 |
||||
|
||||
|
Spotlight on Bologna
 Agents, Matchmaking, and the Human Pulse of PublishingAmid discussions of AI at this year’s Bologna Children's Book Fair, the importance of in-person connection and community-building remained front and center. One particular panel featured (from l.) agent Erica Rand Silverman, editor Susan Rich, illustrator Felicita Sala; author Matthew Burgess, and agent Kirsten Hall in a discussion on fostering creativity IRL. more   Photos from the FairPW takes you on a photo tour with highlights from BCBF, featuring awards ceremonies and celebrations, appearances by renowned authors and illustrators, art openings around the city, prosecco- and pasta-fueled parties, and more. more Book News
 Veronica Roth on 15 Years of ‘Divergent,’ New Books, and the Dystopia of It AllAhead of her appearance at BookCon on April 18 and 19, Veronica Roth spoke with us about the anniversary of her blockbuster dystopian YA novel Divergent, and the release of her next adult novel, Seek the Traitor’s Son. This past weekend, she also dropped the big news that she's returning to the world of her Divergent series with a new duology, beginning with The Sixth Faction in October. more  Three Picture Books Explore Poet Mary Oliver on the Page In the past year, no less than three picture books highlighting the life and career of poet and nature enthusiast Mary Oliver have been released. In honor of Earth Day and National Poetry Month, we spoke with the creators about adapting the poet’s work for children and why her words about the beauty of nature ring true. more
In the News
 Book Industry Coalition Opposes Federal Book Banning EffortMore than 130 publishers, booksellers, librarians, and literary groups have signed a letter in opposition to HR 7661, a bill that would cut federal funding for K–12 classrooms and school libraries alleged to possess “sexually oriented materials.” more  ALA Shares Challenged Books List for National Library WeekNational Library Week runs through April 25, and in recognition of Right to Read Day on April 20, the American Library Association announced its top 11 most challenged books of 2025 as part of its 2026 State of America’s Libraries Report. more  BookCon 2026: Where Fans Reign Supreme? The consumer event returned to New York City last weekend, bringing strong sales for publishers and booksellers. Attendees, however, said they were disappointed by big crowds and limited access to coveted galleys and panels. more  Collective Book Studio Teams with Minneapolis Bookstore and NonprofitThe Oakland, Calif.–based publisher’s book donation drive supports Twin Cities nonprofit My Very Own Bed, which aids families experiencing housing instability, as well as Strive Bookstore, a local indie owned by Mary Taris. more In Conversation
 Randy Ribay and Zeke PeñaTwo-time National Book Award nominee Randy Ribay (l.) is the author of several YA novels including Patron Saints of Nothing and Everything We Never Had. Zeke Peña is the author-illustrator of Sundust and the illustrator of Isabel Quintero’s My Papi Has a Motorcycle, for which he received Ezra Jack Keats and Pura Belpré Honors for illustration. We asked Ribay and Peña to discuss their new picture book, Hold, a celebration of the father-child bond and remembering what’s important—even when we’re in a rush. more   Q & A
 Jill SantopoloAuthor Jill Santopolo only meant to invent a fictional picture book for one of her fictional adult characters. That picture book had other plans. The result is Can You Grow a Striped Banana?, a comic, rhyming lament about a grown-up’s caregiving limitations—and Santopolo’s debut in a format she’s long championed as publisher and editor at Penguin’s Philomel imprint. We spoke with Santopolo about the book’s accidental origins, and the pleasure of working in just about every literary sandbox. Q: Did your inner editor ever butt heads with your inner author? A: The one thing that was really in the forefront of my mind was the fact that I wrote the book in rhyme. That’s something I’m always holding my breath about when I’m reading submissions—is the rhyme actually going to work? Is the meter going to hold up? I really had to step back and think about whether I could do rhyme well enough to carry the whole thing. more
Rights Report
 Andrew Karre at Dutton Books has acquired, in an exclusive submission, The Pink Book, a collection of intertwined weird stories that resist the patriarchy and each in some way involve a pink book, edited by A.S. King, editor of the Printz-winning anthology The Collectors. The anthology includes contributions from Charlie Jane Anders, Martha Brockenbrough, Ann Dávila Cardinal, Shannon Gibney, Laura Ruby, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Mariko Tamaki, Padma Venkatraman, and Jacqueline Woodson, with interstitial pieces by A.S. King. Publication is set for summer 2027; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the deal for world rights.  Claire Stetzer at Amulet has bought, at auction, world English rights to Family First by Tiffany Wang (Inferno's Heir), a YA thriller pitched as Only Murders in the Building meets Gossip Girl, plus a standalone YA thriller. The three Chan sisters are New York socialites whose stars are fading fast, but when their classmate is found dead in the apartment downstairs, what better way to reseize the spotlight than to investigate? Publication for the first book is slated for spring 2028; Kelly Van Sant at KT Literary did the two-book, six-figure deal.  