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In the Spotlight
 Spring 2027 Sneak PeekHere we present an exclusive early look at the books for young readers that publishers are most excited to be releasing next spring—including buzzy debuts, highly anticipated sequels, new directions from established creators, notable author-illustrator pairings, and more. more  Trend Watch
 YA Dystopia Is So Back This fall brings a rising class of young adult novels that explore repressive regimes and the long-term effects of propaganda. We spoke with the authors of six new and forthcoming YA dystopian works about how their tales of fraught societies came to be, and what the subgenre’s comeback says about the world around us. more  Veronica Roth and Chloe Gong on Expanding Their Dystopian Visions Roth returns to her popular Divergent series in her forthcoming novel, The Sixth Faction (HarperCollins, Oct.), in which she reimagines the journey of the series’ heroine. Gong entered the dystopian landscape with her 2025 release Coldwire; the novel’s sequel, Deadlock (S&S, Nov.), continues her exploration of a world in which the rich escape into a virtual reality. We invited Roth (l.) and Gong to discuss their new novels, and growing up alongside their characters. more
Book News
 Just Announced: ‘The Lamplighter’s Son’ by Jason Reynolds Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, has acquired The Lamplighter’s Son, a new middle grade novel from the acclaimed author and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. The book features a collection of interconnected short stories set in a single location and spanning many years. more  New Edition of ‘Redwall’ Celebrates 40 Years of Brian Jacques’s Classic For four decades, readers across the globe have delighted in visiting the medieval fantasy world of Redwall Abbey and the surrounding Mossflower Wood, which the late author Jacques created in his debut novel, Redwall. Philomel Books is marking the milestone with Redwall: The Collector’s Edition, due on October 13, featuring art by the original illustrator, Gary Chalk; a foreword from series editor Patricia Lee Gauch; and a note by Sean Rubin, the final Redwall illustrator. more
Advocacy Updates
 Phil Klay Appointed President of PEN America The National Book Award–winning writer and Marine Corps veteran takes the helm of the free speech nonprofit following the July resignation of Dinaw Mengestu. “As a writer, free expression is the lifeblood of what we do,” Klay said. more   ALA Names Honorary Banned Books Week Chairs The American Library Association’s Banned Books Week Coalition has announced that Bess Kalb (l.), author of the Buffalo Fluffalo series, and Tony Weaver Jr., author of the middle grade graphic novel Weirdo, will be its honorary Banned Books Week chairs for 2026. Banned Books Week will take place October 4–10. more  Finn Butterfield Appointed Associate Manger for ABFE The American Booksellers Association has appointed Butterfield as associate manager for the American Booksellers for Free Expression and Advocacy, replacing Philomena Polefrone, who recently moved on to PEN America to serve as senior manager for its Freedom to Read program. more  First Person
 Dan Yaccarino on Why ‘Oswald’ Is Still His North StarYaccarino is the author and illustrator of more than 100 books for children, including his newest picture book, I Am Murphy and I Am Waiting (Holt, out now). He’s also the creator and producer of several animated series. Here, Yaccarino reflects on the surprising and enduring social-emotional impact of his series Oswald, 25 years later. more World Kid Lit Month
 Translation Conversation: Kit Maude and Lindsay Turner Kit Maude is the Spanish-to-English translator of A Dog Feels Like Sitting (Tapioca Stories, Sept.)—written by David Wapner and illustrated by Isol—a playful picture book following a dog’s repeated attempts to get its owner’s attention. French-to-English translator Lindsay Turner’s first project for young readers is the picture book Have You Ever Heard a Horse Sing? (Transit, Dec.)—written and illustrated by Pauline Barzilaï—an onomatopoeia-filled tale. We invited the duo to chat about the poetic challenges and joys at the heart of their craft. more  Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month
 Celebrating Culture: PW Talks with Ana Siqueira We spoke with teacher and author Siqueira about why she is committed to promoting the Spanish language and representing diverse Latinx culture in her books for young readers. more Q & A
 A Raven’s-Eye View: PW Talks with Rosanne Parry After introducing wolves, orcas, and wild horses in her Voice of the Wilderness novels for Greenwillow Books, the author adds to her repertoire with A Raven of the Rainforest. She spoke with us about raven facts, raven lore, and young readers’ emotional connection to animals. more  Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Press: Week of September 21 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about a sheep mad-scientist’s humorous experiment, a middle grade fantasy about a tween protecting his local environment, an intergenerational YA tale about the secrets within a Chinese family, and more. more In Brief
