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In the Spotlight
 ‘We’re Just Beginning’: Billie Jean King on Her New Book Tennis champion and activist King's See It to Be It (Calkins Creek), written with Liz Robbins for young adults, tells the inspirational stories of 11 women overcoming challenges to become modern sports legends. Along with fellow author Elizabeth Rusch, King discussed the importance of representing the fight for gender equality in all arenas. more  Author Reflections
 Summer Break with Children’s Authors Who Are Also Educators After a long school year, summertime is the perfect opportunity for teachers to relax and recharge. For those who are also publishing books, vacation can look a little different. We reached out to five author-teachers to see how they used their time away from the classroom. more In the News
 Brent Taylor Launches July First Literary The former VP and executive agent at Triada US will represent commercial fiction and is bringing over a list that includes Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca, and other acclaimed writers for children and adults. more  Libraries Urge Attention to FCC’s E-Rate Review The Federal Communications Commission has posted a summary of its plans to review the E-Rate program in the Federal Register, leading organizations including the American Library Association and Education and Libraries Networks Coalition to call for support of E-Rate funding. Schools of all sizes rely on E-Rate to reduce the cost of wifi and instructional needs, including digital library resources and streaming educational media. more
Bookseller News
 Judy Blume Sponsors Grant for Indie Bookstores with SCBWI The author and founder of the Key West bookstore Books & Books has pledged a multi-year donation to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Impact and Legacy Fund’s Independent Bookstore Grant. more   WNBA Relaunches Pannell Award for 2026 The Women’s National Book Association has announced the return of the prize, which has been on pause since 2020 due to the pandemic and its aftermath. Two U.S. bookstores—one in the General Bookstore category and one in the Children’s Specialty Bookstore category—will be recognized for fostering a love of reading in their communities. more  Ingram’s Covered Launches for Booksellers and LibrariansThe new platform, first announced seven months months ago as an alternative to Edelweiss and NetGalley, is offering digital review copies for industry professionals. Catalog, marketing, and ordering features are forthcoming, says Ingram VP of digital services Margaret Harrison. more In Conversation
 Traci N. Todd and Vashti Harrison We invited Sibert Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor author Todd (l.) and Caldecott Medalist Harrison to discuss their new picture book collaboration, That You Are Here Is No Small Thing (Viking, Sept. 1), an evocative exploration of the history of Black Americans. more  First Person
 Rex Ogle on Missing School and Healing from the ShameThe Printz Honor author and YALSA Nonfiction Award winner reflects on his new mixed-media middle grade novel, Absent, illustrated by LJ-Baptiste (Norton Young Readers, Sept. 1), and the complex issues surrounding school absenteeism. more Four Questions
 A Return to Form: PW Talks with Andrea Beatriz ArangoThe Newbery Honor author treads new ground in No Place on Earth (Random House, Aug. 25), a contemporary middle grade novel told in verse and prose. Arango discussed writing in a fresh format and making conversations about mental health more accessible for young people. more  Time and Again: PW Talks with Jessica SpotswoodThe author and children’s library associate at the D.C. Public Library spoke with us about her new YA novel, The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls (Holt, Aug. 25), which combines paranormal phenomena and Spotswood's in-depth research into post-WWII history. more Out Next Week
 Hot Off the Press: Week of August 24 Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book biography highlighting the life of a late teacher and activist, a graphic novel debut following a tween bodybuilder, a YA romantasy tracing teens with god-like powers and their discovery of a political conspiracy, and more. more
Rights Report