Nicole Fiorica at McElderry Books has acquired The Laws of Love and Gravity, a YA romance by Samantha Markum (Love, Off the Record). Pitched as Legally Blonde meets Ali Hazelwood, the novel follows a girl who attends a summer space program to win back her ex-boyfriend, but finds herself falling for her estranged childhood best friend. Publication is scheduled for 2027; Lauren Spieller at Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.  JuYoun Lee at Yen Press has bought world rights to Fight, the latest graphic novel by Svetlana Chmakova. This middle grade graphic novel brings readers back into the world of Berrybrook Middle School where Foster, one of the bully characters from Brave, is featured as the main character. Foster has come back from a period of suspension and now finds that it is he who has a target on his back. Publication is planned for late 2026; Judith Hansen at Hansen Literary Agency did the deal.  Alex Borbolla at Bloomsbury has acquired, at auction, Hilary Filkins's debut, The Living Half, in a two-book, six-figure deal. Pitched as The Last of Us meets The Last Bookstore on Earth, the YA novel follows Chick and her mother on their search for safety and community in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse, exploring not just who is left standing, but who is left standing together. Publication is set for winter 2028; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency sold world rights.  Shaina Olmanson while at Lerner/Zest bought Playbook for Justice: James Lawson and the Nonviolent Movement in America by Lesley Younge (Nearer My Freedom), with Brian Farrey-Latz and Amy Fitzgerald editing. This YA nonfiction book traces Reverend James Lawson's strategic nonviolent activism before, during, and after the U.S. civil rights movement; explores the role of nonviolence in American history; and highlights ways young people can incorporate nonviolence into their own lives. Publication is slated for November 2026; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management handled the deal for world rights.  Foyinsi Adegbonmire at Feiwel and Friends has acquired world English rights to The Complete and Totally True Statement of Sparrow C. Jones by debut middle-grade author Sharon Grimberg. It tells the story of 11-year-old Sparrow's search for her missing mother after her father is hospitalized with a broken heart, which throws Sparrow together with a motley crew of adventurers and leads to the discovery of a spy ring, the evil exploits of the town magnate, and possibly her mother's double life, while putting them all on the FBI's radar. Publication is planned for May 2027; Elise Howard at DeFiore & Company brokered the deal.  Liz Kossnar at Little, Brown has bought, in an exclusive submission, Money Isn't Moonlight by Leslie C. Youngblood, a middle grade novel about a girl's attempts to use her love for sewing, fashion, and costume design to help her repair her family, which has been torn apart by her parents' separation, her sister running away, and her mother's gambling addiction. Publication is scheduled for winter 2028; Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon Literary sold world rights.  Katherine Easter at Zonderkidz has acquired world rights to Rules for Saving Animals by Jenni L. Walsh (The Bug Bandits). In this middle grade novel inspired by the first zoo in America, an aspiring naturalist in 1920s Philadelphia must decide how far she'll go and which rules she will break to save a baby chimpanzee in captivity. Publication is set for spring 2028; Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency negotiated the deal.  Andy Lopez Soberano at Scholastic Acorn has bought, in a three-book deal, Monsteritos by Hazel Quintanilla, a graphic, bilingual early reader series and an author-illustrator debut. Each book follows a cast of monster friends on their fun—and funny—adventures in Monster City. The first book of the series, Vlad the Vampire/Vlad el Vampiro, will publish in summer 2027; Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 did the deal for world rights.  Kate Meltzer at FSG has acquired, in a preempt, North American rights to Rock, Paper, Scissors, Cheese, written by comedian and award-winning producer W. Kamau Bell (l.) and California Book Award-winning author Adam Mansbach (c.), illustrated by Breanna Chambers (r.). An ordinary game of rock, paper, scissors goes off the rails in this rhyming picture book that celebrates fun, imagination, and family. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Sabrina Taitz at WME and Richard Abate at 3Arts represented the authors, and Chad W. Beckerman at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.  Namrata Tripathi at Kokila has bought Sundays Are for Lola, a picture book by James Beard Award finalist Angel Dimayuga (l.), illustrated by Ash Kwak Lukashevsky. A grandchild and their Lola spend every Sunday together napping and nourishing each other with food, love, and company. But when Lola grows tired, and their Sundays begin to look a little different, the child learns to spread the joy Lola has long equipped them with. Publication is planned for fall 2027; Wendi Gu at HG Literary represented the author and artist.  