 In Brief: September 17, 2026Recently, readers gathered to celebrate Dot Day, a local bookstore welcomed an author and an illustrator for a conversation, an author-illustrator duo discussed their picture book debut, a WNBA star and picture book author met fans at a game, and more. more 
Rights Report
 Char Dreyer at Wednesday Books has acquired Where the Water Ends and its sequel, by climate advocate and actor Bonnie Wright, best known as Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films. It's an adventure fantasy set in a world swallowed by ocean, where one girl's mysterious visions of land lead her across forbidden currents toward a hidden truth that could change the fate of humanity. Publication is planned for fall 2028; Nicole Tourtelot at the Gernert Company sold North American rights.  Tiffany Colón at Scholastic has bought You Believe Me, Right? by Megan Davidhizar (Silent Sister). When 14-year-old Lucy survives a kidnapping, she learns that her wealthy parents never paid a ransom for her return, and as threatening messages from an unknown number warn her not to reveal the few details she can remember about her ordeal, she realizes that being home doesn't mean she's out of danger. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Molly Ker Hawn at David Higham Associates negotiated the deal for world rights.  Abby Ranger at Union Square & Co. has bought, in a preempt, I Will Ruin Everything: Sort of a Love Story by Jared Reck (A Short History of the Girl Next Door). The contemporary YA novel follows a guilt-ridden high school football star who, after a family tragedy, withdraws from everyone and everything he loves while struggling with his mental health, but can't help falling for a quirky, wise coworker at a summer camp. Publication is slated for fall 2028; Laura Crockett at Triada US sold world English rights.  Kwame Alexander and Margaret Raymo at Sourcebooks/Kwame Alexander Books have acquired world rights to Coretta Scott King Honor winner Marie Arnold's novel ShadowSync: Smile. Or Else and a second follow-up title. In this speculative middle grade story, 12-year-old Josh thinks he's found the impossible: an AI app that can erase his mother's grief and give him back the mom he had before his father died--but just as some doors should never be unlocked, some apps should never be opened. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Allison Remcheck at Stimola Literary Studio did the two-book deal for world rights.  Allison Cohen at Running Press Kids has bought world English rights to Rock On, Summer Sanders by Stephanie Kate Strohm. When fiddle meets feedback, hearts go off-key in this YA rom-com from the author of 13 Days of Summer, aimed at fans of K.L. Walther, Sarah Dessen, and Jenny Han. Publication is scheduled for May 2027; Kate Testerman at KT Literary brokered the deal.  Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury has acquired, in a two-book deal, Never Trust the Dark by Kalynn Bayron, along with another untitled YA horror. In the vein of I Know What You Did Last Summer, this is a ski lodge slasher in which a group of teenagers must evade a depraved killer who's picking them off one by one. Publication is set for fall 2027; Jamie Vankirk at Rainbow Nerds Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.  Nicole Ellul at Simon & Schuster has bought Once, Again by Deborah Crossland, a contemporary YA romance told in dual POVs and timelines where a young woman with amnesia feels drawn to a familiar stranger while an aspiring filmmaker falls in love on set. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Mollie Glick at Creative Arts Agency handled the deal for North American rights.  Tom Russell at Bright Matter Books has bought The Unsinkable Mr. Wallace by Charles C. Hofer, which tells the true story of Alfred Russel Wallace, the obscure Victorian naturalist who conceived the theory of natural selection from the jungles of the Malay Archipelago—and whose remarkable adventures, rivalry with Darwin, and lifelong fight for social and environmental justice have largely been forgotten. Publication is planned for fall 2029; Nicole Eisenbraun at Ginger Clark Agency sold North American rights.  