Here are the latest PW newsletters for my followers to peruse:
PW Children's Bookshelf
Hannah Hill at Delacorte Press has acquired The Peacock Throne by Zeba Shahnaz (Midnight Strikes), a YA fantasy duology pitched as Anastasia meets This Woven Kingdom, set in a world inspired by 19th-century India, about a young woman who believes she's a descendant of a long-overthrown imperial dynasty and gets entangled in a dangerous conspiracy that could spell her country's doom—if her false marriage to the chief conspirator's son doesn't kill her first. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Claire Friedman at Inkwell Management sold world rights.
Alison Romig at Delacorte Romance has bought Plenty of Fish by Kit Rosewater (All's Fair in Love and Field Hockey), a queer YA romance about an heiress to a beloved fish and chips shop whose niche video channel goes viral after she interviews—and falls for—a rising TV star, forcing her to navigate the clash between her cozy community and the allure of fame. Publication is slated for spring 2028; Lauren Spieller at Folio Literary sold world rights.
Charlotte Greenbaum at Abrams Fanfare has acquired world rights to debut author-illustrator Christina L. Chan's middle grade graphic novel series, Alex Dweeby and the Wild Wetlands. Alex Dweeby, a young nature lover determined to save his home and nearby wetlands from the town's pompous mayor and his destructive construction plans, teams up with quirky, larger-than-life local wildlife to enter (and hopefully win) a national singing competition. Publication is set for spring 2029; Alexandra Weiss at Azantian Literary did the two-book deal.
Angelica Busanet at Abrams Fanfare has bought Forest Freaks, a graphic novel by Nat Iwata (Wat Takes His Shot), in which identical twins Ben and Yoshi move to a new town and discover something supernatural in the woods behind their school, blending American mythology with Japanese folklore. Publication is scheduled for fall 2028; Alexander Slater at Greenburger Kids sold world rights.
Cheryl Klein at Workman Kids has acquired The Declaration Decoded by Katie Kennedy, a short nonfiction primer for all ages that walks readers through the events that prompted the writing of the Declaration of Independence, translates its dense 18th-century text into language accessible for a modern reader, and celebrates both how it changed the world in its time and how it still resonates today. Publication is planned for summer 2026, in time for the 250th anniversary of the document; Kate McKean at Howard Morhaim Literary sold world rights.
Juree Sondker at Gibbs Smith has bought world rights for A Coven of Witches: Frights to Tell at Night by Alexis Powell (l.), illustrated by Marina Vidal, a collection of 20 original spooky stories that reimagine witches from folklore, myth, and history. Publication is slated for summer 2026; the author was unagented, and Lucy Craig at the Plum Agency represented the illustrator.
Rich Thomas at HarperCollins has acquired Fish Do Not Have Feet and two companion titles by cartoonist Tim Miller, writing and illustrating as T.J. Miller. In this new I Can Read Comics series, rambunctious Fish is determined to try out everything with his newfound fish feet, much to the dismay of his very serious friend, Octopus. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal for world rights.
Erica Finkel at Abrams has bought, in an exclusive submission, world English rights to Monster League, a chapter book series by Ellen Potter (l.), illustrated by Yury Guzman. The story follows a benchwarmer kid who becomes the unlikely coach of a team of misfit monsters, bringing the warmth and optimism of Ted Lasso to a humorous underdog tale. Publication will begin in spring 2027; Alice Tasman at Jean V. Naggar Agency represented the author, and Saritza Hernández at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator in the two-book deal.
Ellen Cormier at Dial has acquired world rights to Monday in a Pickle, first in the Monday chapter book series, followed by Monday in a Whale and two untitled sequels, by Shelley Moore Thomas (l.), illustrated by Julie Kwon, pitched as Pippi Longstocking meets Dory Fantasmagory. In this adventure set on a mysterious archipelago, seven-year-old Monday is alone on an island, where she makes friends with a sea turtle, a highland cow, and a giant bookworm as she searches for a yeti, and the secret to her past. Publication is set for summer 2027; Jordan Hamessley at JABberwocky Literary Agency represented the author, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator in the four-book deal.
Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight has bought, in a two-book deal, world rights to Bigfoot and Dodo, an early reader series about two new friends who become collaborators in a fix-it business with humorous results, by longtime friends and collaborators James Preller (l.) and Audrey Vernick (c.), illustrated by Joelle Dreidemy (r.). Karen Nagel will edit; publication is planned for spring 2027. Elizabeth Bennett at the Transatlantic Agency represented Preller, Erin Murphy at Aevitas Creative Management represented Vernick, and Emily Fernandez at the Bright Agency represented Dreidemy.
