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In Conversation
 Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser In honor of the 20th anniversary of their popular Fancy Nancy series, we asked author Jane O’Connor (l.) and illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser to chat about their friendship and collaboration on the forthcoming book Besties for Eternity—their first Fancy Nancy picture book in seven years. more  In the News
 Nancy Conescu to Helm FSG Books for Young Readers Nancy Conescu, most recently publisher at Australia’s Berbay Books, will join FSG Books for Young Readers as editor-in-chief. Consescu previously held positions at Penguin Young Readers and Little, Brown before moving to Australia in 2016, where she joined Walker Books Australia. She’s expected to start her role at FSG in the coming months after relocating back to the U.S. more  Chicken House Appoints New Publisher Scholastic’s U.K.-based Chicken House imprint has announced that Rachel Leyshon (r.) will succeed Barry Cunningham (l.) as publisher, effective January 1. Currently, Leyshon serves as the imprint’s editorial director. Cunningham is poised to retire from his position as publisher, managing director, and founding director on December 31, after 25 years at the imprint. Deputy managing director Rachel Hickman and rights director Elinor Bagenal, the imprint’s other founding directors, will also retire. MORE  Layoffs Hit Bloomsbury US Children’s Division Bloomsbury US has eliminated five positions in its children’s division as part of what the company called “a strategic shift toward publishing a more curated list.” more
Happy Anniversary
 Macmillan Celebrates the Everlasting Appeal of 'Tuck Everlasting' on Its 50th AnniversaryIn honor of the golden anniversary of Natalie Babbitt's classic tale of immortality, FSG is releasing several special editions of Tuck Everlasting, including an audiobook and graphic novel adaptation. In a 2015 interview with PW, Babbitt reflected on the book's longevity, saying, "I like the thought that it’s lasted this long. I’m dazzled by the teachers who know how to use it as an answer to a question we have never had the courage to ask.” more  'Tuck Everlasting': An AfterwordNathalie Babbitt’s daughter, Lucy, writes in an afterword for the novel's anniversary edition, "Over those fifty years since Tuck Everlasting was first published, its wondrous essence has woven itself deep into the fabric of my family’s lives." Click through to read her recollections and reflections. more Book News
 Of Debutantes and YA Debuts: Alexandra and Annabelle Chang Lead the Literary Lush LifeSisters Alexandra (l.) and Annabelle Chang appear to lead storybook lives. Annabelle, now a sophomore at Stanford, opened her YA-centric bookstore Annabelle’s Book Club LA in 2023, when she was 16. And older sister Alexandra is the debut author of fashion-centric YA novel By Invitation Only. The duo spoke with us about their love for teen and new adult fiction. more   Debut Picture Book Creator Personifies Health Journey in 'Yumi and Monster'Kam Redlawsk’s experience with a rare degenerative disease inspired the premise behind her picture book Yumi and Monster, a tale of resilience and acceptance. “This story is for anyone who is handling something—you need to have more empathy for yourself,” she said. more
Q & A
 Q & A with Nicholas DayWhen Mount Tambora, a volcano on the edge of the Indonesian archipelago, erupted in April 1815, it was the largest explosion in recorded history. In A World Without Summer, Sibert Award-winning author Nicholas Day traces the devastating fallout, which triggered a worldwide climate shock. We spoke with Day about the genesis and aim of his latest work of narrative nonfiction, and how the Tambora disaster inspired such artistic masterpieces as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Q: How did you first come to be captivated by this story? A: People had their lives turned upside-down because of something that happened on the other side of the world. It revealed something that we know all too well today: all of us take shelter under the same sky. I was also interested in the idea of writing about climate change from the perspective of something that happened a long time ago, rather than from our own fraught perspective today. more Four Questions
 Katie KennedyKatie Kennedy's newest work of middle grade nonfiction, Did You Hear What Happened in Salem? The Witch Trials of 1692, recounts the infamous 17th-century trials. Using a true-crime format, the historian offers a look into a moment in American history marked by hysteria, misogyny, and injustice. Kennedy discussed how she navigated writing darker themes for a young audience, and why the events are still relevant. Q: What inspired you to reimagine the Salem witch trials for middle graders through the lens of true crime? A: For most people, the 17th century feels like a long time ago, but it doesn’t feel far to me. When you look at what was actually happening, it could be a present-day true-crime podcast. You have people believing inexplicable things. Misinformation and disinformation are spreading wildly to impact the community. People are turning on their neighbors and killing them. It’s such a strange story, but also one that resonates. more  Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Press: Week of September 8 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book about a child’s struggle to make new friends, a middle grade sequel about an isle of magical creatures, a meta YA novel about a group of horror lovers surviving a real-life slasher, and more. more In Brief
