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In the Spotlight
 ‘The Princess Diaries’ Gets a New Life at 25It's been a quarter of a century since Mia Thermopolis took her first bow as princess of the fictional Genovia in The Princess Diaries, a YA novel by Meg Cabot that spawned a bestselling series from HarperCollins and two hit films from Disney. Mia now gets another royal makeover in The Princess Diaries: The Graphic Novel, illustrated by Bethany Crandall, due from HarperAlley on June 30. more  In the News
 Children’s Institute 2026: Chicago’s Publishers Produce Books for World’s Young Readers Children’s Institute and ALA attendees will be entering a children’s book publishing wonderland when they head to Chicago and nearby Schaumburg, Ill., at the end of the month. While Albert Whitman, the oldest and most iconic of the Chicagoland children's publishers, declared bankruptcy in 2025, other publishers in the area producing children's books report financial stability due to strong sales and steady growth. more  Quirky Vocab Book Gets a TikTok Bump—40+ Years After PublicationFirst published in 1985, The Weighty Word Book has roared back to life—with reprints on the way—thanks to TikTok influencer Eli McCann’s viral post. We spoke with McCann and the three creators of the original A-to-Z book of wordplay about this unexpected boost. more  Forefront Books Launches Butterfly & Bee Press with Kahliah Ali Nashville-based hybrid publisher Forefront Books has partnered with the daughter of Muhammad Ali on a new children’s imprint promoting awareness of diverse learning styles. The imprint is set to debut in spring 2027 with Kahliah Ali’s Float Like a Butterfly and Learn Like Me, inspired in part by her father’s experiences with dyslexia and his lifelong advocacy for literacy. more   Publishing Pride
 Hannah Moushabeck, Interlink Publishing Since taking the helm of the Northampton, Mass.–based press, Moushabeck has been part of a growing effort to make the queer publishing landscape more intersectional, with initiatives including an annual writers retreat for LGBTQ+ people in the children’s book industry called Queer KidLit Camp. more Bookstore News
 Jane in Jersey: N.J. Bookstore Opens for Austen FansIn 2025, Charity Herndon was a published author with one acclaimed YA novel, Other Side of the Tracks, under her belt and another in the works. But earlier this month, she realized her true dream of opening a Jane Austen–themed bookshop. Austen’s Shelf and Literary Boutique welcomed its first customers on June 6 in Bordentown, N.J., and has already launched a series of community events. more Q & A
 Elle Kennedy on ‘Off Campus’ and Making Her YA DebutThe TV adaptation of Kennedy’s hit hockey romance series has quickly become one of Amazon’s biggest shows. Now, the author is looking ahead to season two and, later this month, publishing her first YA novel, about a serial killer’s daughter. more  Inspiration Stew: PW Talks with Jessie Sima Sima is the author-illustrator of 11 picture books, including Not Quite Narwhal; Love, Z; and Weather Together. Their new book, The Greatest Bedtime Story Ever, tells the darkly humorous tale of a boastful elf tasked with reading a dragon to sleep. We spoke with Sima about metaphors, metafiction, and magic ahead of their appearance at Children's Institute on June 28. more Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Press: Week of June 22 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a YA romantasy featuring a deadly baking competition, a graphic novel about an unlikely friendship, a supernatural YA verse novel, a fairy-tale remix, and more. more In Brief
 In Brief: June 18, 2026Recently, an illustrator revealed the cover for his forthcoming project, an author discussed her nonfiction book on self-confidence, bookstores welcomed an out-of-town guest, and an author had a buzzy event. more
Rights Report
 Jessica Smith at Simon Pulse has acquired Forever Is Composed of Nows, a cozy YA romance by Sarah Henning. Burdened by unrequited love and an intense shyness about sharing her poems, Ellie is doomed to follow in the footsteps of her famous ancestor: Emily Dickinson. But when Ellie's poems are anonymously printed in the high school paper, the entire town becomes obsessed with figuring out her identity. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Whitney Ross at Highline Literary Collective sold world English rights.  Carolina Mancheno Ortiz at Avon A has bought world rights to Love at First Bite by Gabriela Martins. The YA novel follows a heartbroken girl who accidentally binds herself to a young werewolf alpha through a bargain-bin Etsy love spell, forcing them to team up to undo the magic and maybe fall in love for real. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; the author represented herself.  Emily Duffy at Union Square Kids has acquired world English rights to Eliana Albertini's (l.) Romeo and Juliet: Lovers Under a Nasty Star, a YA graphic novel adaptation of Shakespeare's classic play narrated by the very star of the "star-crossed lovers," translated by Alice Amico. In the vein of Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, this adaptation mixes modern language, Shakespearean dialogue, pop culture references, astrology, and humor. Publication is planned for summer 2027; Alessandra Sternfeld at Am-Book negotiated the deal.  