Nick Magliato at Penguin Workshop has acquired world rights to Grammy Award–winning musician Laufey's (l.) debut picture book, Mei Mei the Bunny, illustrated by Lauren O'Hara, about a little bunny with big dreams of making the world a happier place through her music. Publication is slated for April 2026; Katelyn Dougherty at Paradigm and Max Gredinger at Foundations represented the author, and Angharad Kowal Stannus at Kowal Stannus Agency represented the illustrator.
Neal Porter at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Off the Wall, a picture book about making art with your friends and the art of friendship, by best friends and Caldecott Honorees Molly Idle (l.) and Juana Martinez-Neal. Publication is scheduled for 2026; Steven Malk at Writers House represented Idle, and Stefanie Sanchez von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented Martinez-Neal.
Connie Hsu and Nicolás Ore-Giron at Roaring Brook have acquired world rights to Aunties, a picture book by Pooja Makhijani (l.), illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane, a celebration of all of the aunties in our lives. Publication is set for spring 2027; Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Dana Chidiac at Henry Holt has bought, at auction, The Girl, the Village, and the Terrible Thunder by debut author Aimee Yealim Lee (l.), illustrated by Hyewon Yum, a humorous story inspired by a Korean folktale about a girl with a powerful, very smelly secret and how she learns to use it to help her community. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Stefanie Molina-Santos at Looking Glass Literary Agency sold world rights while at Ladderbird Literary Agency, and Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Shulokhana Khan at Scholastic has acquired world rights to the rhyming picture book Candi the Candicorn by Robyn Wall (l.), illustrated by Joelle Murray. Candi, a sweet unicorn with a candy-corn horn, is shunned by the other beasts of Ghastly Falls. But rather than getting mad, she decides to get even—leading to humorous results. Publication is slated for summer 2026; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency represented the author, and Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Sarah Shumway at Bloomsbury has bought world rights to Jade vs. the Claw Machine, a picture book by Margaret Chiu Greanias (l.), illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee. When Jade's baba's boba shop gets a new claw machine with adorable prizes inside, Jade is determined to beat the odds, win a toy, and change her luck forever. Publication is set for spring 2028; Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the author, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Lauri Hornik at Penguin/Rocky Pond Books has acquired world rights to Thanks and Giving by Kerry Ferguson (l.) (Fish Friends Forever), illustrated by Romina Rollhauser, a picture book about gratitude for everyday people, places and things, thanks and giving, which follows big-hearted Ozzy from sun-rise to moon-out as she and her family prepare for Thanksgiving. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Sara Crowe at Sara Crowe Literary represented the author, and Sarah Dillard at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Nicole Fiorica at McElderry Books has bought world rights to She Dives in Darkness by Leslie Barnard Booth (l.), illustrated by Paige Keiser, a picture book that follows a mother sperm whale who must leave her calf behind as she dives thousands of feet deep in search of food, revealing the powerful social bonds and deep-sea adaptations of Earth's largest toothed predator. Publication is planned for spring 2028; Fiona Kenshole at Transatlantic Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Deidra Purvis at Free Spirit has acquired world rights to Your Cozy Castle by Molly Beth Griffin (l.), illustrated by Chris Park, a picture book that explores how children use imaginative fort-building to process big feelings and create comfort in uncertain times. Publication is slated for fall 2026; Cassie Labriola-Sitzman and Deidra Purvis will edit. The author represented herself, and Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Daniela Cortes and Sonali Fry at Random House have bought world rights to Rock-a-Bye Monsters and Rock-a-Bye Snowman by Sue Fliess (l.), illustrated by Luke Flowers. Both are rhyming board books set to the tune of the lullaby "Rock-a-Bye Baby," in which young monsters go through their bedtime routine, and forest animals playing with a snowman are called home to get ready for bed. Publication is set for August 2027 and October 2027 respectively; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
PW Daily
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Chain Reaction
We talked with the leaders of Books-A-Million about the recent resurgence of the nation’s second largest bookstore chain. Months after the NEA terminated its literary arts grants, a coalition of seven charitable organizations led by the Mellon Foundation has launched a new initiative that plans to distribute $50 million to nonprofit literary organizations across the country over the next five years. Plus, we continue our Star Watch finalist rollout leading up to Friday’s winner announcement with a spotlight on Legacy Lit associate editor Amina Iro. Simon & Schuster is suing the estate of Nelson DeMille to recoup $1.275 million it claims to have paid out for a novel that the late mystery author never completed, per the New York Post. Amazon is planning to cut as many as 30,000 corporate jobs starting today, according to Reuters. The New York Times profiles Navy-SEAL-turned-thriller-author Jack Carr and the community of bookish veterans that has sprung up around his books. Longtime PW contributor Gayle Feldman talks with Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt for the Bookseller about the democratization of chain stores and the importance of libraries. And Canadian historian and author Tim Cook has died at 54.
