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In the Spotlight
 Beijing Book Fair 2026: Going Beyond Print Books and Looking Within for New Children’s Content The 40th edition of the Beijing International Book Fair wrapped up its five-day run on June 21. Digital publishing had an expanded presence compared to previous years. For China's children’s book segment, digital publishing is now centered on audiobooks, e-learning platforms, and knowledge-based services to support kids, educators, and parents. more  Book News
 ‘This Love’: New YA Romance Anthology Is for the Swifties Music icon Taylor Swift's discography is the inspiration behind 13 Little Love Stories, a new YA romance anthology by 13 top authors. The trade paperback original publishes June 30 from Penguin's Putnam imprint, ahead of Swift's rumored summer wedding date. more  Amazon Original Stories Taps Bestselling YA Authors for Exclusive Shorts The Edge of Everything, a collection of stories by popular teen fiction writers, is available for reading or listening with Prime or Kindle Unlimited. This is the debut YA anthology from Amazon Original Stories. more Pride Month
 Rebel Goose’s Debut Title Inspires Grassroots Campaign for LGBTQ+ Support Guinea Pigs Don’t Wear Pants, the first picture book by queer advocate Chris Paul (Rainbows) Farias and released by the recently launched Canadian children’s publisher Rebel Goose Books, has earned early praise from educators, creators, and A-listers alike. more  Publishing Pride 2026: George M. Johnson The author of All Boys Aren’t Blue reflects on their 2020 YA memoir—which has become one of the most banned books in the country—their forthcoming adult memoir, And If I Die Before I Wake, and the resilience they see in queer writers fighting the status quo. more   First Person
 Navigating—and Portraying—Postpartum Depression Through Children’s BooksPooja Makhijani is the author of the picture book Bread Is Love. Her writing has also appeared in the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and more. Here, Makhijani reflects on her newest picture book, the deeply personal Together for Mama, and the books that inspired her to share her story with young readers. more Licensing News
 Licensing Hotline: June 2026Scholastic is the new publishing partner for JJ & Mikey, a YouTube-centric property set in the world of Minecraft and starring animated versions of two popular gamers. Ranking among the top gaming-related creators globally, they boast more than 22.9 million subscribers and 23 billion views to date. Read on for information about two new Numberblocks publishing licensees, the launch of a U.S. licensing program for Usborne’s That’s Not My... brand, Random House Worlds’ Mofusand publishing program, and more. more Reading Roundup
 Noteworthy Picture Book and Novel Sequels: June 2026 Summer is all about fun in the sun with friends, family... and favorite fictional characters. This month offers a selection of new series installments for young readers, including a graphic novel about shifting friendships, a YA thriller by a set of bestselling authors, a middle grade fantasy about a fracturing alliance, and more. more Q & A
 Dark and Thorny: PW Talks with Sid Sharp Sid Sharp, the Toronto-based author-illustrator of two fairy-tale graphic narratives, The Wolf Suit and Bog Myrtle, presents their debut picture book, Midnight Manor, about haunted-house denizens who rise at sunset and sleep at dawn. Ahead of Sharp's appearance at Children's Institute, PW spoke with the Eisner nominee about their folk-art sensibility, deep negative space, and creepy characters. Q: How did you play with Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon? A: My early in-joke title was Goodnight Doom. But ultimately, although I like poking fun, it would be cheap to do a full-length parody of a book that I love. I wanted to keep that nod in it, but it became its own thing. I’m drawn to mischief and mystery, the sense of something strange and eerie going on. more
Rights Report
 Katherine Harrison at Knopf has acquired, at auction, Sadie Suksiri's debut YA novel The Undoing, a coming-of-age story about a town where every girl is born with a unique magical gift, but must give it up in adolescence to be seen and loved—and three girls' attempt to bring their friend back from her undoing. Publication is slated for spring 2028; Molly Ker Hawn at David Higham Associates negotiated the deal for North American rights.  Jenny Bak at Viking has bought Starfarer by Colin Gigl, pitched as Treasure Planet meets The Girl Who Drank the Moon. The debut middle grade novel follows Leo, a boy seeking a mythical star rumored to grant wishes, and Ella, the mysterious magic-wielding girl who promises to lead him to it, but only if he captains a ship into a black hole to break a legendary storyteller out of the universe's most secure prison. Publication is set for summer 2027; Sam Farkas at Jill Grinberg Literary Management sold world English rights.  Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired world rights to Totally Swamped by Lynn E. Hazen, a humorous middle grade novel about a cautious city kid who survives perilous misadventures in Vermont with his swamp-loving cousin. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Jim Averbeck at East/West Literary handled the deal.  Rebekah Lovato Piatte at Collective Book Studio has bought London Unleashed by debut author Alice Cardini (l.), illustrated by Jen Bricking, first in a new middle grade series about family, friendship, and the meaning of home—along with lots and lots of dogs. Publication is planned for spring 2027; the project was unagented.  Tara Walker at Tundra Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, world rights to When My Father Was a Cat by Kyo Maclear (l.) (author of the Caldecott Honor-winning Noodles on a Bicycle), illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Cátia Chien, a picture book that explores the childhood of a parent through the imaginative lens of a family of felines. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.  Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights to The Red Apple by Hanh Bui (l.), illustrated by Dow Phumiruk, a picture book inspired by the author's childhood experiences as a Vietnamese refugee leaving home in search of safety and a new beginning, and the red apple that gave her hope in a sea of uncertainty and change. Publication is set for summer 2028; Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the author, and Deborah Warren at East/West Agency represented the illustrator.  Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has acquired North American English rights to Katherine Applegate's (l.) picture book adaptation of her bestselling middle grade novel Wishtree, illustrated by Charles Santoso. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary & Media represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.  Feather Flores while at Atheneum bought, at auction, The School Beyond the Canyon by MeiLin Chan (l.) (Monkey Dragon Rabbit!), illustrated by August Zhang (Into the Wilderness). Going to school is an ordinary event for many kids, but not for Bowen. Separated by a raging river and dangerous terrain in a remote Chinese village, she must decide if her love of learning can defeat her fears and the powerful river. Reka Simonsen will edit; publication is planned for summer 2029. Marisa Cleveland at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Jemiscoe Chambers-Black at Starling Literary + Media represented the illustrator.  Andrea Posner-Sanchez at Golden Books has acquired world rights to Once Upon a Time: The Story of Little Golden Books by Cook Prize Silver Medalist Jessica Stremer (l.) (When Old Becomes New), illustrated by Greg Paprocki, the story of how Little Golden Books revolutionized children's publishing and became a cherished part of childhood for millions. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Natascha Morris at Tobias Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.  Michael Yuen-Killick at Red Comet Press has bought world rights to A Halloween Treat for Santa by Lucas Field (l.), illustrated by Rachel Foo, a holiday picture book about a boy who takes Santa on his first trick-or-treat expedition. Publication is set for fall 2027; Dan Cramer at Page Turner Literary Agency represented the author, and Alice Jin Zhang at Astound US represented the illustrator.  Michelle Frey at Knopf has acquired world rights to Katy Listened by Barb Rosenstock (l.), illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, about the self-taught bio-acoustic scientist Katy Payne, whose ability to listen resulted in pioneering work on communication in both whales and elephants. Publication is scheduled for spring 2028; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.  Sarah Rockett at Tilbury House has bought world rights to Desert Manatee by Nora Nickum (l.), illustrated by Abigail Hookham, a nonfiction picture book about elusive African manatees, their struggles, and the innovative work people are doing to keep them safe. Publication is planned for June 2027; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Becca Langton at Darley Anderson Illustration Agency represented the illustrator.  Deborah Bodin Cohen at Apples & Honey Press has acquired world rights to Little Star by Colleen Rowan Kosinski (l.), illustrated by Dikshaa Pawaskar, a picture book about a boy who finds a fallen star and nurses it back to health with soup, rest, and the power of selfless wishes. Publication is slated for spring 2027; the author represented herself, and Aurora Barlam at Astound US represented the illustrator. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  Same Time, Next Week?Marlene Droop, trans. from the German by Alisha Niehaus Berger. NorthSouth, $19.95 (40p) ISBN 978-0-7358-4630-2 A group of animals road-trip beyond city limits in search of stars in this carefree adventure from Droop, making her English-language debut. The story begins on the road, with Giraffe comically craning out the driver’s window, head somewhere beyond the frame. Despite the trip’s time-sensitive nature and the small obstacles that present themselves, the contented travelers enjoy one another’s company, chatting, snacking, and knitting on the way. more  What Will We Find in This Box?Mo Willems. Union Square, $10.99 (64p) ISBN 978-1-4549-6678-4 Willems launches a dynamic new early reader series with a classic setup and another likable animalian duo. Snake and Bat communicate via exuberant oversize speech bubbles, and the creator’s unmistakable aesthetic boisterously captures the pals’ highs and lows with full-bodied exaggeration—as the book begins, the two positively burst with excited curiosity over the discovery of a plain brown box. In a clever tie-in with another Willems-universe duo, fan-favorite Piggie arrives on the scene, seemingly fresh off another tale. more  An Octopus Named HoudiniZana Fraillon, illus. by Corinna Luyken. Simon & Schuster, $17.99 (160p) ISBN 979-8-3471-1475-7 Drawing inspiration from New Zealand’s real-life cephalopod Inky, Fraillon and Luyken present a moving verse novel that traces an aquarium resident’s yearning for home and budding friendship. Though curmudgeonly octopus Houdini—named for her numerous breakouts—longs to return to the ocean, she waits for the perfect moment to flee for good. Upon meeting aquarium owner’s daughter Juno, Houdini is stunned by a feeling of connection, like “a Tide pulling us closer.” more  Wish You WellJamie Sumner. Atheneum, $17.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-66590-574-9 For four years, 13-year-old Violet Marino has navigated progressive blindness caused by macular degeneration. While attending an annual picnic at Nashville’s Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, she meets fellow rising eighth graders Wyatt Cass, a recent heart transplant recipient, and Noor Singh, who’s undergoing chemotherapy. Violet and Noor agree to optimistic Wyatt’s plan: the trio will individually apply for a wish from charity organization Wish on a Star and, when their desires are granted insist that each be brought along for the fulfillment of one another’s wishes. Sumner (combines hard-won hope and biting humor. more  The Heart TrialsJ. Elle. Putnam, $21.99 (400p) ISBN 979-8-2172-3822-4 To maintain order in the kingdom of Ethyria, ruler the Benevolent regulates his constituents’ feelings according to class: Skyborn citizens maintain exclusive access to love, while everyone else is chemically suppressed using drugs called Heartfillers, which induce artificial happiness in consumers. After a sudden arrest, Lowborn orphaned Axira volunteers to enter the Tournament of Hearts, a dating competition that offers lowborn contestants a chance at Skyborn citizenship and the privilege of experiencing true love. more |
June 23, 2026
 
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In the Winners' Circle  The winners of the 2026 Carnegie Medal, the U.K.’s longest running children’s book awards, were announced Tuesday. Debut author Beth O’Brien won both the Carnegie Medal for Writing and the Shadowers’ Choice Award for Writing for her middle grade novel Wolf Siren (HarperCollins). Kate Rolfe took home the Carnegie Medal for Illustration for Wiggling Words (Two Hoots). And the winner of the Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Illustration is Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel, illustrated and adapted by Aimée de Jongh, written by William Golding (Faber & Faber). The winners of the Carnegie Medals for Writing and Illustration each received a medal and a £5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize. The winners of the Shadowers’ Choice Medals, which are selected by young readers, also received a medal and £500 worth of books to donate to a library of their choice. For more information, click here.  UConn’s Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute has announced the recipients of its 2026 Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children’s Literature. The winning titles are The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story by Daniel Nayeri and Coming Home: A Hopi Resistance Story by Mavasta Honyouti, both published by Levine Querido. The Malka Penn Award highlights authors of outstanding children’s books that address human rights issues or themes. For more information, click here. Sneak Previews  Take a look ahead at some of the big titles for children and teens due out this fall, from picture books to YA novels, in our exclusive roundup. more Bestsellers  Children’s Frontlist Fiction#1 Skyshade (Lightlark #3) by Alex Aster. Click here  Picture Books#1 Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. Click here | ||