 In Brief: September 4, 2025Recently an author celebrated a momentous anniversary, a Chinese book fair welcomed an American author, the family of a congressman dropped by a children’s book event, tarot was the focus of an author’s launch, nature took center stage at a picture book launch, and friends of an author showed their support. more
Rights Report
 Carolina Mancheno Ortiz at HarperCollins has acquired world English rights to The Secrets We Carry by Tiffany Wang, first in a YA duology. An immortal goddess and a boy who has vowed revenge against the gods are caught in a political plot that could scorch the mortal realm and topple the heavens, while inexplicably falling in love with each other. Publication is planned for winter 2027; Kelly Van Sant at KT Literary negotiated the two-book deal.  Krista Marino at Delacorte Press has bought, at auction, Cruel Instincts by Clare Edge (Natural Selection), a dark, twisty YA speculative thriller pitched as Cruel Intentions meets Hitchcock's The Birds. A girl with a mysterious connection to birds gets drawn into the toxic orbit of a privileged clique as the consequences of her family's twisted secrets come home to roost. Publication is set for spring 2027; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency did the six-figure deal for North American rights.  Rosemary Brosnan and Cynthia Leitich Smith at HarperCollins/Heartdrum have acquired Medicine Wheels, a YA contemporary novel by Byron Graves (Rez Ball), set on the Red Lake Reservation and following Bryce Fairbanks, who discovers skateboarding as a way to get through a world that is continually turned upside-down. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Terrie Wolf at AKA Literary Management brokered the deal for world rights.  Jessica Anderson at Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano Books has bought Such a Lucky Girl by Wendy Heard, in which a teen influencer's ex-best friend summons a demon using a vintage self-help book to get revenge. Publication is scheduled for June 2026; Lauren Spieller at Folio Literary Management handled the deal while at Triada US for world English rights.  Rachel Stark at Disney has acquired North American rights to The Cash Grab, a multi-POV contemporary middle grade novel written by Janae Marks (l.), Lorien Lawrence (c.), and Adrianna Cuevas (r.), pitched as a contemporary Blank Check. When an armory truck crashes and the money flies out, three seventh graders jump at the chance to change their lives, but when the consequences become real, what happens when each friend has a different idea of how to do the right thing? Publication is set for spring 2027; Alexander Slater at Sanford J. Greenburger Associate represented Marks, Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Lawrence, and Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented Cuevas.  Ellen Cormier at Dial Books for Young Readers has bought world rights to Princess of the Shtetl, Stonewall Honoree Jake Arlow's middle grade historical novel about an 11-year-old girl growing up in a 19th-century shtetl who dreams of being a scholar, but is forced into a child marriage when the Tsar's army begins kidnapping Jewish boys, told in diary entries in the tradition of Catherine Called Birdy. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret did the two-book deal.  Maya Marlette at Scholastic Graphix, in a seven-way auction, has acquired Midsummer Sisters by Niki Smith, a queer coming-of-age contemporary middle grade graphic novel about stepsisters who, dreading their parents' impending divorce and the separation it might mean, find themselves watching over a wild foal during a summer of change. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management sold world rights.  Kate Harrison at Dial has bought The Wump by Tony DiTerlizzi (co-creator of the Spiderwick Chronicles), a creepy and poignant illustrated middle grade novel about a timid boy whose shadow monster emerges and takes control, pushing him to finally stand up to his bullies and revealing the darkness—and light—inside all of us. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Jodi Reamer at Writers House sold North American rights.  Ann Marie Wong and Mark Podesta at Henry Holt have acquired I Am Murphy and I Am Waiting and a second untitled Murphy book by Oswald creator Dan Yaccarino. What do our dogs do when we're not home? And do they miss us? When the "yellow thing" takes his boy away (to school), canine Murphy spends the day barking, chasing his tail, snoozing, and missing his boy, all while eagerly waiting… until his boy, of course, returns. Publication is set for spring 2027 and spring 2028, respectively; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House sold world rights.  