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Writers to Watch We spotlight the authors of three of the season’s most promising children’s and YA debuts. Seán FarrellyThe Irish playwright's first YA novel, Tom Burne Has Left the Chat (Faber & Faber, Sept.), zeroes in on society’s complex relationship with smartphones. “To me, our phones are the most dramatically interesting things, because people are so engaged with them,” he says. more   Fernanda Frick H.What started out in the 2010s as an idea for a Netflix series is now the Chilean animator's empowering middle grade graphic novel debut, Raise the Bar (Dial, Aug.). Frick H. says of her protagonist, a headstrong tween weightlifter, “She’s messy and stubborn. I like that because my career’s made of pure stubbornness.” more  Manuia HeinrichIn her debut YA speculative thriller, Salt Water Blood (S&S/Barley, Nov.), the Tahitian Chinese author looks behind the idyllic surface of a fictional French Polynesian island. “It’s important for me to tell the world that behind the postcard is a legacy of colonial and environmental injustice,” Heinrich says. more Cover Reveal
 ‘The Clockwork Menagerie’Eric (l.) and Terry Fan, the acclaimed Toronto-based duo who write and illustrate as the Fan Brothers, consider big environmental themes and human folly in The Clockwork Menagerie, due March 30, 2027, from Tundra Books. The Fans spoke with PW about their artistic process and how their memories informed their new picture book. Click through for a first look. more Page to Screen
 To Watch or Not To Watch: July 2026On offer this month are a fresh take on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s controversial classic, Little House on the Prairie, and the conclusion of Netflix’s adaptation of Alice Oseman’s beloved Heartstopper series. more   In Memoriam
 Obituary: Mildred Pitts WalterPioneering children’s author, educator, and civil rights activist Mildred Pitts Walter, known for her books featuring contemporary African American children and their everyday lives, died May 19. She was 103. Barbara Lalicki, former senior VP and editorial director at HarperCollins Children’s Books, and Walter’s longtime editor, said, "Mildred believed it took courage to change and she showed that courage throughout her life in her actions and her writings." more First Person
 Preserving a Vital Chapter in LGBTQ Children’s LiteratureMyles Cooper is library manager at Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco, where he oversees archives and special collections. Here, he reflects on the vital importance of the institute’s Tarpey-Schwed LGBT Families Collection, which seeks to preserve queer children's books in an era of book banning. more In the News
 Bendon Acquires School ZoneKnown for its licensed coloring books and activity kits, Bendon has expanded its foothold in educational formats with the acquisition of School Zone, an independent publisher of products for grades K–6, sold at retail. In April, Brightstar Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in Bendon, with Bendon founder and CEO Ben Ferguson noting at the time that the purchase would allow his company to further its growth. more Q & A
 Cassandra Pelham Fulton on Making Comics for Your ‘Inner Kid’ The new associate publisher of Scholastic’s comics imprint, Graphix, came up through the ranks, and is excited about having a hand in the latest installment of a childhood fave, The Baby-sitters Club. "It’s wild to grow up reading those books, and to be working on those graphic novels," she says. more Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Press: Week of July 27 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book highlighting the vividness of each day, a middle grade novel about an eerie summer camp that transforms a tween’s group of friends, a YA heist novel that (literally) goes straight to hell, and more. more In Brief
 In Brief: July 23, 2026Recently, two powerhouse authors collaborated on an anti-censorship event, an awards ceremony took place, a YA author celebrated her sophomore release, and a picture book writer enjoyed an N.Y.C. launch. more
Rights Report
 Polo Orozco at Putnam has acquired The Dead Darlings, a YA mystery-thriller by Lauren Muñoz, in which the lead singer of a teen punk band dies mysteriously during a video shoot at an allegedly haunted house. When a documentary crew investigates whether paranormal activity was involved, the band's guitarist sets out to prove it was murder. Publication is planned for summer 2027; Jodi Reamer at Writers House sold North American rights.  Rosemary Brosnan and Cynthia Leitich Smith at Heartdrum have bought The Ground Shifts, a debut middle grade novel by AJ Eversole. When a Cherokee student photographer is assigned to cover the annual Oklahoma Land Rush reenactment for the school's yearbook, she must decide how to use her camera and voice to tell the truth about the past, even as it challenges relationships and her own understanding of history. Publication is set for summer 2028; John Cusick and Hannah Teachout at Folio Literary Management sold world English rights.  Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has acquired world rights to The Kwon Cousins by Jessica Kim (l.) (Stand Up, Yumi Chung!), illustrated by Victoria Ying. The middle grade series follows a group of cousins who live on the same sunny cul-de-sac and get one another into and out of sticky situations across San Diego. Book one, The Kwon Cousins Don’t Need a Babysitter, and book two, The Kwon Cousins Can’t Be Cursed, will publish simultaneously in spring 2027; book three is set for fall 2027. Thao Le at the Dijkstra Agency represented the author, and Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Caitlyn Dlouhy at Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books has acquired, at auction, The Lost Zoo by debut authors Will Csaklos (l.) and Marc Louria, a middle grade odyssey about a band of mismatched zoo animals who, when their home is destroyed at the outset of war, journey across a war-torn country in search of a forever home, pitched for fans of The Wild Robot. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Gemma Cooper at Gemma Cooper Literary sold North American rights.  Ivan Taurisano at First Second has bought, in an exclusive submission, Sweet Spells by Laura Lavoie (l.) and Kate Pellerin, a middle grade graphic novel about Hazel, an 11-year-old witch-in-training who can't wait to learn how to use her wand and receive her spellbook to whip up delicious treats in her family's magical bakery. Publication is scheduled for fall 2028; James McGowan (Lavoie) and Naomi Davis (Pellerin) at BookEnds Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.  Josh Sippie at HarperAlley has acquired Joyce Y. Ng's Little Eternities, a debut middle grade graphic novel set in the final month before Hong Kong's 1997 handover to China. Through the eyes of an 11-year-old girl, the full-color graphic novel explores friendship, family, identity, and the pressure to succeed. Publication is planned for fall 2029; Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary sold world rights.  Janine O'Malley at FSG has bought Counting on Luck by R.C. Chizhov, a debut middle grade novel that follows the 13-year-old sole survivor of a plane crash from Queens to Kolkata who must navigate grief and the reality of what she can't control, when a famous fortune teller claims she has the power to spread her luck. Publication is set for spring 2028; Jessica Regel at Helm Literary sold North American rights.  Andrew Arnold at HarperAlley has acquired, in a two-book deal, Summer Benton's debut chapter book graphic novel Abracadoor, about a young witch who magicks her door to life and befriends it—only for her door to want to be more than just a door. Sophie Schmidt will edit; publication is scheduled for summer 2028 and summer 2029. The author represented herself.  Susan Rich at Little, Brown has bought House on Wheels, a picture book by two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall, about a family who tows a little house on wheels along on a transformative road trip through jaw-dropping landscapes. Publication is slated for summer 2027; Nancy Gallt at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency sold world rights.  Cindy Loh at Scholastic has acquired world rights to Baseball Bunny by Beth Ferry (l.), illustrated by Kenard Pak, a rhythmic picture book in which baseball-loving Bun, a timid teammate who is happiest warming the bench, finds the courage at a crucial moment to finally get in the game. Publication is planned for summer 2028; Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary & Media represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.  Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has bought world rights to Repair Fair by Michelle Schaub (l.) (Pumpkin Smash!), illustrated by Andy J. Pizza (Invisible Things), which celebrates Repair Fairs—free community events where volunteer "fixers" teach people to repair their damaged items and inspire a path to a more sustainable future,. Publication is set for fall 2027; Lisa Amstutz at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and John Cusick at Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.  David Linker at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to A Gift for Dad and A Gift for Mom by Claudia Gabel (l.), illustrated by Andrés Landazábal; Lily Randall will edit. The stories follow Lamb and Mouse as they search for the perfect gift for their parents—a small quest that is more difficult than expected. Publication is scheduled for summer 2027 and winter 2028; the author represented themselves, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Nancy Conescu at FSG has bought world rights to I Love You Everywhere by Cate Berry (l.), illustrated by Elena Skoreyko, a picture book about the steadfast love a parent or caretaker has for their little one, even when they are wild, or grow big and one day fly away. Publication is slated for fall 2028; Wendi Gu represented the author and Carrie Hannigan represented the illustrator, both at at HG Literary.  