click here. In Case You Missed It PW's Summer Reads 2026more more more | ||||