Nicolás Ore-Giron at Roaring Brook has acquired the picture book Wormy and Squirmy by Tif Bucknor (l.), illustrated by Steph Stilwell. Wormy's carefully crafted daily routine gets turned upside down when he's cut in half and meets his (obnoxious) new brother—who used to be his butt. Publication is scheduled for spring 2028; Aliza Hoover at the CAT Agency brokered the deal for world rights.  Lee Wade at Random House Studio has bought world rights to The Many Words of Nelle and Tru by Nan Forler (l.), illustrated by Martina Stuhlberger, a picture book biography about the childhood friendship between authors Harper Lee and Truman Capote and how their shared love of words and storytelling shaped their paths as writers. Publication is set for spring 2028; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has acquired Tater vs. Spud, a picture book by Jo Renfro. Tater and Spud, two competitive pigs, discover the power of teamwork during their first snowy day. Publication is scheduled for October 2027; Samantha Wekstein at Thompson Literary Agency sold world rights.  Heidi Hill at Blue Dot Kids Press has bought world rights to For Always Friends by Tootie Nienow (l.) (There Goes Patti McGee!), illustrated by Katherine Ahmed, a picture book told in two voices about the dreams of new friendship and what it takes to be a good friend. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Katie Erickson at Jennifer De Chiara Agency represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Rebekah Lovato Piatte at Collective Book Studio/Tiny Torch Books has acquired Our Moon, Our Home/Nuestra luna, nuestro hogar: A Bilingual Board Book About Home and Belonging by Phillip D. Cortez (l.), illustrated by Mafs Rodríguez Alpide, adapted from the picture book I'll Be the Moon, which introduces themes of home, belonging, and connection. The book will publish in January 2027; the author and artist were unagented.  Nicole Fox at RISE x Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to three board books by author MeiLin Chan (l.) (Monkey Dragon Rabbit!), illustrated by Dawn Lo: The Red Egg and Ginger Party: A Celebration of Birth, The 100-Day Banquet: A Celebration of Growth, and The Birthday Grab: A Celebration of Wishes. The series spotlights cherished Chinese cultural traditions celebrated during a baby's first year of life. Publication will begin in summer 2027; Marisa Cleveland at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  The House with Nobody in ItJon Klassen. Candlewick, $14.99 (18p) ISBN 978-1-5362-4828-9 In this gently eerie board book ghost story, Klassen invites readers to venture into the ostensibly empty residence that inspires the work’s shape. Narration proceeds in a neutral tone as a speaker invites the curious to enter via a doorway. Soon, the light in the house begins to dim, and a spectral figure appears in a chamber that’s described as hosting only “a small stool on the floor.... And a lamp.” Wholly unmentioned by the speaker, the ghost is subsequently seen staring out through the die-cuts as the remaining pages turn, delivering readers again outside. more  OffsideChristina Diaz Gonzalez, illus. by Mari Costa. Graphix, $25.99 hardcover (208p) ISBN 978-1-5461-1103-0; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-339-02360-1 When Jackson Middle School’s boys’ soccer team opens tryouts to female athletes, team captain Al responds by trying to recruit enough boys to edge the girls out entirely. That doesn’t stop classmates Nicky, a striker who advocates for co-ed play, and Fabiola, a newcomer from Colombia who speaks limited English and would rather remain unnoticed, from making the team. What begins as a simple rivalry gradually expands into a layered exploration of access, recognition, and cultivating teamwork and understanding across differences. It’s a moving, tightly observed story with genuine stakes and emotion. more  Buried FeelingsKit Rosewater. Delacorte Romance, $12.99 paper (352p) ISBN 979-8-217-03302-7 Rosewater draws upon San Francisco’s queer history to fuel a high-stakes citywide treasure hunt that gives way to a propulsive friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance. Ivy’s cheeky and inviting POV expertly relays immersive discussions about queer history and intimate relationship dynamics, while jaunty pacing heightens the thrill of the hijinks. The result is a deliciously fun romp about the necessity of friendship and the power of belonging. more  Rosie Gets ReadySergio Ruzzier. Abrams, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4197-8069-1 After awakening “in her neat little room,” Rosie gets ready without missing a beat. Delicate ink and watercolor illustrations render each small act with measured, understated wit, establishing the porcine protagonist as a figure who’s as orderly as her neat-as-a-pin surroundings. By the time Rosie is finally ready to face the world, readers may feel they know her through and through. But every step in this little gem is a setup for a triumphant, laugh-out-loud turn that goes whole hog on embracing all facets of one’s nature. more | ||||
