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U.S. Book Show
 Experts Tackle Publishing's Hottest TopicsLeveraging sales data, building author platforms, bolstering youth literacy, and adapting books for the screen were among the many subjects covered at this year’s U.S. Book Show, held at the New York Academy of Medicine June 2–3. more   Publishing CEOs Warn Against AI ‘Witch Hunt’The heads of Authors Equity, Hachette and Sourcebooks said using AI for creative production was a no-go, but agreed there are other benefits. All were sanguine about the industry overall, with one calling this “the most exciting time to be in book publishing." more  Pros Talk Generational Splits Over Labor, Social MediaA workshop on early-career development and a panel on BookTok highlighted the schisms between publishing’s veterans and its newer staffers. more In the News
 Penguin Workshop Prepares to ‘Tinker’Penguin Workshop has announced the forthcoming launch of Tinker, a new publishing program that will focus on commercial, design-forward board and picture books “built for play,” for readers up to 10. more  Jane Austen in the Classroom and BeyondKindred Obas is drawn to big ideas. One of the most recent grew out of the Jane Austen book club that she oversees at the Brooke Charter School in Roslindale, Mass., where she teaches sixth-grade English Language Arts. more  Netflix Launches Book-to-Screen Hub Netflix has unveiled “Watch Your Favorite Books,” a hub in its app and online for book-to-screen adaptations designed to help bookish viewers across age ranges find something to watch based on their favorite genres and styles. more   Book News
 Lee & Low Collaborates with the Asia Foundation on Decodable Books LineA new line from Lee & Low offers emerging readers the chance to master early literacy skills while immersing themselves in world culture. Later this month, the publisher, in partnership with the Asia Foundation, will release the first 10 paperbacks in the Let’s Read Decodable Books Collection. more  Comics Comebacks from Back in the Day What’s old is new again in comics this season, with characters such as the Power Rangers and Speed Racer getting rejuvenated for the 2026 market. more Q & A
 Q & A with Maddie FrostIt’s a big month for illustrator Maddie Frost, whose upcoming projects—middle grade graphic novel Really Rubie, a series launch, followed by picture book The Stuffie Stand—publish one week apart. PW spoke with Frost about branching out creatively and how nurturing a youthful spirit informs her work across formats. Q: Where do you pull your humor from? A: My parents were very funny. I had a fun and happy childhood. I grew up in the ’90s, which was, like, the golden age of Nickelodeon cartoons, so humor was always a part of my life. I also remember having really funny, wacky friends, and being so silly with them. Now when I talk to students during school visits, and I see what makes them laugh in real time, I always make sure to log it in my brain, and the knowledge comes back into my books one way or another. more Out Next Week
 Hot off the Press: Week of June 8, 2026 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about a restless dragon, a middle grade novel about a tween and young giant overcoming their differences, a YA novel about heartbreak and healing, and more. more In Brief
 In Brief: June 4, 2026Recently, a children’s creator received an award from a princess, an author headed to the land down under for a festival, readers gathered for the launch of a YA fantasy, publishers teamed up to present forthcoming titles, and more. more Rights Report
 Sara Goodman at Wednesday Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Katharsis by Jordan Rivet, a post-apocalyptic YA romance in the vein of The Gorge about a teen girl who must survive her community's deadly coming-of-age ritual, only to discover that the monsters that plague the mountains around her village aren't exactly what they seem—and neither is the boy she's fallen for. Publication is set for summer 2027; Lanie Davis and Daisy Garrison at Alloy Entertainment did the deal for world English rights on behalf of Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.  Lydia Gregovic at Delacorte has bought The Gods We Buried, an YA adventure-fantasy by Elle Tesch, author of What Wakes the Bells and The Hanging Bones, in which a girl must team up with the boy who broke her heart to find the legendary tomb of twin lost goddesses and rescue her missing archaeologist mother, pitched as What the River Knows meets Tomb Raider. Publication is planned for summer 2027; Stuti Telidevara and Pete Knapp at Park, Fine & Brower negotiated the deal for North American rights.  