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From the Editors Today, in our final newsletter of 2025, we bring you a number of stories, including the season's most clicked-on articles, a roundup of best books lists, cover reveals, essays, interviews, and much more. Catch up on the stories you missed! We’ll see you again on January 6—best wishes from all of us at PW for a very happy new year.
The Year in Review
 The Top 15 Children’s and YA Stories of 2025 Manga editions of Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants books; an exclusive tour of Shel Silverstein's archives; and the unexpected pairing of Stephen King and Maurice Sendak were among PW’s most-clicked stories about kids’ and YA books in 2025. Here is our list of the top 15 articles, in ascending order of popularity. Catch up on some of the big stories you may have missed! more   PW’s Best Children's and YA Books of the Year From our reviews of children’s and young adult books published in 2025, see our editors’ selections for the top 50 books of the year, including picture books and graphic novels, fiction and nonfiction, and bestsellers and debuts for readers of all ages and interests. MORE  A Roundup of 2025’s Best Book Lists for Children and TeensBefore looking ahead to the new year and the exciting titles to come, critics and readers reflected on their most memorable children’s and YA picks. Check out our roundup of notable 2025 Best Books lists. more In the Spotlight
 Middle Grade Is Down but Never OutThe now-familiar tale of the middle grade market has many alarming plot strands, including declining sales, encroaching censorship, unstable school and library funding, and dips in children’s reading scores, as well as kids’ time spent reading. We asked agents about trends they are seeing in the category, and how they are persevering in tough times. more  2025 YA Trends: Bouncing Between the Dark and LightA survey of recent releases for teens shows a mix of genres and tones—from breezy vacation romances to dark academia and high-stakes heists—that capture the current moment. more  Independent Children’s Publishers Share Secrets to Their SuccessEducation and library spending cuts and increased consolidation are among the challenges facing independent houses. But for a range of indie publishers, nimble is the watchword and the common denominator that helps them navigate the ups and downs of the kids’ publishing cycle. more  It’s a Holiday Smorgasbord of Children’s Books We checked in with booksellers about which titles are flying off the shelves, from seasonal picture books to tried-and-true classics for every day. more   Looking Ahead
 Spring 2026 Sneak Previews See highlights of the children’s and YA titles due out in spring—including highly anticipated debuts, follow-ups to bestselling novels, and collaborations between favorite authors and illustrators—in our exclusive roundup. more Cover Reveals
 ‘I’m So Happy You’re Here’ by Mychal Threets As a librarian, literacy ambassador, and social media sensation, Mychal Threets has built a busy career out of spreading the word about the wonders that await visitors to the library. He’s sharing his invitation to readers in his debut picture book, I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy, illustrated by Lorraine Nam. more  'A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic' by Philip SteadWe spoke with author-illustrator Philip Stead about the dizzying yet rewarding process of crafting his first middle grade novel, A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm. Click through for an early look at the new book, which Stead said is full of both "humor and strangeness." more  'The Guardians' by Brandon Mull Labyrinth Road, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, announced the April release of Guardians: Forbidden Mountain, kicking off a new fantasy series by Brandon Mull. "The novels will be grander and more epic than my Fablehaven novels, and will hit some levels of intensity that are on the older side of middle grade,” he said. more  ‘Others’ by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Charles SantosoKobi Yamada (l.), author of concept-driven picture books such as What Do You Do With an Idea?, has paired up with illustrator Charles Santoso to create Others: A Story for All of Us, in which two children speculate about unseen individuals behind a fortress-like hedge. PW spoke with Yamada about overcoming assumptions, making connections, and social-emotional learning. more In Memoriam
 2025 In Memoriam: Children's Book Creators and Publishers RememberedWe pay tribute to the authors, illustrators, and publishing professionals we have lost this year. more Interviews
 Kate DiCamilloTwenty-five years after Because of Winn-Dixie, DiCamillo celebrated that milestone with a deluxe anniversary edition; Lost Evangeline, the finale to her Norendy Tales trilogy; and more fall releases. PW spoke with the two-time Newbery Medalist about her good fortune, fairy tales, and writing at least two pages a day. more  Donna Barba HigueraNewbery Medalist Donna Barba Higuera retells the Aztec myth of creation, casting Xolotl, the dog-headed god of lighting, death, and misfortune, as the hero in her middle grade work Xolo, illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson. Higuera reflected on how her personal experiences, love of mythology, and dedication to her late dog influenced the novel. more  Brian LiesCaldecott Honoree Brian Lies's new picture book, Cat Nap, is a romp through art history, as a gray kitten pursues a mouse by magically jumping into a poster for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and centuries of sculpture, painting, stained glass, and illuminated manuscripts come to three-dimensional life. We asked Lies about making new art from classic works, and how attempting the impossible proved to be creative catnip. more  Kalynn BayronHorror writer Kalynn Bayron riffs on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in her YA novel Make Me a Monster, starring a 17-year-old mortician’s assistant whose relationship to grieving is complicated when her boyfriend comes back from the dead. Bayron spoke about challenging herself through her writing, and approaching horror as a reflection of society. more  Nicholas DayIn A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, A Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out, Nicholas Day traces the devastating fallout from the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, which triggered a worldwide climate shock. In a conversation with PW, the Sibert Award–winning author discussed the genesis and aim of his latest work of narrative nonfiction, and how the natural disaster inspired some of the era's artistic masterpieces. more In Conversation