Nicolás Ore-Giron at Fifth Color Press has acquired world rights to the first four books of the illustrated chapter book series Wings, in an exclusive submission, by Susan Tan (l.), illustrated by Rowan Kingsbury. A shy girl and her winged unicorn companion set off to Camp Wings where they will make friends, discover their magic power, and solve the mystery of the strange gems that are infecting the land. Publication for book one is scheduled for winter 2028; Daniel Lazar at Writers House represented the author, and Natascha Morris at Tobias Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Lois Evans at Random House/Make Me a World has bought world rights to Ezra's Window, actor and activist Lauren Ridloff's (l.) picture book debut, illustrated by Risa Kusumoto. This tale of imagination, community, and brotherhood that features ASL follows a Brooklyn boy as his drawings come to life while he counts the hours down until his older brother returns home from school. Publication is set for summer 2028; Joe Veltre at the Gersh Agency/Schachter Entertainment represented the author, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Nancy Conescu at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Shiho Pate's author-illustrator debut Wanbo. No one understands Olivia better than her big brother Hugo, but even Hugo can't figure out what she's trying to say, and he's just as upset about it as she is, in this sibling story about big feelings and finding the right words when it matters most. Publication is slated for summer 2028; Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency sold world rights.  Mabel Hsu at Stonefruit Studio has bought in a preempt, How to Drive a UFO and a second picture book by Maia Judith, in her North American debut. This guide—geared towards kids who already know how to drive cars and excavators—teaches the essentials of navigating outer space so you can earn your UFO license. Publication is planned for summer 2028; Kait Feldmann at KT Literary sold world rights.  Emma Ledbetter at Candlewick has acquired, at auction, world rights to We Outside, a picture book by Trenise (l.), illustrated by Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award winner Briana Mukodiri Uchendu. The book celebrates the boundless adventures waiting just beyond the door, as children explore, imagine, and delight in the outdoors across every season. Publication is set for summer 2028; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black, now at Starling Literary + Media, represented the author while at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Jessica Saint Jean at Root Literary represented the artist.  Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has bought world rights to The Princess and the Piñata, a picture book by Cynthia Leonor Garza (l.) (Lucía the Luchadora), illustrated by Gonzalo Alvarez, an imagined origin story about a chaotic magical piñata on the loose and the plucky princess who must save the day. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Sandra Proudman represented the author and Marietta B. Zacker represented the illustrator, both at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.  Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane Books has acquired world rights to Book People by Deborah Underwood (l.) (Walter Had a Best Friend), illustrated by Claire Sahara Lemp (My Dad Can), a picture book that celebrates books and the ways they connect us. Publication is slated for spring 2029; Erin Murphy at Aevitas represented the author, and Eve Adler at Red Fox Literary represented the illustrator.  Margaret Quinlin at Peachtree/Margaret Quinlin Books has bought world rights to Metal in Motion by Lynn Street (l.), illustrated by Nancy So Miller, a picture book biography that follows the artistic journey of Alexander Calder, whose playful experiments with suspended sculptures and air currents pioneered a new form of moving art: mobiles. Jonah Heller will edit; publication is planned for fall 2028. Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Jill Davis at Hippo Park has acquired How Do You Do You? by Meg Fleming (l.), illustrated by Brandon James Scott, a rhyming picture book that points out some of our more unique and quirky facets. Publication is scheduled for spring 2028; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management sold world rights.  Lara LeMoal at Greystone Kids has bought world rights to Leave the Leaves by Jessie Lehson (l.), illustrated by Chelsea O'Byrne, a picture book that urges readers to experience the natural world underneath the leaves, where they can find magical microorganisms and slumbering salamanders, butterfly pupae wearing leafy pajamas, and frogs frozen in crystal caves. Publication is set for fall 2028; Liz Nealon at Great Dog Literary represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.  Carol Hinz at Lerner/Carolrhoda has acquired world rights to the picture book Señorita Scientist by NoNieqa Ramos (l.) with Michael G. Richards (c.), illustrated by Natalia Rojas Castro (r.). A high-energy, baseball-loving girl named Gigi goes on a class trip to Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory and battles self-doubt while finding her own way to explain how the radio telescope works. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Karly Dizon at Fuse Literary represented the author, and Fiona Kenny at Inkling Illustration represented the illustrator. | ||||||
