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Spotlight on Canadian Publishing
 Canadian Publishing 2025: U.S. Book Bans Trouble Canadian PublishersOrca and Kids Can are among the Canadian publishers that have seen books pulled from shelves due to anti-racist or pro-LGBTQ+ content. more   Tundra’s Tara Walker Takes Risks and Reaps Rewards Tara Walker, the publisher of Tundra Book Group, discusses how Canada’s oldest children’s publisher—founded in 1967—continues to be a vital force in the industry. more In the News
 Follett Content, Mackin Enter the Public Library Market The two companies have long histories serving the school library market and are now gearing up to expand their services to the public library sector following the collapse of Baker & Taylor. Follett CEO Britten Follett called public libraries “the perfect space for us to grow and a natural extension of our business.” more  Lego and DK Build On 25-Year Partnership with New Fiction List DK and the Lego Group are launching Lego Fiction, a multi-series children’s fiction list consisting of original titles created with well-known authors and illustrators, next fall. The deal, announced yesterday at the Frankfurt Book Fair, marks DK’s first foray into original fiction for the Lego brand. more  Good Vibes at NYCCRetailers and publishers alike were able to put aside the myriad challenges facing the comics industry—from tariffs to the uncertain post-Diamond distribution landscape—to enjoy a surprisingly upbeat New York Comic Con, held October 8–12. more  On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!Jumpstart, a national organization that recruits and trains adults to teach foundational literacy skills to preschoolers, is partnering with Little Free Library to expand the 20th anniversary celebration for its Read for the Record early literacy initiative. more   First Person
 Taylor Cassidy Wants Young Readers to Learn History from a Context of Joy Taylor Cassidy made her way onto Time’s 100 Creators list with her TikTok series Fast Black History, in which she showcases a variety of Black historical figures and their accomplishments to her audience of more than two million followers. Here, Cassidy reflects on her YA nonfiction debut, Black History Is Your History, and why she’s taken it upon herself to find a new way to look at the past. more On the Scene
 On Tour with Karina Yan Glaser Karina Yan Glaser recently hit the road for a two-week tour to celebrate her new middle grade novel, The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli. The author visited 23 schools, made appearances at bookstore events, and spent the tour decked out in yellow outfits to match her book cover. Click through for highlights from her travels. more Four Questions
 Megan ClendenanIn Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Megan Clendenan spotlights the construction of Norway’s Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which houses more than 580 million frozen seeds, “just in case” the world needs them. We spoke with the Vancouver-based writer about the power of cooperation, saving seeds, and finding hopeful solutions to the world’s challenges. Q: What do you hope readers will take away from the book? A: I wanted to share a hopeful story about the power of cooperation and collaboration. I would like young readers to come away thinking they can take action. They can save a seed. They can learn about food. These are small things that even a six-year-old can do to just feel a little more connected to food. more Q & A
 Penn and Kim HoldernessAs authors, digital content creators, podcast hosts, and winners of the globe-trotting reality series The Amazing Race, Penn and Kim Holderness have built a broad platform. Now, they have created their first picture book, All You Can Be with ADHD, a rhyming celebration of neurdiversity. PW spoke with the Holdernesses about their latest project as they were gearing up for a national book tour. Q: How are you imagining the different audiences for this book? Penn: I hope it’s in schools. I hope it’s in libraries. I imagine it mostly in bedrooms. This feels like a fun but also intimate way to start a conversation between a parent and their child. It allows kids to realize they’re not alone, that they should feel accepted, that there are some upsides to [ADHD], and that things are going to be okay. more Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Press: Week of October 20 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book celebrating the color orange, a middle grade companion novel about twins saving their father’s soul, a YA novel about a teen learning about her heritage, and more. more In Brief
 In Brief: October 16, 2025Recently a publisher was feted, an author saw her work come to life via an art bench, a book festival celebrated Latinx creators, an author bid farewell to her middle grade series, an author made their debut, and young cartoonists met a first-time creator. more
Rights Report