Hannah Smith at Owl Hollow Press has bought world rights to YA spy thriller Garden of Spies by Kes Trester (A Dangerous Year; The Nine). The novel follows 17-year-old Lena Vincent, a Manhattan pickpocket who is recruited into a secret CIA training program for talented teens. At a secluded facility in Wyoming, Lena finds friendship and belonging for the first time, but when a mission ends in tragedy and signs of sabotage emerge, Lena and her teammates must uncover the truth before an enemy destroys everything they've worked for. Publication is set for fall 2027; the author was unagented.  Andrew Arnold at HarperAlley has acquired North American rights to I Am One of You, a YA graphic adaptation of Jonathan Conyers's (l.) memoir I Wasn't Supposed to Be Here, written with Joseph P. Illidge (Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad) and Marvel illustrator Daniel A. Stevens. The book follows a Black teen through his rough upbringing in New York as he finds his voice and sense of self-worth. Josh Sippie will edit; publication is slated for winter 2028. Johanna Castillo at Writers House represented Conyers, Gordon Warnock at Fuse Literary represented Illidge, and Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency represented Stevens.  Liz Szabla and Anna Roberto at Feiwel and Friends have bought North American English rights to Katherine Applegate's (l.) graphic novel adaptation of her middle grade novel Crenshaw, illustrated by Yai Rhynn. Anna Roberto will edit; publication is scheduled for fall 2028. Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary & Media represented the author, and Heather and Ethan Long at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.  Meg Gaertner at Jolly Fish Press has acquired Both Sides of Greystone Drive, a middle grade dual-POV historical novel told in alternating prose and verse by Sydney Dunlap (It Happened on Saturday; Racing the Clouds), set against the backdrop of the accelerating end of the Cold War. Anja longs for the life of freedom and self-determination she believes her best friend Lennan has in her "perfect" home, but discovers that things are not always as they appear. Publication is set for spring 2028; Ann Rose while at the Tobias Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.  Ivan Taurisano at First Second has bought The Tomorrow Book by Bobby Podesta (North for the Winter), a middle grade graphic novel about Meg and Gabriel, two kids navigating change in a new blended family with the help of a book that makes everything written inside it come true, though never quite as expected. Publication is planned for 2030; Jennifer March Soloway at Starling Literary + Media sold world rights.  Marilyn Brigham at Amazon Crossing Kids has acquired world English rights to The Murderess of Venice by Spanish author Pol Castellanos (l.), translated from the Catalan by Claire Storey. This middle grade novel is a historical murder mystery with a touch of witchcraft, set around the Mediterranean in 1914, about a wealthy teen who discovers that she has the power to see misfortunes before they occur. When she foresees a political murder and becomes a suspect, it sets off an international adventure in which she discovers the truth of her own magic and her family's dark history. Publication is slated for February 2027; Pilar Lafuente represented the publisher Estrella Polar, and the translator represented herself.  Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster has bought Thistle and Goose by Jessie Sima (Not Quite Narwhal; Perfectly Pegasus), first in a debut illustrated chapter book series that follows the adventures of two unlikely friends: a hedge witch cat who likes things tidy, and Goose, an agent of chaos, for fans of Frog and Toad and Kiki's Delivery Service. Publication will start in summer 2027; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency sold world English rights.  Emily Duffy at Union Square Kids has acquired world rights to Tales from the Fridge, a chapter book series by Josh Funk (l.), illustrated by Brendan Kearney, in a four-book deal, in which characters from the Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast picture book series continue their adventures. Publication will begin in summer 2027; Kathleen Rushall represented the author, and Hannah Whitty at Plum Pudding Illustration represented the illustrator.  Nancy Conescu at FSG has bought, at auction, A Snag by Lydia Nichols, a debut picture book about two lumberjacks who are planning to cut down a dead tree, only to discover that the tree is not so dead, and the animals living in it have no plans to leave. Publication is scheduled for winter 2028; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio did the deal for world rights.  Sarah Alpert at Norton Young Readers has acquired The Wayward Dragon and the Curious Child and a second untitled picture book by author-illustrator Crix Sheridan. In this fairy tale, a bold, inquisitive child and a verbose, crotchety dragon stuck in a confounding labyrinth team up to search for treasure (and find a way out). Publication is planned for fall 2027; Jessica Saint Jean at Root Literary negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.  Meriam Metoui at Viking has bought OH, OK by Emma Reynolds, a picture book about a girl who loves making art more than anything, but after receiving conflicting feedback that leaves her too scared to draw anymore, she must find a way to rediscover her creative spark. Publication is set for summer 2028; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency sold world rights.  Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to Opuesto: A Borderland Book of Opposites by Cook Prize Gold Medalist Alexander Vidal (Trapped in the Tar Pit), a picture book that explores animal opposites living in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands and how they are united, not divided, by their differences. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary brokered the deal.  Caitlin Tutterow at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought world rights to Ninja by Nature by Kristen Mai Giang (l.) (Action Jasmine), illustrated by Teresa Martínez (Duck Duck Taco Truck), a picture book about a boy who gets in trouble for showing his ninja nature at school, until stealth, observation, and cunning are exactly what's needed to save the day. Publication is slated for fall 2028; Erin Murphy at Aevitas Creative Management while at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Sol Salinas at Astound US represented the illustrator.  Michael Yuen-Killick at Red Comet has acquired world rights to Manta Ray Ballet by Trenise (l.), illustrated by Widyasari Hanaya. This picture book follows a girl who joins her father and uncle on a moonlit excursion in Hawaii, where she witnesses the graceful dance of manta rays beneath the sea, celebrating the majesty of these gentle giants as they feed, twirl through the currents, and leap from the sea. Publication is set for fall 2027; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black, now at Starling Literary + Media, represented the author while at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Jess Lomax at Inkling Illustration represented the illustrator.  Karen Smith at Workman Kids has bought world rights to Good Morning Little Yogi by debut author Elyse Stoedter (l.), illustrated by Sarthak Sinha, in which a mother and child practice yoga together, igniting the child's imagination through each animal pose and boosting their confidence with positive mantras. Publication is planned for winter 2028; Rena Rossner while at the Deborah Harris Agency represented the author, and Aliza Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.  Andy McGuire at Seed & Sparrow has acquired world rights to Wonders of the Wild: Hibernation, Migration, and Other Marvels of God's Creation, a picture book by Sonja Anderson (l.), illustrated by Katie Rewse, which delves into an array of fascinating animals and their innate instincts. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Adria Goetz at KT Literary represented the author, and the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Katie Ten Hagen at Magination Press has bought world rights to The World Needs You by Crystal Kite Award winner Jackie Kramer (l.), illustrated by Teresa Martinez, a picture book about a little girl's wish to do something important. A publication date has not been set; Stephen Fraser at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency represented the author, and Sol Salinas at Astound US represented the illustrator.  Jake Bonar at North Country Books has acquired Meet Champy by Christopher Award-winning author Amy Guglielmo (Pocket Full of Colors), introducing readers to the mythical monster of Lake Champlain, who turns out to be not so scary after all, and likes to hike, ski, and play in the Adirondack lakes and mountains with his best friend. It is the author's illustration debut, and will be published as a board book in fall 2027; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management sold world rights.  Hannah Lambert at Little Simon has bought More More More Cats by Brigette Barrager, a stylish counting board book with some surprises thrown in. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for world rights. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  HometownShaun Tan. Levine Querido, $24.99 (136p) ISBN 978-1-64614-698-7 Tan presents a visually stunning allegory about a lone youth who must choose between staying among their beloved otherworldly community and leaving to seek out others like them. The book’s narrator, an unnamed humanlike character, introduces the audience to their hometown on an interstellar world. Their routine is disrupted when a blazing object crash-lands outside of town, and a figure resembling an astronaut appears from the site. more  La Bandera: Poems of Resistance and PrideAnika Aldamuy Denise, illus. by Ericka Lugo. HarperCollins, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-0-0632-1666-2 Denise and debut illustrator Lugo recount Puerto Rico’s ongoing struggle for autonomy in this layered and resonant collection. Fourteen powerful poems unspool “a complex narrative that is missing from mainstream... books,” conveying the history of the island, its people, and its flag. Lush, brightly colored artwork and lyrical verse portray moments of joy and oppression. The result is an uplifting testament to a people and their history. more  The Gods Will Sing Our SongAutumn Krause. Delacorte, $20.99 (432p) ISBN 979-8-217-02766-8 In Los Angeles, 17-year-old Ren Hamada and straight-A student Violet Aratani, also 17, are forcibly evacuated to Manzanar War Relocation Center in May 1942. They are instantly drawn to each other, their connection strengthened by a peculiar resonance between the sacred relic pendants they wear, both inherited from their fathers. After their relics reveal that a godly presence is also trapped within the camp, Ren and Violet investigate, hoping to assist the god and gain divine favors. It's a captivating exploration of the devastating injustice of internment. more  | ||
