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In the Spotlight
 Balzer + Bray Previews Its Inaugural List at MacmillanAfter moving their eponymous imprint from HarperCollins Children's Books to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group last spring, publishers Alessandra Balzer (l.) and Donna Bray of Balzer + Bray have announced their inaugural list, to be published in winter and spring 2026. “Our tastes, mission, and philosophy remain the same,” Balzer said. more  In the News
 Children's Lit Community Hosts Fundraisers and Book Drives for L.A. Wildfire ReliefChildren's creators, publishers, and booksellers looked for ways to bolster Los Angeles families, communities, and relief organizations after the wildfires of the past week, especially after digesting the news of schools destroyed in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. Brein Lopez, general manager at Children’s Book World in West L.A., said, “We know this will be a long journey to help rebuild our community." more
Book News
 Keith Baker's 'Peas' Roll Out to Celebrate Holidays Sin Since its launch in 2010 with LMNO Peas, Keith Baker’s popular series of picture books has garnered a global in-print tally of 2.25 million copies. The series is currently expanding with a quartet of new holiday titles, published by Simon & Schuster’s Beach Lane Books imprint. more Just Announced
 'The Survivor Wants to Die at the End' by Adam Silvera Adam Silvera has announced the third installment in his bestselling They Both Die at the End series, The Survivor Wants to Die at the End, which is set to release May 6 from Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children's Books. “It is about battling mental illness, but it is not about dying," Silver said of the new book. more   Four Questions
 Kami GarciaYA author and graphic novelist Kami Garcia is releasing her first middle grade graphic novel Mixed-Up, illustrated by Brittney Williams, which follows a creative fifth grader navigating a dyslexia diagnosis. In a conversation with PW, Garcia discussed tackling career firsts and the importance of graphic novels in supporting children’s literacy. Q: How much did witnessing your daughter's experience with dyslexia inform how you approached this story? A: As my daughter was getting older, I wanted to be able to read her books about dyslexia for children. I was able to find some picture books and chapter books, but I didn’t really find a lot. I wanted her to discover that love of reading that I always had as a child. Immediately I started thinking about what a perfect medium a graphic novel was for a story about a kid with dyslexia. I wanted to write something that was accessible to everyone. more Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Press: Week of January 20 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about navigating bilingual life, a middle grade novel about a tween’s struggles with arithmetic, a YA rivals-to-lovers rom-com, and more. more In Brief
 In Brief: January 16, 2025Recently, artists revealed a picture book-inspired installation, sisters presented a book together, an author honored an activist with his debut, an author made a school visit to discuss censorship, romance was the subject at a launch event, and an author discussed a momentous trial. more
Rights Report
 Sarah Barley at S&S/Sarah Barley Books has acquired North American rights to Beth Is Dead and a second untitled book by Katie Bernet, in a six-house auction. The book is a contemporary reimagining of Little Women in which Beth dies in the first chapter, and her sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer—until they begin to suspect each other. The novel is told in four perspectives, including Beth's in flashback. Publication is planned for the Sarah Barley Books launch list in spring 2026; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary negotiated the deal.  Hannah Hill at Delacorte Romance has bought We're a Bad Idea, Right? and two additional books by K.L. Walther (The Summer of Broken Rules; While We're Young), in which a young woman rents out her home for a weekend party in order to fund her gap year, while also helping her best friend woo his ex by agreeing to fake date, inspired by the cult classic Risky Business. The first book is scheduled for spring 2026; Eva Scalzo at Speilburg Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.  Gretchen Durning at Putnam has acquired A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon by Hannah Reynolds (Summer Nights and Meteorites). In this cozy YA romantasy, a magic academy student deters unwanted suitors by telling them she's betrothed to a demon—only to return home and find a demon waiting for her, insisting she honor the engagement, but the city's increasingly unpredictable magic means she might have bigger problems. Publication is set for spring 2026; Tamar Rydzinski at Context Literary handled the deal.  Nicole Ellul at Simon & Schuster has bought, in an exclusive submission, Prince of Mourning by Jenn Bennett, a YA dark Gilded Age romantasy. Nursing student Molly has been summoned to an upstate New York mansion to care for a dying millionaire—but there she discovers an immortal boy being held prisoner. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.  Alyson Day at HarperCollins has acquired The House Next Door, a middle grade novel by Ellen Oh (Spirit Hunters). Rory has lived next door to a haunted house all of his life and has seen how the ghosts chase out all the families that have tried to live there. But when Rory's new friends Jack and Mira move into the house, Rory joins forces with the ghosts to help save his friends from the monsters in the basement. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Marietta B. Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.  Simone Roberts-Payne at Putnam has bought world rights to All That Chandni Knows, a middle-grade novel-in-verse by Khushboo Patel. Set in India in the 1990s, it tells the story of a girl navigating complicated familial relationships and friendships, while trying to pursue her own dreams. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency represented the author.  Calista Brill at First Second has acquired Ghost School, Lisa Brown's middle grade graphic novel about a school and the children's ghosts who still inhabit it; Shawna Gore will also edit. Publication is slated for 2026; Charlotte Sheedy at Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.  Grace Scheipeter at Oni Press has bought author-illustrator Deandra "Nika" Tan's Robot Ramen Cafe, a middle-grade graphic novel in which 11-year-old June teams up with a mysterious robot to help save her family's struggling ramen shop. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Jennifer Chen Tran at Glass Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.  Nick Magliato at Penguin Workshop has acquired world English rights to the middle-grade graphic novel Ollie Island, co-created by Dave Scheidt (the Mayor Good Boy series) and Scoot McMahon (co-creator with Scheidt of Agents of S.L.A.M.), written by Scheidt and illustrated by McMahon, in a two-book, six-figure deal. Pitched as Tony Hawk's Pro-Skater meets Willy Wonka, the graphic novel is about what happens when the greatest skateboarder of all time handpicks a group of promising kids to compete on his billion-dollar tropical skate park for a chance of a lifetime, but the skaters discover Ollie Island is not what it seems. Publication is set for spring 2027 and spring 2028; Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management represented Scheidt, and Marie Lamba at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented McMahon.  Jessica Smith at Aladdin has bought Future Me Saves the World (And Ruins My Life) by Leah Cypess. In this early middle grade series launch, a boy's future self keeps showing up to try to get him to change the future by changing the present (i.e. by making sure today's substitute teacher doesn't quit, or else one day she'll become an evil dictator). Publication is planned for summer 2025; Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger sold world English rights.  Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has acquired, in a four-house auction, E.B. Goodale's Robin and the Stick, Robin and the Moon, and Robin and the Flowers, the first three titles in a new picture book series, Meet Robin. Written for the youngest readers from their perspective of the world around them, the series will feature stories of everyday adventures that feel like huge milestones. The first book is slated for spring 2026; Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency sold world rights.  Tara Walker at Tundra has bought three picture books in the Tiny Bean's Big Adventures series by Stephanie Graegin (Little Fox in the Forest). Each book is composed of tiny stories that tell the big adventures of a little hedgehog named Bean, her beloved grandma, and her best friend Clem (a stuffie). Publication for book one, Everyday Bean, is set for summer 2025, with books two and three slated for summer 2026 and summer 2027; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.  Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond has acquired At the Bottom of Blue by Amanda Calatzis. In this picture book that's a metaphorical look at sadness and grief, Talulah wakes up underwater and tries to go about her day in the depths of blue. With time, support, and small moments of joy, she's able to make her way to the surface. Publication is tentatively scheduled for summer 2027; Charlotte Wenger at Prospect Agency sold world rights.  Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought world rights to Mariposa by Tomás Rivera Book Award-winning author Michael Genhart (l.) (Spanish Is the Language of My Family), illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor artist Carlos Aponte (Across the Bay). Mateo, a queer Latino boy, can rely on his grandmother's loving support to help him feel safe and confident as he comes into being fully himself over time. This heartfelt picture book is positioned within a culture yet also challenges that culture, reclaiming the Spanish word for butterfly which, for too long, has been used as a slur for effeminate and gay boys and men. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Nicole Geiger at Full Circle Literary represented the author, and John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the artist.  