With new financial backing from its parent company, the country’s second largest bookselling chain has been revitalizing its stores and posting record sales in the process. more »
A coalition of seven charitable organizations led by the Mellon Foundation plans to award at least $50 million to nonprofit literary organizations over the next five years through the Literary Arts Fund, a new initiative headed up by Jennifer Benka, a veteran of the Academy of American Poets and Poets & Writers. more »
From the 1860s to Ms. Opal’s childhood home, from her years as a teacher to the White House, the biographical graphic novel First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth gives readers an insight into the history behind one of the central figures in the creation of America’s newest federal holiday, Juneteenth. (Sponsored) More »
An associate editor at Legacy Lit, Iro oversees an eclectic nonfiction list and is helping shape the imprint’s ethos. more »
Doug Armato, who has helmed the 100-year-old press for 27 years, is retiring at the end of December. His tenure saw the expansion of the press’s list and the development of strong Indigenous studies, trade, and regional publishing programs. more »
The author took inspiration from the Jersey Shore of his youth—with its Haunted Mansion and legendary music scene—for his latest novel. more »
In Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear (St. Martin’s, Dec.), the biographer explores the complicated life of A.A. Milne and his Winnie-the-Pooh stories. more »
- Senior Publicist, Celadon Books - Macmillan Publishers - New York.
- Production Editor (Princeton, NJ Hybrid) - HarperCollins Publishers - Princeton, NJ.
- Senior Publicist - Brown Books Publishing Group - Dallas, TX.
- Creative Director, Adult Trade - Bloomsbury Publishing Inc - New York, NY.
- Publishing Director/Publisher, Adult Trade - Bloomsbury Publishing Inc - New York, NY.
Job Moves
- Sarah Rubio has been promoted to publishing director at WaterBrook Children’s.
Awards News
- Sisters in Crime Pride Award: Lizabeth Engelmeier’s novel-in-progress, Soft Little Monsters, has won this year’s Pride Award for Emerging LGBTQ Crime Fiction Writers, presented by Sisters in Crime.
- Reedsy to Host Novel Writing Contest: Participants who write 50,000 words in Reedsy Studio this November can win up to $5,000 in cash prizes.
Bookstore News
- Musical Bookshop Opens in Massachusetts: Indie Readery & Records opened its doors in Pittsfield last week.
- Cafe-Bookstore to Land in Virginia: Daydrift Books & Cafe is opening in Arlington’s Crystal City neighborhood next week.
- North Dakota Bookstore Reinvents: Ferguson Books in Fargo has been rebranded as Fergie’s Bookshop following its move into a local grocery store.
Click here to join the conversation in PW's Facebook group for booksellers.
Under Siege by Eric Trump is the #1 title on our adult hardcover nonfiction bestseller list. See the full list »
‘The Revolutionists: The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s’ by Jason Burke“This sweeping account from journalist Burke charts the emergence of ‘a new kind of transnational terrorism’ in the late 1960s, when loose networks of radicals committed brazen acts of political violence on an unprecedented scale, from airplane hijackings to kidnappings and bombings.... Readers will find this a stunning and in-depth look at a tumultuous sea change in the global political order.” more »
Picture of the Day
On October 16, Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn partnered with Greenlight Bookstore to host Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde (r.) to celebrate the launch of her YA book, We Can Be Brave: How We Learn to Be Brave in Life’s Decisive Moments (Dutton Books for Young Readers), adapted by Rev. Bryan Bliss. Joining Budde was author and educator Cornelius Minor (l.).PW Daily Team: Sophia Stewart, Sam Spratford, Eva Baron
PW News Team: Ed Nawotka, Sophia Stewart, Sam Spratford, Jim Milliot, Cathy Lynn Grossman, Claire Kirch, Nathalie op de Beeck
To submit pictures of the day, email pics@publishersweekly.com.
To submit an obituary, email obituaries@publishersweekly.com.
Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to Sophia Stewart.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below:
Publishers Weekly
49 West 23rd Street
Ninth Floor
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Phone 212-377-5500
Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC.
PW News Team: Ed Nawotka, Sophia Stewart, Sam Spratford, Jim Milliot, Cathy Lynn Grossman, Claire Kirch, Nathalie op de Beeck
To submit pictures of the day, email pics@publishersweekly.com.
To submit an obituary, email obituaries@publishersweekly.com.
Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to Sophia Stewart.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below:
Publishers Weekly
49 West 23rd Street
Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10010
Phone 212-377-5500
Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC.
