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Banned Books Week
 For Banned Books Week 2025, Literary Orgs and Allies Determine to Make NoiseBanned Books Week 2025 is taking place this week, and freedom to read advocates came out swinging. The American Library Association, working from the theme “Censorship Is So 1984,” has organized a slate of in-person and online events for all ages, culminating in Let Freedom Read Day, on which people are invited to take at least one step to fight book bans. more   ‘Tango’ Plaintiffs Plan an Appeal to the 11th Circuit And Tango Makes Three authors Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, whose First Amendment claim against Florida’s Escambia County School Board was dismissed in federal court last week, will appeal to restore their picture book to public school library shelves. more  Check out PW’s recent Freedom to Read issue for more news from the frontlines of the battle against book banning, including close-ups on 10 grassroots activists who are making a difference, and more. MORE In the News
 Finalists for 2025 NBA for Young People’s Literature AnnouncedThe National Book Foundation has revealed the five finalists for the 2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. more Comic Con Preview
 What to Expect at New York Comic Con With a revamped pro area and the return of DC Comics, this year’s NYCC—slated for October 9 through 12—is rolling out the red carpet for industry professionals. more
Book News
 Axolotls Everywhere!: A Raft of New Books for Kids Feature the New ‘It’ Creature Combining the kawaii appearance of a Pokémon character with the real-world appeal of cuddly creatures such as bunnies and kittens, axolotls are the breakout cuties of the past few years. Publishers have been attuned to the popularity of axolotls for some time now, but this year, the amphibious salamanders seem to have entered their prime, featuring in a number of new releases including picture books, board books, and early readers. more Reading Roundup
 2025 Halloween Books for Young Readers In anticipation of Halloween, we’ve rounded up a number of new and festive books for young readers, including atmospheric picture books, chilling middle grade tales, ghostly graphic novels, and more. more Four Questions
 Holly Goldberg SloanHolly Goldberg Sloan—the author of Counting by 7s and other works for young readers—returns with Finding Lost, a middle grade novel about grief and the power of nature to heal. It’s been more than two years since Cordy’s father died. When Cordy finds and adopts a lovable stray dog, whom she names Lost, she sets into motion gradual changes that allow the family to open themselves back up to love. Sloan spoke with us about building community and protecting the natural world. Q: Why did you focus on Cordy’s relationship with Lost? A: Part of it is personal. I had a dog as a child. That dog was so important to me. I think that one of the most powerful relationships a child can have is with an animal. Animals love unconditionally. They need us and they aren’t very judgmental. Those things are so important, not just while growing up, but once you’re an adult, too. more
Rights Report
 Jen Besser and Hana Tzou at Henry Holt have acquired, in a preempt, Mariko Turk's YA rom-com, The Museum of Modern Love, and a second untitled book. Hopeless romantic Miki Kawamura plans to confess her love for her best friend Auden on an overnight tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art—the same tour that made her grandparents fall in love in 1965—until Miki's disaster ex-fling shows up and takes Auden's place. Publication is set for fall 2026; Alexandra Levick at Writers House sold North American rights.   Kelsey Murphy at Viking has bought, in a preempt, North American rights for Bright Light on the Horizon by Lindsey Anderson Rios, a YA dystopian novel about two teens on a mission to retrieve a vaccine to save their world from a parasitic fungus, inspired by the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Catherine Cho at Paper Literary brokered the deal.  Alison Romig at Delacorte Press has acquired The Rom-Com Conundrum by Jessica L. Cozzi (We've Hit Turbulence), a contemporary YA romance about a rom-com enthusiast who's never been in love. When she sets out to write her own romance, she meets a grumpy library page and discovers that real love is far messier and more complicated than her favorite love stories. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Marisa Cleveland and Elisa Houot at Seymour Agency sold world English rights.  Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has bought North American rights to Sincerely Your Murderer (published in the U.K. as Mondays Are Murder), a YA cozy mystery by Ravena Guron (This Book Kills). When Kay goes back to her hometown, she finds an anonymous letter detailing all the terrible things that will happen to her during the week ahead, ending with her murder on Monday. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Alice Sutherland-Hawes at ASH Literary did the two-book deal.  Lara LeMoal at Greystone Kids has acquired world rights to River Song, a YA graphic novel from Cree–Métis author-illustrator Julie Flett, a spirited coming-of-age story inspired by Flett's father's life experiences. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal.  Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Ottaviano has bought The Plume War by National Book Award-winning author Phillip Hoose (Claudette Colvin). This narrative nonfiction YA work uncovers the history of the 50-year struggle to save birds from fashion's exploitation and reveals how this fight sparked animal rights activism worldwide. Publication is set for summer 2027; Jennie Dunham at Dunham Literary sold world English rights.  Elizabeth Lynch at Penguin Workshop has acquired an untitled middle grade adventure series set in the fast-paced world of Formula 1 by Will Taylor (The School for Wicked Witches). Life is already exciting for the lucky kids who travel the F1 circuit with their racing-affiliated families, but 12-year-old Mateo and his friends can't seem to stop uncovering secrets—secrets with the power to flip the sport they love entirely on its head. Book one is slated for spring 2027; Brent Taylor at Triada US did the four-book, six-figure deal for world rights.  Mark Siegel at First Second has bought, at auction, Sir Silly, Gavin Aung Than's three-book young reader graphic novel series about a silly goose who dreams of becoming a knight. Ivan Taurisano will also edit; publication of the first book is planned for 2027. Chelsea Eberly at Greenhouse Literary Agency sold world English rights excluding Australia and New Zealand.  Donna Bray at Macmillan/Balzer + Bray has acquired, in a two-book deal, Love Bug by Lucy Ruth Cummins, about an itty bitty Love Bug who loves love and her buggy buddies. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.  Julia McCarthy at Atheneum has bought Orla and the Jellyfish by #KidLit4Climate founder Emma Reynolds (Amara and the Bats), a picture book about a girl who loves the misunderstood jellyfish at her local beach and rallies her community to protect the ocean, invest in renewables, and end plastic pollution. Publication is set for spring 2027; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights.  Sylvie Frank at Penguin/Flamingo Books has acquired world rights to four picture books introducing Hugo, a playful, rascally pug, by Jonathan Stutzman (l.), illustrated by Jay Fleck. The first book, Uh-Oh, Hugo!, follows Hugo and his girl on their snafu-filled day, from a snake encounter to a bee sting. Publication is slated for summer 2026, with subsequent titles to follow; Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.  Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has bought world rights to The Geyser Sisters by Sara Laux Akin (l.) (Three Scoops and a Fig), illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Micha Archer (Wonder Walkers), a modern folktale about a geyser, the sisters who protect it, and the nearby villagers who take it for granted and throw their trash inside—only for the geyser to throw all the garbage right back. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Amy Thrall Flynn represented the author, and Rubin Pfeffer represented the illustrator, both at at Aevitas Creative Management.  Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has acquired National Book Award winner Kathryn Erskine's (l.) picture book The Spaces Between, illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Aaron Becker (Journey), about discovering hope, peace, and possibility in the quiet spaces between. Publication is scheduled for spring 2028; Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency negotiated on behalf of the author for world English rights and the illustrator for world rights.  Rachel Lawson at Lerner/Gecko Press has bought world rights to Cass and the Beast by New Zealand author Claire Mabey (l.), illustrated by Scottish artist Jill Calder, a picture book about a girl who chooses not to be afraid, a modern-day heroine in a story about a fearful beast, a courageous girl, and a wild and magical journey. Publication is set for fall 2026; the Annabel Barker Agency represented the author, and Lindsay Fraser at Fraser Ross Associates represented the illustrator.  Emma Ledbetter while at Abrams acquired world rights to I Wore Indian Clothes to School Today by Raakhee Mirchandani (l.) and Supriya Kelkar, illustrated by Kelkar, a picture book inspired by the authors' children wearing Indian clothes to picture day in different states on the same day, a story of kids who express their American and Indian culture with purpose and pride. Sara Sproull will edit; publication is slated for spring 2027. Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency represented Mirchandani, and Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Kelkar.  