Lauren Knowles at Page Street has acquired world English rights to River Mouth by Adrienne Rivera (My Fair Monster). A grief-stricken college freshman takes a job at a crumbling riverside estate, only to uncover secrets linking her mother, a vanished painter, and a darkness lurking beyond the water she fears most. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Natascha Morris at Tobias Literary Agency handled the deal.  Karen Wojtyla at McElderry Books has acquired North American rights to Betsy Uhrig's new upper middle grade novel, The Boy from Elsewhere. Nothing is quite as it seems in this comic fantasy in which 14-year-old misfit Joey is befriended by a startlingly gorgeous boy who turns out to be a fae bounty hunter in need of her extensive knowledge of her small town. But the changeling he is looking for has no morals and no interest in being found. Publication is slated for spring 2027; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Aevitas Creative Management did the deal.  Kate Meltzer at FSG has bought An Earful of Magic by Tricia Springstubb (Cody and the Fountain of Happiness), a whimsical middle grade fantasy in which a gentle boy with unusually powerful hearing catches whispers of a kingdom's plot against their greedy prince ruler—and finds himself at the forefront of the people's rebellion. Publication is set for winter 2028; Kristin Ostby at Salky Literary Management handled the deal for world rights.  Callie Hansen at Shadow Mountain has acquired world rights to Kim Karras's middle grade debut, After Nevermore, in which 12-year-old Elle visits her extended family's home—a Halloween-themed miniature golf course and rambling estate that her mother never wanted her to see. There she finds a treasure hunt left by her recently deceased grandfather, which just might point her (and her mother) to familial connections beyond what she could have ever hoped. Publication is planned for fall 2027; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the deal.  Lisa Mangum at Shadow Mountain has bought Alone Across the Moon by Chad Morris (l.) and Shelly Brown (The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry). In this middle grade adventure, pitched in the vein of The Martian, the first kid living in space faces much more than homesickness when his parents fail to return from a mission, forcing him to leave the safety of the lunar base and make a dangerous journey across the moon to save them. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency sold world rights.  Brett Duquette at Little Bee Books has acquired world rights to Karly Pierre's (l.) new chapter book series Zora's Ghost Hotel, illustrated by Jada Jeni Bennett. Zora lives an action-packed double life: during the day she's an ordinary third grader, but after school she helps out at her family's amazing hotel for non-human creatures. Publication for books one and two are slated for summer 2027; Jazmia K. Young at Curtis Brown Ltd. represented the author, and Heather and Ethan Long at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.  Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight has bought the early reader graphic novel series Otter This World by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (l.), illustrated by Mike Ciccotello, part of the Star Chapter Book line. This humorous action-adventure series stars a trio of secret agent otters who fight crime and keep the peace at the Darlingville Zoo. Beth Barton will edit; publication of the first book is set for spring 2028. Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author and illustrator in the two-book deal for world rights.  Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired Night Night, Crocodile by Greg Pizzoli, Geisel Award-winning creator of The Watermelon Seed, about a crocodile whose worries spiral comically out of control when he loses his teddy bear at bedtime. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.  Jennifer Stokes at Owlkids Books has bought Adopt a Highway, a picture book written and illustrated by Amanda Baehr Fuller, about a girl who loves all things transportation and finally gets permission to adopt a pet of her choice—but instead of a goldfish or a kitten, Rue wants a highway! Publication is slated for spring 2028; the author represented herself.  Jessica Garrison while at Dial acquired, in a preempt, world rights to A Hug for Punch by Caroline L. Perry (l.) (I Am Not Happy!; The Corgi and the Queen), illustrated by Anoosha Syed (That's Not My Name!), a picture book based on the true story of a tiny, brave infant monkey who, along with his stuffed orangutan, became a social media sensation. Stephanie Pitts at Putnam is editing; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Taylor Martindale Kean at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.  Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has bought world rights to The Christmas Freighter by Catherine Stier (l.) illustrated by Hayley Cleary, a picture book about a Great Lakes freighter in December. Despite an ice storm that threatens to derail their schedule, the captain and crew find creative ways to celebrate the holidays and connect with family members on shore in the nick of time. Publication is set for fall 2027; Jennifer Mattson while at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Christina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.  Gabriela Baron at Charlesbridge has acquired world rights to Lee and the Storm by Janelle Springer-Willms (l.), and Kristen Nobles has acquired world rights for illustration by Ken Daley. This picture book follows a child in Barbados who learns from his grandfather how drumming to the sounds of nature can calm a storm of nerves. Publication is planned for summer 2028; Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.  Lili Rosenstreich at Kalaniot Books has bought world rights to We Are Each Other's Hope: The Story of Elie Wiesel by Liza Wiemer (l.) (The Assignment), illustrated by Ellen Weinstein, which covers the life of the author from his childhood in Romania, surviving the Holocaust, immigrating to the U.S. where he became a bestselling author and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  The Secret to BelongingMegan E. Freeman. Atheneum, $19.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-6659-8840-7 In this lush verse novel, the unnamed narrator, a high school junior in 1982 California, consistently feels invisible. She counts down the days until she can leave for college, until her parents inform her that they’ve used her tuition fund to enroll her brother in another drug rehabilitation program. Her friend encourages her to participate in a European exchange program for their senior year and arriving in Northern Norway, she soon clicks with them. But the teen’s tentative peace is haunted by thoughts of her impending return to the U.S., which happens sooner than she’d like. more  Starman: The Cosmic Voyage of David BowieMatthew Cordell. Holiday House/Porter, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5155-5 Reinvention is the engine driving Caldecott Medalist Cordell’s ardent, shape-shifting picture book biography of David Bowie. In this narrative tour of the musical artist’s eras, Bowie is depicted as a “cosmic, celestial, musical artist” who spends his life seeking inspiration. Each chapter-like “stop” on his journey yields a new persona and musical style, from Major Tom (“dreamy and electronic”) to Soul Man (“soft, silky vocals”) to Pop Star (“sugary sweet”). Each section starts with probing questions that invite readers in. more  Exposures: A Story About Life with OCD and the Power of Facing Your FearsLily Williams. First Second, $24.99 hardcover (352p) ISBN 978-1-250-24670-7; $15.99 paper ISBN 978-1-250-24669-1 Drawing from her own experiences with obsessive-compulsive disorder, Williams crafts an unflinching graphic novel portrait of one tween’s managing OCD and exposure response prevention therapy. Twelve-year-old Peyton has spent years concealing an exhausting web of compulsions to neutralize intrusive thoughts. Meanwhile, her twin sister appears to glide effortlessly through adolescence. When Peyton has a panic attack that exposes the extent of her struggles, her parents connect her with a therapist who introduces her to exposure therapy. more  Goodbye, KoiJack Wong. Orchard, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-338-83099-6 Wong traces a family’s relocation through a child’s musings in an affecting tale that is rooted in the creator’s own childhood move from Hong Kong to Canada. As a father and child prepare for their move, they take their pet koi to a garden, where an employee releases them into a pond. As the duo goes about errands and visits, text focused on the child’s inner world acknowledges processing about change while underscoring the family’s strength and resolve. more  The Healers of Harlem: The Black Women Who Changed Medicine Forever Nina Chhita. Dutton, $20.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-593-62008-3 In her powerful debut, Chhita delivers a stirring and thoroughly researched account of the Black women whose work transformed both Harlem Hospital and American medicine, spanning the years 1919–1987. Framed initially around the 1958 stabbing of Martin Luther King Jr. and the lifesaving treatment he received at Harlem Hospital, this moving narrative broadens into a history of perseverance within a segregated medical system that excluded Black doctors, nurses, and patients. more |
June 4, 2026
 
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