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Aiming High
The Big Five publishers, American Library Association, and other plaintiffs in the Texas book banning suit Little v. Llano County could soon be making their case to the Supreme Court, after a federal court ruled in May that librarians’ freedom to choose which books to shelve is not constitutionally protected. We’re kicking off our weeklong rollout of our PW Star Watch honorees today, leading up to the unveiling of this year’s Superstar, with a spotlight on Viengsamai Fetters of Erewhon Books. The Bookseller pays a visit to the China Licensing Expo, where blind bags and other retail trends suggest untapped marketing potential for the children’s book business. Agatha Christie’s first published work has been discovered after a decades-long hunt, the Times of London reports. Bloomsbury CEO Nigel Newton says that AI can serve as a powerful creative tool and help combat writer’s block, per the Guardian. To address the literacy crisis, high schoolers need to be made to read whole books again, argue Johanna Winant and Dan Sinykin, authors of Close Reading for the 21st Century, in Slate. The New York Times talks with Philip Pullman about wrapping up his classic YA fantasy saga after 30 years. And we pay tribute to former PW editorial director and editor-in-chief John F. Baker, a pillar of the magazine for more than three decades, who has died at 93.
Baker joined PW in 1973 and retired in 2004. During his 31-year tenure, Baker was virtually synonymous with the magazine, covering major stories, attending important events, and overseeing all editorial operations during a time of tremendous change in the industry. more »
Publishers and freedom-to-read advocates are supporting plaintiffs in Little v. Llano County by encouraging the Supreme Court to review a First Amendment decision by the Fifth Circuit. The case would determine how much control public officials exert over library collection decisions, from book removals to approved selections. more »
An associate editor at Erewhon Books, Fetters, who calls speculative fiction their first love, revels in the opportunity to cultivate revolutionary narratives. more »
Athanasia Cemetery holds the darkest of secrets – as assistant groundskeeper Forrest Molson discovers. The soil bleeds a substance created from the ooze of rotting superheroes. It becomes her drug, giving her unpredictable powers to execute justice on the city’s most evil. Losing her mind to her new addiction, she inches closer to becoming the most evil of all. (Sponsored) More »
Imani Perry follows Sara Birmingham to Random House in a two-book deal, Viking takes Isle McElroy’s third novel, and more. more »
Eric Trump’s Under Siege is the #1 book in the country. Plus Nicholas Sparks teams up with M. Night Shyamalan, Reese Witherspoon collaborates with Harlan Coben, and Charlie Mackesy’s boy, mole, fox, and horse return. more »
The publisher has teamed with United for Libraries to award grants of $500 and $1,000 to support libraries in need, totaling $25,000. In-kind book donation grants of $500 will also be awarded to 20 libraries to purchase PRH titles. more »
Moving books more quickly through the editorial and production phases has become the required standard. Register for Manuscript to Market: Speeding Up the Journey, to hear publishing industry thought leaders discuss proven strategies for optimizing your workflow, so you can be more agile and responsive to changing market trends and demands. (Sponsored) More »
See what we published in this week’s print issue of Publishers Weekly, including our best books of 2025 and more. »
To mark the 16th anniversary of International Dot Day, inspired by his picture book The Dot, author-illustrator Peter H. Reynolds and his twin brother Paul—his collaborator on the Sydney & Simon series—held several events. Click through for highlights from their tour. more »
The journalist examines her relationship with her mother, her Chinese mother-in-law, and her adopted daughter in the memoir The Year of the Water Horse (Pegasus, Dec.). more »
- Senior Publicist - Brown Books Publishing Group - Dallas, TX.
- Creative Director, Adult Trade - Bloomsbury Publishing Inc - New York, NY.
- Publishing Director/Publisher, Adult Trade - Bloomsbury Publishing Inc - New York, NY.
- National Account Manager - Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN.
- Catalog Integrity Lead - Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN.
Job Moves
- Catherine Frank is leaving Peachtree as editor-at-large and can be contacted at catherine@editedbycatherine.com.
- Alli Brydon, formerly a freelance children’s book publishing consultant, editor, and writer, has joined Quarto as publisher for the North American market.
Awards News
- Joint Winners of the Forward Prize: Vidyan Ravinthiran and Karen Solie have been named joint winners of this year’s £5,000 Forward Prize for Poetry, presented by the U.K.-based Forward Arts Foundation.
- Goddard Book Prize Winners: Copaganda by Alec Karakatsanis and Young Change Makers by Stacy C. Bauer have won this year’s Goddard Riverside CBC Youth Book Prize and Goddard Riverside Stephan Russo Book Prize, respectively.
Bookstore News
- L.A. Bookshop Teams With Local News Site: Chevalier’s Books, the city’s oldest indie bookstore, has joined forces with the Larchmont Buzz to increase community engagement.
- Alabama Bookshop to Expand: Thank You Books in Birmingham is set to relocate to a bigger space in 2026.
- Pennsylvania Bookshop to Close: The Wandering Soul in Sharon is slated to shutter next month.
Click here to join the conversation in PW's Facebook group for booksellers.