 Sarah Barley at S&S/Sarah Barley Books has acquired, at auction, two books by four-time Carnegie Medal-nominated author Melinda Salisbury (Her Dark Wings). The first, Local Gods, follows a girl hated by her small town for her father's crimes who must decide whether to save her former friends and neighbors or burn it all down when a dying god hidden in the woods warns her of an impending catastrophe. Publication is set for summer 2026; Pete Knapp and Stuti Telidevara at Park, Fine & Brower negotiated the six-figure deal for North American rights on behalf of Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge & White.  Kristie Choi at Atheneum has bought Black Point, a YA horror mystery by Minnesota Book Award winner Jacqueline West, following a high school senior who discovers that her small town steeped in Norse traditions is hiding a haunted past when outsiders purchase an abandoned hotel and the rising river drags years of sinister secrets to the surface. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Danielle Chiotti at Upstart Crow Literary did the deal for North American rights.  Carolina Mancheno Ortiz at HarperCollins/Avon A has acquired world rights to The Boyfriend Distribution System by Nina Moreno. The YA novel follows a hopeless romantic, who always finds herself inexplicably and spontaneously falling into a new relationship after the last one ends, and is determined to prove she knows what true love is to her long-time best friend, who may just be "the one." Publication is planned for winter 2027; Laura Crockett at Triada US brokered the deal.  Joy Peskin at FSG has bought world rights to the YA graphic novel adaptation of Love Letters to the Dead, which was published in 25 foreign territories, written by Ava Dellaira (l.), to be illustrated by Talia Dutton. This story about 15-year-old Laurel begins with an assignment for English class—write a letter to a dead person—and turns into an epistolary exploration of grief, family, friendship, and first love, told in a series of missives to icons like Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, and River Phoenix. Publication is slated for fall 2028; Richard Florest at Rob Weisbach Creative Management represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.  Kiara Valdez, while at First Second, acquired The Transformation of Noah Mendez, a YA graphic novel by Kevin Casas (l.) and Ria Martinez, about a guy who is struggling with high school, liking his best friend, and being a newly turned werewolf. Ivan Taurisano will edit; publication is scheduled for 2027. Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management handled the deal for world rights.  Susan Pi at Rebel Goose has bought world rights to Nakano Takeko: The Last Onna-Musha, a YA graphic novel reclaiming the true story of Japan's most legendary female warrior, written by her descendant Sumiko Nakano (l.), illustrated by Alpha Yu. Publication is set for fall 2027; the author and illustrator represented themselves.  Sarah Alpert at Norton Young Readers has acquired world rights to James Kennedy's debut middle-grade, Behold! The Legend of Frogboy, pitched as James and the Giant Peach by way of SpongeBob SquarePants, in which Hank Hollering, the eponymous Frogboy, must traverse his magical swamp with the help of a ragtag band of marine creatures to rescue a baby kraken from a hungry judge. Publication is planned for spring 2027; John Cusick at Folio Jr. brokered the two-book deal.  Janine O'Malley at FSG has bought The Frozen King by Pari Thomson, a middle grade novel about a girl who takes an epic journey to the icy and treacherous Utter North to save the king and the magical realm, set in the world of the Greenwild Trilogy. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Pete Knapp at Park, Fine & Brower sold North American rights.  Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has acquired, in a two-book deal, Broomsticklers, a middle grade novel series by Stephanie Campisi. Two young broomsmith apprentices who couldn't be more different team up to solve a series of oddball mysteries in the magical realm of the Otherworld—where witches, wizards, and various cloaked creatures go about their everyday whimsical business. Publication will start in spring 2027; Joanna Rasheed at Ultra Literary sold North American rights.  Eileen Robinson while at Charlesbridge bought Hotdog's Last Hurrah, a middle-grade debut by Dale M. Bryan, about a boy who takes a road trip across Kansas with his grandfather, found family, and Hotdog the elderly dachshund, all while learning to face his biggest fear along the way. Karen Boss will edit; publication is set for fall 2027. Lisa Gouldy and Marisa Corvisiero at Corvisiero Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.  Kate Farrell at Henry Holt has acquired Bear Hair by Jeff Mack, a picture book filled with word play and humor about the push-and-pull friendship between a bear and a hare. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Rubin Pfeffer at Aevitas Creative Management did the deal for world rights.  Emma Ledbetter while at Abrams bought, at auction, the picture book The Future People and an untitled sequel by debut author-illustrator Bridey Lee. The first title takes the reader on a hopeful journey into the future and what it would look like if we all start building it now. Sara Sproull will edit; publication is slated for fall 2027 and 2028. Véronique Kirchhoff at VeroK Agency sold world rights.  