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In the Spotlight
 Pride Month 2025: To Be Young, Black, Queer, and Falling in Love Love is in the air, and on the shelves this year, with several new Black queer love stories taking center stage. Ranging from tales of first loves and one-night encounters turned something more, writers are utilizing the genre to explore coming out in modern times, the intimacy of sapphic friendships, and the importance of representation for young readers. We spoke with six YA authors whose new novels show how there are no limitations on where Black queer love can blossom. more  Report from Beijing
 2025 Beijing Book Fair: A Challenging Chinese Market but a Slow, Steady Recovery “Pretty good,” “flat,” and “selling well” were some of the phrases used by the exhibitors that PW spoke with to describe the Chinese children’s book market during the 31st Beijing International Book Fair, which concluded its five-day run on June 22. “The current Chinese market is less about learning English and more about enjoyable content,” said James Hall, sales director for global content licensing at Highlights. more In the News
 BookCon Will Return in 2026Five years after its discontinuation, BookCon has been revived by event organizer ReedPop in a very different pop culture landscape for books. The consumer-facing show is set to return to its old home at New York City’s Javits Center next April—much to the surprise of many in the book business. more  Can San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Escape Uncertain Times? In a tumultuous world, people can still escape to Comic-Con. But in 2025, even this ultimate pop culture festival is going ahead under the shadow of economic uncertainty, immigration crackdowns, and tariffs. more  EveryLibrary Releases Report on Book Censorship “The Censorship Acceleration” explores how book bans have shifted from isolated incidents to a nationwide movement, driven by well-funded political and religious organizations. MORE   On the Scene
 Children's Institute 2025: A Photo EssayBooksellers, authors, and exhibitors talked shop and partied at Children’s Institute 2025 in Portland, Ore., June 11–14. In this collection of photos, PW and participating publishers share some memorable moments from the show. more Book News
 Flamingo Catches Jalen Hurts’s Picture Book Debut Margaret Anastas at Flamingo has acquired world rights to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and 2025 Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts’s picture book debut, Better Than a Touchdown, illustrated by Nneka Myers. Publication is set for March 2026, with an initial print run of 150,000 copies. MORE Reading Roundup
 Noteworthy Picture Book and Novel Sequels: June 2025Summer is heating up but readers can “chill” with their favorite characters in new installments to series, including a picture book featuring a best friend trying to stop a hungry creature, a graphic novel about an attempt to go viral gone wrong, a YA heist novel, and more. more
Rights Report
 Tiffany Liao at Random House has acquired, in a six-bidder auction, Our Wicked Gifts by Kathryn Foxfield, a YA crossover fantasy pitched as Succession meets House of Hollow in which Cicely, the black sheep daughter of a family who sold their souls to the devil for magic, must track down the masked man killing off her loathsome kin, even as she starts falling for him. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn did the two-book deal for North American rights.  Stacey Barney at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, Gods & Comics by Kat Cho (Wicked Fox; Once Upon a K-Prom). The YA fantasy romance follows a teen girl whose viral web comic accidentally brings back ancient Korean gods—including the charming Haemosu. Publication is slated for spring 2026; Beth Phelan at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.  Char Dreyer at Wednesday Books has acquired We Were Supposed to Find This by Emily Snyder, a sapphic YA time travel romance and murder mystery as a girl stumbles back in time, meets her teenage mother, and falls in love with the girl next door—in the vein of Casey McQuiston's One Last Stop and Back to the Future. Publication is planned for winter 2027; Naomi Davis at BookEnds Literary Agency sold world English rights.  Annie Berger at Sourcebooks Fire has bought Flickerstate by F.A. Davidson, a debut contemporary YA fantasy that follows 17-year-old Norah as she develops the ability to manipulate probability, enters a prestigious academy to hone her power, and competes in a grueling competition in hopes of saving herself from a certain death. Publication is set for summer 2026; Lily Dolin at Sterling Lord Literistic sold world English rights in the two-book deal.  