Our Latest Starred ReviewsCheck out all the books to receive starred reviews in PW that are hitting bookstore shelves this week. more »
Remain by Nicholas Sparks with M. Night Shyamalan is the #1 title on our adult hardcover fiction bestseller list. See the full list »
‘The Rest of Our Lives’ by Ben Markovits“An unhappy family man takes stock of his life in Markovits’s superb road novel, which was recently shortlisted for the Booker Prize.... What starts as an understated chronicle of wanderlust swells to something more powerful and permanent.” more »
An inside look at the publication process for the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist’s debut novel. more »
Picture of the Day
On October 21, Abrams staff celebrated the 20th anniversary of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid universe by wearing colors inspired by the cover of Partypooper (Amulet), the latest addition to the series. The office party also featured a costume contest, Greg Heffley cupcakes, and a playmix.PW Daily Team: Sophia Stewart, Sam Spratford, Eva Baron
PW News Team: Ed Nawotka, Sophia Stewart, Sam Spratford, Jim Milliot, Cathy Lynn Grossman, Claire Kirch, Nathalie op de Beeck
To submit pictures of the day, email pics@publishersweekly.com.
To submit an obituary, email obituaries@publishersweekly.com.
Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to Sophia Stewart.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below:
Publishers Weekly
49 West 23rd Street
Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10010
Phone 212-377-5500
Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC.
PW News Team: Ed Nawotka, Sophia Stewart, Sam Spratford, Jim Milliot, Cathy Lynn Grossman, Claire Kirch, Nathalie op de Beeck
To submit pictures of the day, email pics@publishersweekly.com.
To submit an obituary, email obituaries@publishersweekly.com.
Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to Sophia Stewart.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below:
Publishers Weekly
49 West 23rd Street
Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10010
Phone 212-377-5500
Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC.
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Good Reads
We’ve rounded up our 150 best books of 2025—including our much anticipated top 10 list—to help you curate your reading for the rest of the year. The Booker Foundation has announced its inaugural award for children’s literature, a £50,000 prize celebrating fiction for readers ages eight to 12 and judged by a combined panel of adults and children. Indie booksellers in Chicago are leaning into their role as third spaces amid the deployment of ICE agents to the city, even as Spanish-language-focused stores weather blows to their sales. Author Michael Wolff is suing Melania Trump for allegedly threatening a $1 billion lawsuit against him over his investigation into the Trumps’ involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, reports AP. President Donald Trump has abruptly halted trade talks with Canada, according to Politico. A street corner on Manhattan’s Lower East Side could soon bear the name of comics pioneer Jack Kirby, per the Beat. The Washington Post talked with Freedom Reads founder Reginald Dwayne Betts, who has built some 500 prison libraries. And for the New York Times, author Marjorie Ingall reflects on her love of the macabre in children’s books.
It’s been a hell of a year, hasn’t it? Luckily, PW has just what the doctor ordered: our selections for the 150 best books of 2025. See the full list »
Marking the organization's first new prize announcement since 2005, the Children’s Booker Prize will be administered annually from 2027 for a work of fiction aimed at readers ages eight to 12 and published in the U.K. or Ireland. The award will be co-judged by a panel of children and adults, and will come with a £50,000 cash prize. more »
Several independent bookstores that sell Spanish-language titles and bilingual editions are reporting declines in foot traffic and sales due to the deployment of federal agents to the Windy City, but they and other indies are prioritizing supporting and protecting their communities. more »
Trivia aficionados can test their national knowledge with Who HQ: The Fifty States, a Penguin Workshop middle grade series kicking off on November 4. To wit: California is home to the hottest place on Earth, Ohio boasts the first-ever pro baseball team, and the Philly cheesesteak has a tasty origin story. more »
The sales rep is selling off portions of his book and record collection to help pay medical bills following a severe car crash this spring. more »
In After the Flood: Inside Bob Dylan’s Memory Palace (Liveright, Jan.), the biographer explores how Dylan reinvented his musical style during the latter half of his career. more »
Boulley, an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is the author of three YA thrillers featuring Indigenous girls and young women navigating a world that can be a dangerous place if one is Indigenous and female. She spoke with PW about her most recent novel, Sisters in the Wind (Holt), the safety net that books provide, and what’s next in her Sugar Island series. more »
- National Account Manager - Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN.
- Catalog Integrity Lead - Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN.
- Head of Product Development & Gift Buying - Strand Bookstore - New York, NY.
- Sales Coordinator, Gift and Specialty Sales - Hachette Book Group.
- News Director - Publishers Weekly.
Job Moves
- Karen Lo, most recently senior director of finance for trade publishing at Scholastic, will join Random House Children’s Books as VP and director of finance and business strategy, effective November 10.
