Temperature Check

At the 12th annual Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair, which wrapped up yesterday, overseas exhibitors weighed in on the lackluster state of the Chinese children’s book market, from sales to rights-buying, while others commended China’s publishers for developing homegrown IP. Stable Distribution—the new distribution company for indie publishers formed by Stable Book Group and Hachette Book Group launching in January—has added McSweeney’s and four other presses to its roster. Penguin Random House Christian has announced plans to launch Grace Corner, a direct-to-consumer content hub and e-commerce platform, in early 2026. The Guardian investigates the proliferation of AI-assisted publishing scams—and talks with the authors ensnared by them—in the U.K., New Zealand, and Australia. Also in the U.K., Sarah Ferguson’s latest children’s book has been pulled from sale over her and her ex-husband’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, per the BBC. Adele will make her acting debut in Tom Ford’s film adaptation of Anne Rice’s Cry to Heaven, Variety reports, and Ace Atkins’s thriller Don’t Let the Devil Ride is heading to the small screen, per Deadline. Libro.fm rounds up its top 10 audiobooks of 2025, and Books-A-Million compiles its 100 best books to gift this holiday season. PW contributor Daniel Yadin thoroughly unpacks the romantasy phenomenon for the Drift. And author, editor, and disability justice activist Alice Wong has died at 51.