 Kate Prosswimmer at McElderry Books, in an exclusive submission, has acquired North American rights to Scott Reintgen's Titanos—a sci-fi retelling of the Titanic set aboard an intergalactic ship on a 50-year journey where the passengers age according to their economic status. The story follows two star-crossed lovers—the son of a ship-making billionaire and the daughter of a lower-class captain—who fall for one another even as the difference between their journeys grows more and more stark the farther they get from Earth. Publication is set for 2028; Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency handled the deal.  Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books has bought Hunt the Wild Night and Tame the Vengeful Dark by Julia Alexandra (Midnight on the Celestial), a YA duology following a disgraced guardian of magic who must align with the thief she could never catch on a race through a dangerous hedge maze, all in order to reach the fabled Night Rift flower that could restore her reputation and reveal the truth of her mother's disappearance—if the maze doesn't kill them first. Publication is planned for summer 2027 and 2028 respectively; Ellen Goff at HG Literary sold North American rights.  Claire Stetzer at Amulet has acquired world English rights (excluding ANZ) to This Blood Will Betray Us by Emma Clancey, an enemies-to-lovers contemporary fantasy in which an 18-year-old conwoman is hired by the son of a billionaire magical tycoon to infiltrate a ring of magic thieves to root out a saboteur. Despite developing feelings for her top suspect, she must pull off one final, impossible con before the world loses its magic forever. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the deal.  Britt Rubiano at Random House/Disney has bought Once Upon a Snowfall by Lydia Gregovic (The Weaver Bride), a YA romantasy story inspired by the film Anastasia, in which the long-lost princess returns to Paris to break the Romanov curse once and for all. Publication is slated for fall 2027; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic sold world rights.  Gabbi Calabrese at Sourcebooks Fire has acquired What We Kill For by Bryce Moore, in which 17-year-old Vee arrives at an isolated island for a competition only to wake up beside a dead body, and in his investigation to clear his name he begins to suspect everyone, even himself. Publication is planned for summer 2027; Eddie Schneider at JABberwocky Literary Agency sold world English rights.  Maggie Lehrman at Amulet Books has bought world English rights to Uninfluenced by Laurie Morrison (Where Ella Went). In this You've Got Mail–inspired part epistolary upper middle grade novel, "mean girl" Sloane and "nice guy" Max clash in real life but connect online thanks to an anonymous pen pal project that helps them both break free of the roles they feel stuck in—until an old misunderstanding and new feelings threaten to get in their way. Publication is set for spring 2028; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary brokered the deal.  Emily Daluga at Chronicle has acquired world rights to publish a graphic novel edition of K.A. Holt's (l.) bestselling middle grade novel House Arrest, about a boy who steals a wallet to try to get his baby brother's life-saving medication—and now must live with the consequences. The book will be illustrated by November Stanley; publication is scheduled for fall 2028. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Aliza Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.  Meg Gaertner at North Star Editions has bought Corliss Hooper and the Baller Bots and three additional titles in a new middle grade science fiction series pitched as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers meets Space Jam by Printz Honor author T.L. Simpson. When an overconfident seventh grader is recruited to defend Earth in a jetpack-powered game of intergalactic basketball against giant alien robots, he must find a way to learn from his nemesis turned teammate or the planet will be doomed. Publication will begin in fall 2027; Shari Maurer at Stringer Literary Agency sold world rights.  Taylor Norman at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has acquired I Am the Water by author-illustrator Steven Weinberg, a picture book exploring the sensory elements of water over the course of four seasons. Publication is slated for spring 2028; Marcia Wernick at Wernick & Pratt Agency did the deal for world rights prior to her retirement.  Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has bought Sebastian's Sunflower Marie Boyd (Just a Worm), about the interconnectedness of life as a boy nurtures a sunflower from seedling to full bloom. Publication is planned for spring 2027, with a quilling tutorial by Boyd and a quilled diagram of a sunflower. Deborah Warren at East West Literary sold world rights.  Nick Magliato at Tinker has acquired This Planet Is Infested with Bugs by Josh Abraham, his debut author-illustrated picture book. Written as an educational presentation by an alien and his robot sidekick, the book covers one of the major reasons Earth is not a good planet to invade: bugs. Publication is scheduled for spring 2029; Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency did the two-book deal for world rights.  