Nicolas Magliato at Penguin Workshop has acquired, in an exclusive submission, in a two-book deal, The Survival Code by James Preller, a middle grade survival and adventure series about a group of young explorers who are dropped into the wilderness to put their bushcraft skills to the test—navigating the challenges of nature, group dynamics, and unexpected danger—while learning outdoor survival skills. The first two books will be published in summer 2027; Elizabeth Bennett at Transatlantic Agency sold world rights.  Mary Cash and Margaret Ferguson at Holiday House have bought world rights to The Passage of Jamie Quill by Kate Albus (A Place to Hang the Moon). In this middle grade historical novel, a 12-year-old orphan makes a transatlantic voyage on the Titanic's sister ship, hoping to find a better life on the other side. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Kathryn Green at Kathryn Green Literary Agency brokered the deal.  Camille Kellogg while at Bloomsbury bought The Hungry Forest by Kaela Rivera (the Cece Rios series), a middle grade horror novel about a boy who must confront his grief over his father's death and save his younger brother from a haunted forest before sunrise. Meghan McCullough will edit; publication is set for summer 2026. Serene Hakim at Ayesha Pande Literary brokered the two-book deal for world rights.  Krista Vitola at Simon and Schuster has acquired The Endless Game by J.D. Amato (l.) and Sophie Morse, a debut middle grade graphic novel about a middle schooler who gets drawn into his new town's intense summer game of capture the flag, pitched as The Cardboard Kingdom meets Craig of the Creek. Publication is planned for spring 2026; Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management sold world English rights.  Rotem Moscovich at Knopf has bought, at auction, world rights to What a Strange Creature! by Evan Griffith (l.), illustrated by Jason Cockcroft, a nonfiction picture book about a curious young diver who happens across an octopus—and realizes that they may be more alike than originally thought. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey represented the illustrator.  Alisha Niehaus Berger at NorthSouth has acquired world rights (excluding Farsi) to Welcome, Uncle Nowruz! by author-illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh (Rumi—Poet of Joy and Love), a re-imagining of the Persian New Year folktale about winter (embodied by Nane Sarma) missing the arrival of her dear friend Uncle Nowruz (messenger of spring). Publication is slated for spring 2026; the author represented herself.  Nick Magliato at Penguin Workshop has bought world rights to Love Is, a paper-over-board picture book by Michelle Medlock Adams (l.), illustrated by Sue Teodoro. Inspired by the "Love is patient, love is kind" Bible verse, it shows kids all the different forms that love can take. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Sydney Delahoussaye at Dupree/Miller & Associates represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.  Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights to Lily's Surprise Pumpkins by Beth Charles (l.), illustrated by Anna Aronson. In this picture book, Lily worries about animals eating her "volunteer" pumpkins growing in the compost but with each new worry, Lilly finds creative ways to protect her garden until harvest. Publication is set for fall 2026; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Susan Penny at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.  Stephanie Mulligan at McSea Books has bought North American English rights to Bold Joan: How Joan Benoit Samuelson Ran Boldly to the Gold and Beyond by Suzanne Buzby Hersey (l.) (Find a Moose with Me), illustrated by marathoner Lori Richmond (Bunny's Staycation), a picture book biography about long-distance runner Samuelson's career and her triumphant 1984 win in the first women's Olympic marathon. Publication is scheduled for spring 2027; Jennifer Newens at Martin Literary Management represented the author, and Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency represented the illustrator.  Michele McAvoy at The Little Press, in collaboration with Debra Goldstein from the environmental nonprofit One Little Earth, has acquired world rights to Scrapper by Kelly Clasen (l.), illustrated by Briony Dixon. Isabelle fails to fit in with the upcyclers in her family, but with the help of a local trash problem and a plastic scrap mosaic, she realizes she's more like Gran, Dad, and Mom than she thought. Publication is slated for fall 2027; the author and illustrator represented themselves. IN THE MEDIA
FEATURED REVIEWS