Luisa Beguiristaín at Roaring Brook has bought Bear Bear Ever After by Katy Loutzenhiser (l.), illustrated by Xindi Yan. In tones that wink at British costume dramas, a curmudgeonly teddy bear who falls off his human's bed ponders life with and without her. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.  Sylvie Frank at Penguin/Flamingo Books has acquired world rights to Jane the Train and the Christmas Storm by Della Ross Ferreri (l.), illustrated by Ag Jatkowska, a picture book about a clever, take-charge train who battles a blizzard while delivering baking supplies to Santa at the North Pole. Publication is scheduled for fall 2028; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Georgia Tournay-Godfrey at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Megan Abbate while at Bloomsbury bought world rights to Quick, Santa's Coming Tonight! by JaNay Brown-Wood (l.) (Imani's Moon), illustrated by Letícia Moreno. This rhyming onomatopoeic tale follows a family on Christmas Eve as they hastily prepare for the arrival of special holiday guests. Kei Nakatsuka will edit; publication is set for fall 2027. Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.  Mauricio Velázquez de León at Sourcebooks has acquired world rights to Diwali Alphabet by Anjali Joshi (l.) (Why We Celebrate Diwali), illustrated by Pranami Bora, a picture book that sparks curiosity, celebrates culture, and brings the festival of lights to life. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and Tina Doffing at Astound US represented the illustrator.  Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has bought world English rights to Emily Min-ji Makes Kimchi by Meredith Seung Mee Buse (l.), illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky, a picture book in which a girl adopted from Korea makes her own kimchi to connect with herself, her identity, and her culture. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Marisa Cleveland at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.  Deidra Purvis at Free Spirit has acquired Mabel's Mitzvah, a picture book by Lisa Cloherty (l.), illustrated by Yaara Cellier, in which a girl who sets out to help her elderly neighbor for her school's Mitzvah Day discovers that friendship is the greatest gift of all. Christine Zuchora-Walske and Alison Behnke will edit; publication is set for fall 2026. The author represented herself, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  Your TruckJon Klassen. Candlewick, $8.99 (28p) ISBN 978-1-5362-4822-7 A red pickup truck prompts reader empowerment in Klassen’s standout board book series starter, which expands upon his Your Places series. Stamp-like illustrations whose figures sport the creator’s signature side-eye center attention on the vehicle and canine, supporting the concept of readerly control. Minimalism motors toward an expansive experience in this smart work that puts youngest readers in the driver’s seat. more  Two Artists, Grandad and MeCharnelle Pinkney Barlow. Doubleday, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-593-57122-4 Pinkney Barlow pays homage to her late grandfather, illustrator Jerry Pinkney in a heartwarming reflection about artmaking’s improvisational process. As the young protagonist visits Grandad’s art studio, first-person text sets the scene. As “snappy trumpet floods the warm studio,” the two work side by side, and the sounds of bass and saxophone build to a moving moment when the child’s “I don’t think I did it right” prompts a reassurance that affirms their path as an artist: “There is no right way.... Every artist sees the world differently.” more  Saber-ToothRobin Gow. Amulet, $18.99 (328p) ISBN 978-1-4197-7738-7 All summer long, autistic and transgender incoming eighth grader Jasper Amato’s older brother Callan has been promising that they would go fossil hunting together around their rural Pennsylvania home, but the pair never go. Jasper begins his own backyard dig; he’s soon terrified when he hears a voice from underground. The buried entity claims to be a saber-toothed tiger who pleads for Jasper to unearth them. When Jasper succeeds, however, he realizes that the mysterious being is something far more frightening. more  A Year Without HomeV.T. Bidania. Penguin/Paulsen, $18.99 (432p) ISBN 978-0-59369-720-7 This edifying novel by Bidania, narrated in evocative verse by 11-year-old Gao Sheng, traces the year during which she and her extended family of 20 lived as refugees following the end of the Vietnam War. As the war concludes, Hmong residents who stood against communism alongside the American military—like Gao Sheng’s elite soldier father—must flee Laos with their families. Bereft at the loss of their hilltop house, where “perfect” peach trees grow, the family contends with myriad obstacles before they finally arrive in Thailand; there, they live in two consecutive refugee camps. more | ||||