Francesco Sedita at Penguin Workshop has acquired world rights to two picture books by Broadway and Instagram's Bret Shuford (l.) of the Broadway Husbands. The first book, Good Night, Break a Leg, illustrated by Elena Hager, shows from their child's point of view how two dads who follow their dreams inspires their own child to pursue his. Publication is planned for summer 2026; Jordan Hamessley at JABberwocky Literary Agency represented the author, and Sol Salinas at Astound US represented the illustrator.  Celia Lee at Simon & Schuster has bought world rights to Mo by Beth Ferry (l.), illustrated by Charles Santoso, a picture book about a fastidious lawnmower who, after observing how the overgrown garden next door teems with life and potential friends, learns how to embrace the wilder side of her backyard. Publication is scheduled for summer 2028; Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary & Media represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.  Elizabeth Stranahan at Random House has acquired world rights to Dinosaur Time, a picture book by Amy Garrett (l.), the TikTok creator behind the viral #DinosaurTime trend, illustrated by Josh Lewis. In this read-aloud for picky eaters, Sam knows how to make mealtime meltdowns go extinct because when it's time to eat, she gives a roar and chomps down on her food like a dinosaur. Publication is set for summer 2027; Courtney Paganelli at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency represented the author, and Natascha Morris at Tobias Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Rosie Ahmed while at Dial bought world rights to You Don't Have to Say by María Dolores Águila (l.), illustrated by Mirelle Ortega, a picture book that encourages a child with speech delays to understand that there are many ways that go beyond words to share who they are and what they are feeling. Michelle Lee will edit; publication is slated for fall 2027. Lindsay Auld at Writers House represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Danielle Collins at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to Our Big Indian Family Tree by mother-son duo Surishtha Sehgal (l.) and Kabir Sehgal (c.), illustrated by Ishaa Lobo (r.). In this cumulative picture book, an Indian American family comes together for a fun-filled day building a treehouse, introducing readers to the Hindi words for various family members along the way. Publication is planned for summer 2027; the authors represented themselves, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Carol Hinz at Lerner/Carolrhoda has bought world rights to Unstoppable Song by Callie Dean (l.), illustrated by Sofia Moore. The nonfiction picture book tells the story of how French musician Olivier Messiaen composed and premiered his Quartet for the End of Time while in a German POW camp during World War II. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Karly Dizon at Fuse Literary represented the author, and Emily Fernandez at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Natalia Vázquez Torres at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to the picture book The Adventures of Coquí and Ranita: Words at Play by Delia Ruiz (l.), and Ellie Erhart has acquired world rights for illustration by Ashley Vargas. When their neighborhood hosts a Latine cultural festival, Vicente and Benito decide to pretend-play as Ranita and Coquí. As they go through the jungle, escape snakes, and find waterfalls, they learn that in Mexico and in Puerto Rico, there are different words for the same items. Publication is set for spring 2027; Sera Rivers at Speilburg Literary Agency represented the author, and Christie Megill at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.  Nan Froman at Groundwood Books has bought world rights for Rahki Sisters by Priti Birla Maheshwari (l.), illustrated by Kavita Ramchandran, a picture book about a girl missing her cousins in India as the festival Raksha Bandhan approaches, and finding new ways to honor old traditions. Publication is planned for summer 2027; Eve Adler at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.  Deidra Purvis at Free Spirit has acquired world rights to Feelings Head to Toe, a six-book board book series by Lindsay N. Giroux (l.), illustrated by Noémie Boisvert Frigon. The series helps toddlers identify and understand their emotions by showing how feelings look and feel in the body, from head to toe. Alison Behnke will edit; publication is slated for winter 2027. The author represented herself, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Janet Bruins at Picnic Heist has bought world rights to Oh, Pearl!, written and illustrated by Alania Caridad Hinckson. When a shy merchild loses his beloved pearl, his search across the sea leads to unexpected friendships and a discovery about belonging and courage. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; the author was unagented. IN THE MEDIA
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