- Jessica Egan has been promoted to assistant editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
- Jin Soo Chun has been promoted to assistant editor at Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
- Miloni Vora has been promoted to associate editor at Caitlyn Dlouhy Books.
- Anum Shafqat has been promoted to associate editor at Margaret K. McElderry Books and Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
- Tionne Townsend has been promoted to assistant editor at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Denene Millner Books.
Awards News
- Andrew Carnegie Medal Longlist: Susan Choi, Jonas Hassen Khemiri, and Megha Majumdar are among the 45 authors longlisted for the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medals, presented by the American Library Association.
- Dos Passos Prize Finalists: Gish Jen and Chinelo Okparanta are among the five finalists for this year’s John Dos Passos Prize, presented by Longwood University.
Bookstore News
- Latino Bookstore to Land in Texas: Dreamers Books and Culture will open in Houston this weekend.
Click here to join the conversation in PW's Facebook group for booksellers.
Mate by Ali Hazelwood is #1 on our overall list this week. See the full list »
‘Bonded by Evolution: The New Science of Love and Connection’ by Paul Eastwick“UC Davis psychology professor Eastwick upends popular assumptions about relationships with this illuminating debut study of romantic attraction.... Bolstered by thorough research, lucid personal anecdotes, and useful questionnaires, the result is an astute road map for finding a love that lasts.” more »
Picture of the Day
On October 21, children’s authors (from l.) Caroline Kusin Pritchard, Joanna Ho, and Liz Kleinrock created a Venn diagram of their latest releases at a book event celebrating The Day the Books Disappeared (Disney Hyperion), co-hosted by the Thomas Jefferson Library and nonprofit organization the Conscious Kid in Arlington, Va.PW Daily Team: Sophia Stewart, Sam Spratford, Eva Baron
PW News Team: Ed Nawotka, Sophia Stewart, Sam Spratford, Jim Milliot, Cathy Lynn Grossman, Claire Kirch, Nathalie op de Beeck
To submit pictures of the day, email pics@publishersweekly.com.
To submit an obituary, email obituaries@publishersweekly.com.
Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to Sophia Stewart.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below:
Publishers Weekly
49 West 23rd Street
Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10010
Phone 212-377-5500
Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC.
PW News Team: Ed Nawotka, Sophia Stewart, Sam Spratford, Jim Milliot, Cathy Lynn Grossman, Claire Kirch, Nathalie op de Beeck
To submit pictures of the day, email pics@publishersweekly.com.
To submit an obituary, email obituaries@publishersweekly.com.
Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to Sophia Stewart.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below:
Publishers Weekly
49 West 23rd Street
Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10010
Phone 212-377-5500
Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC.
PW School and Library Spotlight
October 27, 2025
We hope you'll spread the word about the School & Library Spotlight e-newsletter throughout your communities. Follow us on Bluesky for more great stories, and join our LinkedIn group to be a part of the conversation.
PEN America has released its annual report on the book banning crisis in K–12 public schools, naming the top five most banned titles and authors. PEN found that “the campaign to censor books is increasingly routine,” with Florida, Texas, and Tennessee leading the nation in instances of banning. MORE
Judge Alan D. Albright of the Western District of Texas ordered a permanent injunction against HB 900 on October 21 in Book People Inc. v. Wong, writing that the mandatory book rating law “compels speech, is void for vagueness, and is an unconstitutional prior restraint” on booksellers. MORE
Publishers and freedom-to-read advocates are supporting plaintiffs in Little v. Llano County by encouraging the Supreme Court to review a First Amendment decision by the Fifth Circuit. The case would determine how much control public officials exert over library collection decisions, from book removals to approved selections. MORE
Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles granted student plaintiffs a preliminary injunction on October 20, ordering five Department of Defense Education Activity schools to cease implementing three presidential executive orders and to return censored books to school shelves. MORE
And Tango Makes Three authors Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, whose First Amendment claim against Florida’s Escambia County School Board was dismissed in federal court, will appeal to restore their picture book to public school library shelves. MORE
Following Baker & Taylor's collapse, two companies with long histories serving the school library market will expand to the public library sector. Follett CEO Britten Follett called public libraries “the perfect space for us to grow and a natural extension of our business.” MORE
SPONSORED
Hello, Reader Heads!Jump headfirst into the wonderfully off-the-wall world of renowned creator Scott Campbell, in this goofy, good-natured graphic novel series featuring a best friend duo like no other! It's Frog and Toad meets Bill and Ted for a new generation of readers — and best buddies of all ages. MORE
Publishing Professionals Against Book Bans, a new resource-sharing community affiliated with Authors Against Book Bans and geared toward industry insiders, will host its first virtual town hall, “Book Bans and the Art of Protecting Authors,” on October 28. MORE