  The Family TreeLiz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick, illus. by Fiona Lee. Beach Lane, $19.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-66594-837-1 Previous collaborators Garton Scanlon and Vernick highlight the importance of mindfully slowing down in this grounding account of a tree that sprouts up in the middle of a family’s residence and refocuses their priorities. Watercolor patterns and textures give smudgy digital drawings from Lee an organic feel, and much of the story’s pleasure lies in humorous depictions of the tree as it grows “a little taller, a little barkier, a little leafier,” filling the house’s nooks and covering the scenes in brightening color. more  The World Entire: A True Story of an Extraordinary World War II RescueElizabeth Brown, illus. by Melissa Castrillón. Chronicle, $19.99 (68p) ISBN 978-1-4521-7098-5 While the German army advanced toward Portuguese diplomat Aristides de Sousa Mendes's post in Bordeaux, France, many were “driven from their homes, their countries, and everything they ever knew and loved.” Though Portugal “officially took no side in the war,” de Sousa Mendes, in direct violation of orders, signed thousands of visas and eventually escorted groups through shortcuts and across the border to Portugal at great personal cost. more  The Nine Moons of Han Yu and LuliKarina Yan Glaser. Allida, $19.99 (432p) ISBN 978-0-0632-8443-2 In 731 Chang’An, China, Han Yu's affinity with animals is overshadowed by the accomplishments of his remarkable sibling, which span various trades and academic fields. In 1931, Luli Lee sells similar goods at her family’s restaurant in New York City’s Chinatown. When medical and financial circumstances, stemming from each timeline’s respective historical events, jeopardize their families’ livelihood, Han Yu and Luli must each embark on a journey to secure their loved ones’ futures. more  The Winter of the DollhouseLaura Amy Schlitz. Candlewick, $18.99 (400p) ISBN 978-1-5362-3608-8 Feeling lonely as the oldest of three in a house run by quarreling parents, Tiph allies with elderly newcomer Szilvia, and the woman offers the tween a job as an official dog walker and kitty-litter cleaner. Tiph jumps at the opportunity, hoping to earn enough funds to purchase Gretel, the “perfect dollhouse doll,” from the local toy shop. Gretel, in turn, relishes the thought of being bought by Tiph, which the author depicts via alternating chapters that follow both child and the personified doll. more  Firebird Elizabeth Wein. Union Square, $9.99 paper (144p) ISBN 978-1-4549-6272-4 Russian teen Nastia graduates high school just as WWII begins. Her mother was a spy, and her father was part of the unit that killed Czar Nicholas II, and their stories have long fascinated Nastia, who was raised to be a fierce Soviet patriot eager to fight for her motherland; After her hometown of Leningrad is taken hostage and her unit is forced to evacuate to Moscow, Nastia—along with her mysterious mentor and her father’s former comrade, the Chief—is drafted into the first all-woman aviation unit, led by renowned female pilot Marina Raskova. more |
June 24, 2025
  
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People Leila Sales is joining Kar-Ben Publishing as editorial director; she spent a decade as an acquiring editor at Viking Children’s Books, and is the author of eight middle-grade and YA novels. Fran Greenman-Schmitz, formerly publisher of Kar-Ben, is leaving the company.IN THE WINNERS' CIRCLE  Horn Book editor in chief Elissa Gershowitz announced the three winners and five honor books of the 2025 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award on June 23 on YouTube. In the picture book category the winner is I Know How to Draw an Owl by Hilary Horder Hippely, illus. by Matt James. Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown by Candace Fleming won for Nonfiction, and Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay won for fiction. For more about the awards, click here.  The recipients of the U.K’s 2025 Carnegie Awards were announced on June 19. Debut author Margaret McDonald won Carnegie Medal for Writing for her YA novel Glasgow Boys, and is the youngest winner in the award’s history.The Carnegie Medal for Illustration went to Olivia Lomenech Gill for Clever Crow, a picture book written by Chris Butterworth. The winner of the Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Writing is King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore, and the Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Illustration went to Homebody by Theo Parish. For more information about the awards, click here. Bestsellers  Children’s Frontlist Fiction#1 Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. Click here  Picture Books#1 Why a Daughter Needs a Dad by Gregory Lang and Susanna Leonard Hill, illus. by Sydney Hanson. Click here Sneak Previews  | ||