Olivia Luchini at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Say Yes to the Dress star and bridal designer Randy Fenoli's (l.) debut picture book, A Perfect Dress for a Flower Girl, illustrated by Kendra Binney, about a girl named Poppy who is tasked with being the flower girl at her beloved Aunt Rose's wedding. Publication is slated for April 2027; the author represented himself, and Margo Tantau at Tantau Studio represented the illustrator.  Jess Garrison while at Dial acquired world rights to How We Fly by Sara Levine (l.), illustrated by Diana Mayo, a nonfiction picture book that looks at the many methods of flight, across nature and beyond. The book will be published by Stephanie Pitts at Putnam in spring 2028. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the illustrator.  Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear Press has bought world rights to Dogs' Day at the Pool by Katharine Kenah (l.), illustrated by Summer Macon. This picture book celebrates a popular community event in which dogs have a day of their own to swim and play in the pool, before it is closed for the season and school begins. Publication is planned for spring 2028; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Georgia Tournay-Godfrey at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Roma Maitlall at Morehouse Publishing has acquired world rights to Breakthrough Belle by J.P. Mitchell (l.), illustrated by Deana Sobel Lederman, the first children's book about Belle da Costa Greene, the pioneering Black librarian who rose to become the first director of the Morgan Library, bringing her extraordinary story of courage, brilliance, and barrier-breaking to a new generation of readers. Publication is set for summer 2027; Kristen Terrette at Martin-Newens Literary Management represented the author and illustrator.  Cider Mill Press has bought world rights to Katie Peek (l.) and Robie Rogge's (c.) Blast Off to the Planets, illustrated by Jon Corby (r.), a space-themed novelty board book in which a child in a rocket travels around the eight planets circling the sun. Publication is scheduled for winter 2027; the authors represented themselves, and Jennifer March Soloway at Starling Literary + Media represented the illustrator. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  Cow and SowMatthew Farina, illus. by Doug Salati. Tundra, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-7748-8260-3 What starts as a slapstick lark deepens, in the hands of collaborators Farina and Salati, into a wise meditation on new skills and old friends. Winter feels “never-ending” for pals Cow and Sow, until a tumble on a frozen pond reveals to them the joys of “gliding along like the fish below.” Wobbly at first under the low wintry clouds, they soon find their footing and turn the pond into a joyful gathering place for friends. more  A Forest, a Family, a Harbor, a HomeNikki McClure. Norton, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-324-12510-5 Home and loved ones provide an anchor in this introspective picture book by McClure, which traces a child’s maturation. Poetic second-person lines build from the refrain “There is a place” as they describe a young protagonist’s experiences growing up in and around a cozy forest cabin by the sea—a locale “where you wake to bird song” and “where you know how a smile feels.” Variations on the title highlight the power of simple comforts (“A friend, a family, a love, a home”), all of which become touchstones as the figure grows. more  Bathtime for Snow MonkeysMaggie Tokuda-Hall, illus. by Yas Imamura. Candlewick, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-5362-3089-5 Across this serene portrait, Tokuda-Hall and Imamura spotlight the nihonzaru—Japanese macaques—that gather annually for a winter hot spring soak in the snowy mountains of Nagano, Japan. Gouache and pastel crayon artwork utilizes an indigo, ochre, and white palette, with bright pinks highlighting the snow monkeys’ faces. Conveying an appreciation of communal care and quietude, this ritual-oriented work communicates a gentle, soothing gravitas. more  Like GlassJen Ferguson. Heartdrum, $19.99 (336p) ISBN 978-0-06-333427-4 In this perceptive novel, white and Métis teenager Tatum Nova Lambert, an artist, travels from Toronto to Chamonix during spring break with a single goal: to persuade her father to return to Toronto. Following her older sister Bronwyn’s sudden death, her father fled to and has been living in Bronwyn’s empty apartment. While working at her father’s newly opened restaurant, Tate begins probing her lingering questions surrounding her sister’s life in France. more  | ||||