With classrooms and school libraries across the U.S. embroiled in censorship efforts, a team of authors have assembled their advice for right to read advocacy in Ban This! How One School Fought Two Book Bans and Won (and How You Can Too). MORE
At the 114th national council of teachers of English annual convention in Denver, November 20–23, educators from around the country will gather to celebrate, inform, and uplift each other. MORE
The lineup of more than 1,000 educational sessions will provide educators with support, best practices, and inspiration as they explore how to address such issues as banned books, AI technology, literacy and writing instruction, and instilling a love of reading in their classrooms. MORE
A recent NCTE survey shows educators overwhelmingly value diverse literature—but need help getting it into classrooms. MORE
Six children's authors appearing at NCTE discussed their new books, and their hopes for this year's conference. MORE
Jumpstart, a national organization that recruits and trains adults to teach foundational literacy skills to preschoolers, is partnering with Little Free Library to expand the 20th anniversary celebration for its Read for the Record early literacy initiative. MORE
Among all the frights this month, young readers can look forward to a bit of fun with notable releases including a picture book following an unlikely friendship between predator and prey, a middle grade novel following a group of Swifties, the story of an alien in hiding returning to his spaceship, and more. MORE
First-generation Iranian American educator and author Ryan Bani Tahmaseb honors his father, an immigrant from Iran, and his ancestry in his forthcoming middle grade collection Persian Mythology: Epic Stories of Gods, Heroes, and Monsters, illustrated by Reza Dalvand. MORE
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School & Library Spotlight
Editor: Emma Kantor
Digital Producer: Michael Seidlinger
Assistant Editor: Iyana Jones
Editor: Emma Kantor
Digital Producer: Michael Seidlinger
Assistant Editor: Iyana Jones
Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to: childrensbooks@publishersweekly.com
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Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC.
PW Preview for Librarians
October 24, 2025
Federal Judge Rules Texas Book Ratings Law UnconstitutionalJudge Alan D. Albright of the Western District of Texas ordered a permanent injunction against HB 900 on October 21 in Book People Inc. v. Wong, writing that the mandatory book rating law “compels speech, is void for vagueness, and is an unconstitutional prior restraint” on booksellers. More
Virginia District Judge Orders DoDEA to Restore School BooksJudge Patricia Tolliver Giles granted student plaintiffs a preliminary injunction on October 20, ordering five Department of Defense Education Activity schools to cease implementing three presidential executive orders and to return censored books to school shelves. More
B&N Touts Library ServicesBarnes & Noble is promoting its &Classwork e-commerce portal to libraries as another alternative to fill the void created by the shutdown of Baker & Taylor. More
Putting a Wrap on FrankfurtEverything from deals to AI drew the attention of fairgoers. The number of professionals in attendance rose 3% to about 118,000, while general public attendance increased 4% to 120,000. More
Concrete Data on Urban Libraries: PW Talks with Femi AdelakunThe ULC, a public library advocacy group, recently studied five metropolitan flagship libraries to find out how downtown locations can revitalize city centers. More
Chicago Indies Pivot as Federal Agents Drive Away CustomersSeveral independent bookstores that sell Spanish-language titles and bilingual editions are reporting declines in foot traffic and sales due to the deployment of federal agents to the Windy City, but they and other indies are prioritizing supporting and protecting their communities. More
Booker Foundation Announces Children’s PrizeThe Children’s Booker Prize—the organization’s first new award since 2005—will be administered annually from 2027 for a work of fiction aimed at readers ages eight to 12 and published in the U.K. or Ireland. A panel of young people and adults will do the judging, and the winner will receive £50,000 in cash. More
Highlights of Next Week's Stars
Autobiography of CottonCristina Rivera Garza, trans. from the Spanish by Christina MacSweeney. Graywolf, $17 trade paper (288p) ISBN 978-1-64445-369-8
The Snakes That Ate Florida: Reporting, Essays, and CriticismIan Frazier. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $32 (384p) ISBN 978-0-374-60310-6
Progress: How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens to Destroy ItSamuel Miller McDonald. St. Martin’s, $34 (432p) ISBN 978-1-250-27831-9
Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl HarborChristine Kuehn. Celadon, $29.99 (272p) ISBN 978-1-250-34446-5
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
How to Have a Thought: A Walk with Charles DarwinNicholas Day, illus. by Hadley Hooper. Holiday House/Porter, $19.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8234-5850-9
A Good HideKarina Iceberg, illus. by Natasha Donovan. Heartdrum, $19.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-063254-93-0
Run HomeAlyssa Bermudez. Roaring Brook, $22.99 hardcover (304p) ISBN 978-1-250-77430-9; $14.99 paper ISBN 978-1-250-77431-6
FustukRobert Mgrdich Apelian. Penguin Workshop, $25.99 hardcover (304p) ISBN 978-0-5936-5889-5; $17.99 paper ISBN 978-0-5936-5890-1
New Books and More
Starred Reviews Releasing This WeekHere’s a handy roundup of all the books that received starred reviews in PW that are hitting shelves this week. More