Alex Borbolla at Bloomsbury has bought, in a six-figure preempt, Evil Unicorn by debut author-illustrator Morgan Goble. Lou always knew he was destined for evil; there's just one tiny problem—he's a unicorn. But when Lou kidnaps a princess, they team up to unleash their most diabolical plan yet: a business. Publication is planned for spring 2027. Natascha Morris at Tobias Literary Agency handled the two-book deal for world rights.  Celia Lee at S&S has acquired, at auction, Isabel Roxas's author-illustrator debut, The Cloud Peddler, a picture book about the exploration of community and the pivotal role street vendors play in building connection, through the perspective of one girl's early morning antics to fill her cup with taho (the beloved Filipino tofu snack and breakfast treat). Publication is set for summer 2027; Wendi Gu at HG Literary did the deal for world rights.  Alessandra Balzer at Macmillan/Balzer + Bray has bought world rights to Little Turtle Pond by Carter Higgins (l.), illustrated by Travis Jonker (Just One Flake), a rhythmic picture book in the vein of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom about a turtle, duck, and two frogs who love to make music—along with a sly surprise guest. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Amy Thrall Flynn at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management represented the illustrator.  Jennifer Klonsky at Putnam Young Readers has acquired world rights, in an exclusive submission, to Our Guncle by Steven Rowley (l.), winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, illustrated by Eda Kaban. The picture book about grief and the importance of family—in all its unexpected forms— was inspired by the young characters in Rowley's bestselling adult novel The Guncle. Publication is set for May 2026; Rob Weisbach at Rob Weisbach Creative Management represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.  Olivia Luchini at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Harry the Hairiest by Laurenne Sala (l.), illustrated by Isabella Kung. The picture book follows a furry monster named Harry who longs to be appreciated for things other than his hair. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Kelly Sonnack and Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and illustrator, respectively.  Tracy Mack at Scholastic Press has acquired world rights to Our Hands Make Music by Tanisia Moore (l.) (I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams; Wash Day Love), illustrated by Mokshini (Faith Takes the Train). This rhythmic picture book follows four siblings and cousins as they play hand games, celebrating their history and culture, and banding friends, community, and generations together in a musical form of play. Publication is set for 2027; Jemiscoe Chambers-Black represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.  Charlie Ilgunas at Little Bee Books has bought world rights to What Is a Pirate? by Melinda Beatty (l.), illustrated by Stefano Tambellini, a picture book about a crew of the piratey-est pirates ever to sail the seven seas, except for one whose brand of piracy includes petticoats, pearls, and politeness, forcing the captain to examine his preconceptions of what a pirate actually is. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Jen Linnan at Linnan Literary Management represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.  Hannah Fries at Storey Publishing has acquired A Whale in the Clay: 20,000 Years of Change, written and illustrated by Amy Huntington (How to Make a Mountain), a picture book inspired by the 1849 discovery of the fossil of a beluga whale by workers building a railroad in Charlotte, Vermont. A winter 2027 publication date is planned; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary sold world rights. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
 Tic-Tac-Toe ChickenKimberly Tso, illus. by Louie Chin. Third State, $19.95 (32p) ISBN 979-8-8901-3029-7 Whenever young Beatrice, whose East Asian–cued family raises chickens in their Upstate New York backyard, visits her New York City cousins, she checks in on Lillie, a caged chicken who plays tic-tac-toe in a Chinatown video-game arcade. After Beatrice learns that Lillie is trained to follow a computer’s instructions, she wonders if she might be able to beat it, ties twice, and persuades the arcade’s Big Boss to play her—with Lillie’s freedom on the line. more  Dragon FlowerChen Jiang Hong, trans. from the French by Alyson Waters. New York Review Books, $19.95 (48p) ISBN 978-1-6813-7953-1 During an overnight stay at the base of a towering mountain, Mae’s mother tells her of the ruby red flower with four golden stamens, which “grows in a secret place guarded by monsters.” Mae is drawn through a whirlwind before the blooms appear. The arrival of a fire-breathing dragon poses a threat until Mae explains her mother’s sickly condition, and the dragon makes a deal: she can keep the flowers if she saves his son. more  Secrets of the SnakestonePiu DasGupta. Nosy Crow, $17.99 (288p) ISBN 979-8-88777-193-9 Zélie Dutta doesn’t understand why her beloved father sent her from India to work as a maid in the Parisian household of Madame Malaise, nor why he hasn’t written to her in two months. When she spots | ||||||