Alexandra Cooper at HarperCollins/Quill Tree has acquired world rights to two picture books by AI and technology expert and former White House official Afua Bruce (l.), illustrated by Laura Freeman, including Bessie the Inventor: The STEMinist Who Forged Her Own Path, a biography of unsung Black inventor Bessie Blount, who improved medical care and much more. Publication is slated for winter 2027; Lilly Ghahremani represented the author, and Janet DeCarlo at Storybook Arts represented the illustrator.  Meriam Metoui at Viking has bought world rights to Breathe Bunny Breathe by Laura Lavoie (l.), illustrated by Mike Boldt. This picture book follows a cuddly and cute bunny who sometimes gets really angry and needs to find a way to keep his cool. Publication is set for summer 2026; James McGowan at BookEnds represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Marilyn Brigham at Amazon/Two Lions has acquired world rights to Stompie the Zombie by Margery Cuyler (l.), illustrated by Binny Talib. This picture book follows a zombie whose plans for his family reunion (the first in 500 years!) are derailed when he breaks a bone and must spend the night in Urgent Scare. Publication is scheduled for August 2025; Tracey Adams at Adams Literary represented the author, and Nicky Lander at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Paula Manzanero at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Brave New Ballet by Robyn McGrath (l.), illustrated by Alexander Mostov, a picture book about the all-male ballet troupe Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Amy Thrall Flynn at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.  Andrea Posner-Sanchez at Golden Books has acquired world rights to Counting Creatures and Their Features by Dee Leone (l.), illustrated by Kelly Kennedy. The rhyming picture book invites readers to count beastly jaws, dragon wings, monster feet, and other surprising things. Publication is slated for summer 2026; the author was unagented, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  Don’t Trust FishNeil Sharpson, illus. by Dan Santat. Dial, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-593-61667-3 This animal guidebook send-up starts innocently enough, with a portrait of a dairy cow alongside a simple description of mammalian characteristics. Entries for a reptile and bird follow before a page turn reveals an outsize fish. Sharpson expands: “Fish don’t follow any rules.... They are rebels and outlaws.” The claims push ever further into conspiracy territory before the hand-wringing, claw-waving crab is revealed in this rapid-fire comedy of piscine paranoia. more  Are You a Friend of Dorothy?Kyle Lukoff, illus. by Levi Hastings. Simon & Schuster, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-66593-166-3 Straightforwardly detailing how LGBTQ+ people have long found each other via verbal and visual cues, this approachable, engaging work is a primer on both queer history and how “learning about the ways we survived in the past could help people in the future.” Together, the creators demonstrate that “people always know how to find each other. And when it isn’t safe to be out as yourself, you can always create ways to learn who your friends might be.” more  Kaya Morgan’s Crowning AchievementJill Tew. Freedom Fire, $18.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-368-10468-5 Middle schooler Kaya Morgan is cast as court jester rather than queen at the North Georgia Renaissance Faire's apprentice camp. Nevertheless determined to become “the first Black queen in the Faire’s forty-year history,” Kaya’s royal pursuits end in hollow victory when administrators, desperate to diversify the financially struggling camp’s image, name her the “face of the Faire,” even as they continue to maintain traditions and policies that reinforce racial stereotypes. more  Earthrise: The Story of the Photograph That Changed the Way We See Our PlanetLeonard S. Marcus. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $21.99 (160p) ISBN 978-0-374-39211-6 In this visually fascinating read, Marcus recounts the history of the titular photograph. Beginning with an introduction about the notoriety of Neil Armstrong and Apollo 11, the author encourages readers to turn their attention to Apollo 8’s Bill Anders, who, on Christmas Eve, 1968, photographed his home planet while 23,900 miles away in lunar orbit. more  The Strongest HeartSaadia Faruqi. Quill Tree, $19.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-0631-1585-9 Thirteen-year-old Mohammed Mirza believes that rather than admitting he’s struggling, it’s easier to pretend that he doesn’t care about anything—particularly his unemployed Pakistani American father’s untreated paranoid schizophrenia. Faruqi writes an intensely gripping story in which Mo learns more about his father—and himself—and comes to terms with how Abbu’s mental illness affects their life and their relationship. more |
January 16, 2025
  
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To Our Readers Because of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, we won't have an issue of Children's Bookshelf next Tuesday. Look for the next issue of Children's Bookshelf on Thursday, January 23. | ||||