Best Books 2025See PW’s picks for the 150 best books of the year, including an overall top 10 list and selections in a dozen adult and children’s categories. More
Artificial Constructs: PW Talks with Francesca WadeThe author discusses Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife, a sprawling, experimental look at the life and legacy of the great modernist writer. More
What Is Politics For?: PW Talks with Angie HobbsIn Why Plato Matters Now, the University of Sheffield philosophy professor considers how the ancient thinker might respond to free speech, fake news, and populism today. More
Zombie Ants and Trumpets of Death: PW Talks with Maria PintoIn Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless, the naturalist and fungi forager combines memoir, reporting, and nature. More
How ‘This Is the Only Kingdom’ by Jaquira DÃaz Got MadeAn inside look at the publication process for the author’s debut novel. More
Penguin Young Readers Celebrates the 50 StatesTrivia aficionados can test their national knowledge with Who HQ: The Fifty States, a Penguin Workshop middle grade series kicking off on November 4. To wit: California is home to the hottest place on Earth, Ohio boasts the first-ever pro baseball team, and the Philly cheesesteak has a tasty origin story. More
On Tour With Peter H. Reynolds and Paul ReynoldsTo mark the 16th anniversary of International Dot Day, inspired by his picture book The Dot, author-illustrator Peter H. Reynolds and his twin brother Paul—his collaborator on the Sydney & Simon series—held several events. Click through for highlights from their tour. More
PW JobZone: Latest Jobs
- Ingram Content Group is seeking a new National Account Manager
- Ingram Content Group is seeking a new Catalog Integrity Lead
- Strand Bookstore is seeking new Head of Product Development & Gift Buying
Find out about these and other great jobs at Jobzone
Top 10 Bestsellers
1 Under Siege: My Family's Fight to Save Our Nation |
2 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History--And How It Shattered a Nation |
3 |
4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, Book 4) (Interactive Illustrated Edition) |
5 Gone Before Goodbye |
6 Always Remember: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, the Horse and the Storm |
7 |
8 Mate |
9 The Secret of Secrets |
10 |
For more PW bestsellers lists, click here.
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Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to Nathalie op de Beeck.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below.
Publishers Weekly,
49 West 23rd Street
Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10010 Phone 212-377-5500
Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC.
Publishers Weekly
Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC. Publishers Weekly, 49 West 23rd Street, Ninth Floor, New York, NY 10010, USA |
PW Must Reads
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Two Steps Forward
Last week, freedom to read advocates had not one but two victories worth celebrating, with a Texas judge striking down the state’s book rating law and a Virginia judge ordering the Department of Defense to return the books relating to gender and race it had removed from its schools. Bloomsbury’s sales dipped by 11% in its most recent financial results. Independent booksellers wrapped up their busy conference season with the Heartland Fall Forum in Indianapolis. And we revealed our picks for the 150 best books of the year.
Bookmarks, an independent bookstore in Winston-Salem, N.C., celebrated the release of Jeff Kinney’s latest addition to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Partypooper (Amulet), at the local First Baptist Church on October 23.
(Courtesy Bookmarks)
Judge Alan D. Albright of the Western District of Texas ordered a permanent injunction against HB 900 on October 21 in Book People Inc. v. Wong, writing that the mandatory book rating law “compels speech, is void for vagueness, and is an unconstitutional prior restraint” on booksellers. More
Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles granted student plaintiffs a preliminary injunction on October 20, ordering five Department of Defense Education Activity schools to cease implementing three presidential executive orders and to return censored books to school shelves. More
After a record performance last year, sales and profits dropped in the first six months of the period ended August 31. The company still expects to finish the fiscal year ending next February ahead of market expectations. More
The fall 2025 season of indie bookselling conferences across the U.S. concluded on October 16 with a Heartland Fall Forum that, like all the regional shows this year, emphasized booksellers’ bonds with one another and their local communities. More
More News
JobZone
- Creative Director, Adult Trade - Bloomsbury Publishing Inc - New York, NY.
- Publishing Director/Publisher, Adult Trade - Bloomsbury Publishing Inc - New York, NY.
- National Account Manager - Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN.
- Catalog Integrity Lead - Ingram Content Group - La Vergne, TN.
- Head of Product Development & Gift Buying - Strand Bookstore - New York, NY.
Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to Sophia Stewart.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to Joe Murray.
For additional assistance, contact us by email or at the address below.
Publishers Weekly,
49 West 23rd Street
Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10010
Phone 212-377-5500
Copyright 2025, PWxyz, LLC. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and the PW Logo are trademarks of PWxyz, LLC.
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