 Karina Yan Glaser and Anne Hoppe Karina Yan Glaser's (l.) new middle grade novel, The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli, follows the parallel journeys of two teens across a dual timeline adventure. We invited Yan Glaser and her editor, Anne Hoppe (r.), to discuss their collaboration, which is infused with their shared love of Chinese history and art. more  Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser In honor of the 20th anniversary of their popular Fancy Nancy series, we asked the author and illustrator to chat about their friendship and collaboration on Besties for Eternity—their first Fancy Nancy picture book in seven years. more  Abigail Hing Wen and Stephanie Lim Abigail Hing Wen’s (l.) Loveboat, Taipei is now a Netflix movie, which she executive produced. Her new novel, The Vale, which she wrote 10 years ago, is an illustrated middle grade adventure following a boy trying to save an AI-generated world and his real-life family. Wen and her publisher, Stephanie Lim of Third State Books, spoke about their collaboration and the multi-media iterations of Wen's story. more  Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown Author Aaron Reynolds (l.) and illustrator Peter Brown are the creators of Jasper Rabbit’s Creepy Tales, a series of humorously spooky picture books that began with the Caldecott Honor-winning title Creepy Carrots. We asked the duo to discuss their new spinoff chapter book series, which kicks off with Troubling Tonsils, and the challenge of striking the right tone for kids. more First Person
 Mystery Writer James Ponti Considers the Fact vs. Fiction of Museum Heists Middle grade series author and Emmy–nominated TV writer–producer James Ponti comments on how the recent Louvre heist, with its stranger-than-fiction twists, poses a challenge to mystery authors. “Unlike reality, fiction has to be believable,” he writes. more  Britney S. Lewis on the Mistreatment and Omission of Black Girls in the Fantasy SpaceA longtime fan of paranormal fiction, Britney S. Lewis grew up noticing the erasure of Black protagonists within the genre. Here, she reflects on how she aims to rewrite the narrative in her new book. more  Laura Amy Schlitz on the Inspiration Behind ‘The Winter of the Dollhouse’In Newbery Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz’s latest middle grade novel, the story’s main character befriends an elderly neighbor who is restoring her childhood dollhouse. Schlitz recalls her dollhouse from childhood and takes us inside her own efforts at restoration, which she documented with photographs. more  Daniel Miyares on the Personal Story Behind ‘How to Say Goodbye in Cuban’The award-winning author-illustrator reflects on the family history that inspired his new graphic novel, How to Say Goodbye in Cuban, which follows one boy’s experience during the Cuban Revolution and his journey to the U.S. more  A Writer Embraces the Chaos—and Comedy—of the ClassroomComedian Raquel D’Apice shares how her messiest and wildest experiences as a substitute teacher helped inspire her debut picture book, I Am a Highly Dangerous Warrior!, illustrated by Heather Fox. more
IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  While We’re Here Anne Wynter, illus. by Micha Archer. Clarion, $19.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-323829-9 Sumptuously patterned artwork and reiterative lines capture a day’s contrasting rhythms in this arresting tale about an outing that doesn’t go according to plan. “Hurry, hurry,” urges an initial refrain as two figures, “jackets zipped,” rush out to catch a train and get to a city park—only to discover that they’ve missed the scheduled event. The youth’s disappointment is palpable, but as the two begin to embrace a free day, initially frenzied verse lightly lengthens, its mood turning joyful and contented. more  Little PassengerDeirdre Sullivan, illus. by Jessica Love. Candlewick, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5362-4294-2 An adult speaker relates parallel gestational periods in this visually inventive book from young adult author Sullivan, making her picture book debut, which unfolds over the course of a single pregnancy. Beginning “Little Passenger./ I have made a space for you/ inside my heart,” sensorially anchored lines use anaphora to address the developing embryo, chronicling a gradual transformation from “a dot,/ a pea, a single grape” to “a cabbage,/ a pumpkin,/ and...// a person.” more  Hafsa’s Way Aisha Saeed. Penguin/Paulsen, $17.99 (224p) ISBN 978-0-593-52937-9 Determined tween Hafsa is thrilled when her traditional father allows her to attend a prestigious science camp in Lahore. Hafsa is disappointed, however, to learn that the camp curriculum focuses not on medicine but on climate change. But her disappointment soon grows into curiosity and concern for the animals in the city zoo and their deteriorating living conditions—especially for one elephant, Gulab. Hafsa’s deepening attachment to Gulab and her activism against animal cruelty steadily unfolds alongside peripheral family struggles. more  | ||