Jonah Heller at Peachtree has acquired world rights to We Are Bomba by debut author Frances Morales (l.), illustrated by Ashley Vargas. In this picture book celebrating Afro Latine heritage, a Puerto Rican girl discovers that performing Bomba music and dance helps her to channel emotion, to connect with community and family, and to honor ancestral resistance and rebellion. Publication is planned for summer 2028; Lynnette Novak at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Christie Megill at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.  Kate DePalma at Barefoot Books has bought world English rights to Spacing Out by Ana Siqueira (l.), illustrated by Joanna Grochocka, based on the author's childhood ADHD experiences. If Luz, a planet lover, can't keep her head out of the stars, she'll miss an intergalactic field trip to the planetarium. Publication is set for spring 2027; Joyce Sweeney at the Seymour Agency represented the author, and Elisa Leung at Marlena Agency represented the illustrator.  Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has acquired world rights to Lost at Sea!: The Mystery of the Rubber Ducky by Laurie Wallmark (l.), illustrated by Pauline Gregory, a nonfiction picture book about the mystery behind thousands of toys that washed ashore around the world and how scientists traced them back to a shipping accident. Publication is slated for summer 2028; Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency represented the author, and Amy Fitzgerald at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Julie Bliven while at Charlesbridge bought world rights to Finders Keepers? Leaving Nature for Nature by Constance Van Hoven (l.) (Rare and Blue), and Cathleen Schaad has acquired world rights for illustration by Bonghyun Shin. This picture book celebrates the joy of experiencing nature without leaving a trace. Alyssa Mito Pusey will edit; publication is scheduled for summer 2028. Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and Kayla Cichello at Upstart Crow Literary represented the illustrator.  Olivia Swomley while at Candlewick/MIT Kids acquired world rights to Pee Rex by Carrie Tillotson (l.), illustrated by Stephanie Laberis, a rhyming journey on the Earth's water cycle from dinosaur pee to our kitchen sinks. Hilary Van Dusen will edit; publication is planned for fall 2027. Tracy Marchini at Tracy Marchini Literary represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has bought North American English rights to The Serendipity Book Brigade by Alice B. McGinty (l.), illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen, a picture book based on true events in which a child's favorite indie bookshop needs to relocate, prompting the town to form a human chain in order to help the shop owner move book by book. Publication is set for spring 2028; Emelie Burl at Susan Schulman Literary Agency represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  Children of OwlDarcie Little Badger, illus. by Abigail Rajunov. Levine Querido, $19.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-64614-568-3 In a stunning contemporary fantasy from Lipan Apache Newbery Honoree Little Badger and featuring artwork from Rajunov, three teens determine to save their home from forces both supernatural and benign. Sixteen-year-old Maisie’s peaceful life in Sunny Parks, a mobile home community populated by her extended family, is upended following a meeting with the son of the legendary Big Owl, a prominent figure in Lipan Apache stories, who warns Maisie that “a terrible fate looms.” Maisie is soon pulled into a tangle of overlapping mysteries while trying to prevent impending disaster. more  Some Body, Every Body!Roz MacLean. Bloomsbury, $14.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5476-1888-0 Emphasizing the idea that “all bodies are GREAT,” this celebratory picture book from MacLean offers a communal snapshot of people of varied abilities, ages, shapes, and sizes. Radiant gouache, acrylic gouache, and digital illustrations incorporate sky blues and citrus hues in depicting an intersectionally inclusive array of individuals moving and resting. Showcasing a wide breadth of embodiment and movement with and without aids, this is powerfully body-neutral. more  The Secret Bookstore Sleuth SocietyLindsay Currie. Sourcebooks, $17.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-4642-4126-0 Forced to withdraw from private school due to financial hardship, seventh grader Merrick undergoes homeschooling from her mother’s bookstore, which is attached to an inn. The group’s first visit to the shop falls into chaos when they find an elderly store regular dead in a storage room. Currie crafts an enthralling series launch in this locked-room murder mystery. more  The Continuation of Summer DillonSarah Everett. HarperCollins, $19.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-06-344430-0 For the past 11 years, android Summer 2.0 has received downloads from the consciousness of human tween Summer Dillon. When the youth dies from a chronic illness, Summer 2.0—created in the deceased’s image—is excited to fulfill her purpose by continuing Summer’s life. The droid has trouble adjusting, though, especially when Summer’s classmates and older sister refuse to accept her. It's a cerebral and perceptive story. more | ||
