2026 Teen Readers’ Choice Awards Finalist
Congratulations to Misako Rocks! for Double Trouble: Lost in Japan (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan) being included on the 2026 Teen Readers’ Choice Awards Finalist list!
Circular Economy Guide for Do Bees Pee?
Linda Booth Sweeney and Ariel Rutland created a downloadable Circular Economy guide to accompany their picture book, Do Bees Pee? The Curious and Amazing Ways Nature Avoids Pollution.
The guide introduces four circular design principles to help kids and grown-ups notice patterns, ask better questions, and think in loops rather than linear systems.
You can download activity guides, curriculum resources, and related materials directly on Linda Booth Sweeney's website.
New Promo Video for Double Trouble: Lost in Japan
Check out Misako Rocks!'s promo video for Bounce Back 4: Double Trouble: Lost in Japan, just released on Amazon.
September 2027 Children’s Book Council Hot Off the Press Reading List
Congratulations to Debbie Fong for The Faraway Forest: Hester’s Big Dream (Chronicle Books) being included on the September 2027 Children’s Book Council Hot Off the Press Reading List!
New York Times Bestseller August 2026
Gibson Twist and Sammy Savos’s Warriors: The New Prophecy (Harper Collins) has landed at #1 on the New York Times Graphic Books & Manga list for August 2026.
Congrats, Gibson and Sammy!
Preorder Campaign for Debbie Fong’s The Faraway Forest: Hester’s Big Dream
Debbie Fong is running a characteristically adorable preorder campaign for The Faraway Forest: Hester’s Big Dream, the second book in her early reader graphic novel series from Chronicle Books.
Readers who preorder Hester’s Big Dream can fill out the form at www.thefarawayforest.com to receive a special Faraway Forest mailing that includes:
- a set of Hester and Wally trading cards!
- a 3-inch die-cut Hester sticker!
- a special Faraway Forest envelope!
Hester’s Big Dream introduces readers to Hester, a self-described night owl whose love of nighttime creativity leaves her feeling lonely during the day, when everyone else in the forest is awake. Determined to make more friends, she tries to force herself onto a daytime schedule, but after a few misfires, she discovers the Midnight Crew, a group of fellow nighttime friends.
The Faraway Forest: Hester’s Big Dream publishes on September 15, and the preorder campaign runs through September 14.
To receive Debbie’s preorder goodies, preorder the book and fill out the form at www.thefarawayforest.com. (Scroll down the page to find the form.)
New York Times Bestseller, June 2026
Shauna J. Grant’s Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Surprise (Scholastic) has debuted on the New York Times bestseller list, landing at #7 on the Graphic Books and Manga list for June 2026 — its first month on the list.
Karen’s Surprise is the twelfth graphic novel in the Baby-Sitters Little Sister series, which Shauna adapted from the novel by Ann M. Martin.
Congratulations, Shauna!
Eisner Nomination for Best Publication for Early Readers 2026
Debbie Fong's The Faraway Forest: Wally's Route (Chronicle Books) has been nominated for a 2026 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for Best Publication for Early Readers. The Eisners are the most prestigious honor in comics and graphic novels, presented each year at San Diego Comic-Con.
Wally's Route is the first book in The Faraway Forest series, a graphic novel that follows a pair of friends as they discover the power of kindness and community. With relatable characters, gentle humor, and inviting comic-style layouts — plus a seek-and-find challenge and a "how to draw" section — it's a perfect fit for beginning readers. Debbie's cozy, cheerful storytelling, brought to life with color by Kayla Catanzaro, makes the Faraway Forest the kind of world young readers want to return to again and again.
The 2026 Eisner Awards will be presented at San Diego Comic-Con on July 24, 2026. Congratulations, Debbie!
Winner of the Panda Award 2025-2026
Congrats to Lindsey Leigh for winning the Panda Award for best middle grade book for The Deep!
A “No” That's Turned Into a $50K+ Kickstarter Campaign
If you are an industry person, you know that just because a creator has an agent, does not mean they will automatically get a book deal. I wish I had that kind of power, but alas, I do not.
I represent Eric Stevenson and Elizabeth Jancewicz — the creative duo behind the touring band Pocket Vinyl — and we recently pitched to publishers their graphic novel Pilgrim, the story of how they tried very hard NOT to adopt a skittish stray cat who showed up on their doorstep.
Unfortunately we did not get any offers. But one of the reasons why I believe so strongly in Elizabeth and Eric is that they always keep going.
They turned to Kickstarter. As of this writing, their campaign has raised over $56,000 from more than 1,000 backers… on a $5,000 goal… with more than a week still to go.
I recently interviewed Eric and Elizabeth for Kids Comics Unite about the campaign: how Pilgrim came together, how they’ve built such a dedicated audience over time, and what it actually looks like to run a successful crowdfunding campaign as working artists. As always, they are completely honest and transparent (and they have a great sense of humor).
You should also click here to check out their Kickstarter. The deadline for supporting them is May 8th!
I’m incredibly proud of the way Eric and Elizabeth have approached this. Not just the campaign itself, but the years of steady audience-building behind it.
And for any publishers who might be reading this: the project is still great. The creators are amazing. Their fans love them. Food for thought. 🙂