You know what? Ignore the title of this post. Yes, we’re going to do a publisher preview of three titles coming out from Tapioca Stories, but before we get to that we have some topics that warrant discussion.

Look. The American children’s publishing world is a well-meaning conglomerate of different organizations. Between the publishers, the librarians, the booksellers, the educators, and the influencers (however you define them) we all have the best interests of kids in mind. And to a very great extent, a lot of us want to promote multilingual children’s books. Books for kids in Spanish are, in particular, important to us. But the reality of the situation is that when you see a children’s book in the Spanish language, most of the time it’s either a translation of an American book or it’s from Spain. Anything from Mexico or South America is, as strange as this sounds, a rarity in the American children’s book market.

In my own library (Evanston Public Library) we’ve tried to combat this problem in a number of ways. Each year, for example, we send our Latino Outreach Librarian to the Guadalajara Book Fair to get us titles that would be difficult to obtain in the States. But wouldn’t it be so much easier if there was a publisher dedicated to bringing children’s book titles from South American nations to the States?

If you would be so good, please meet Tapioca Stories. This is a self-described, “New York-based publishing house with Latin American soul, introducing young English readers to the finest Latin American children’s books, originally written in Spanish and Portuguese.” Sort of what I was looking for, yes? So yesterday I sat down with Yael Berstein to talk about the state of Spanish literature in America. And in the course of our conversation, Yael brought up two points that I thought were particularly interesting. To my mind, you cannot discuss Spanish books in American publishing in 2026 without addressing the following:

1. Why does the Batchelder Award (the American Library Association literary award that recognizes the publisher of the year’s “most outstanding” children’s book translated into English and published in the U.S) fail to celebrate authors that translate their own books? I should explain that they certainly don’t intend to neglect anyone. Recently the Batchelder changed its rules so that the only books they will consider are the ones that state the names of their translators on their covers. Considering how often translators are forgotten or completely passed over, this was a great win. However, if the Batchelder is for the best translated book, what is to be done when sometimes (as in the case of today’s The Green Otter by Eduardo Halfon) the author IS the translator? Are we expecting the publisher to then write something like “Written by Eduardo Halfon, translated by Eduardo Halfon” on the cover? We could but… isn’t that a touch odd?

2. Which brings us to the other point that Yael mentioned to me. When a book is translated into Spanish (or even released in the original Spanish) the Spanish text is never reviewed. All reviews in America are for English editions. No review journal at this time dedicates a section to the Spanish editions of books. And yet, as Spanish versions of titles become more common, it would behoove these review journals to determine which editions contain above par writing and which, in fact, do not. Personally, I feel that out of all the review journals, School Library Journal is the one best suited to this task. Which, I suppose, is something I’ll be discussing with them at the upcoming American Library Association conference later this month.

In the meantime, let’s celebrate the eclectic and interesting titles coming out from Tapioca Stories! Today you’re going to observe books from Brazilian, Guatemalan, and Argentinian (SO many Argentinian) creators. If ever you sought Spanish titles beyond Spain, today’s list should fulfill that need. AND, quick note, Tapioca Stories will be at the upcoming ALA Conference in Chicago. So if you’d like to see any of these books firsthand, you’ll have your chance!

Wanna see these gorgeous books I allude to? Read on here.

This past Saturday my husband and son attended a World Cup preview game in Chicago between Germany and the States. Very fun stuff. Seems these days you can’t turn around without seeing World Cup celebratory posts somewhere. Or maybe that’s just me with my soccer-obsessed offspring. Whatever the case, when I learned that Pura Belpré Honoree Angela Cervantes had written a World Cup mystery inspired by the unsolved 1983 theft of the Jules Rimet Trophy, I was intrigued. Add on the fact that The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy (out now) is being released simultaneously in Spanish and I do think an interviewing is in order, don’t you?

But just so you know what we’re talking about here, this is the recap of the book:

“Diez Espada—named after the jersey number of his soccer-obsessed father’s favorite player, Lionel Messi—would rather be chasing clues than soccer balls. When the World Cup trophy disappears at a glitzy party in Miami, he’s suddenly at the center of the most thrilling match of his life—a race to find the trophy before it’s gone for good.

Teaming up with his crush, Rio, and the world-famous Detective Enzo, Diez dives headfirst into a one-night whirlwind of secret tunnels and a squad of suspicious suspects: a spoiled son of a Miami tycoon, a famous sportscaster, and even Rio’s two prankster younger brothers.

The clock is ticking, the suspects are slippery, and the stadium lights are ready to shine. Will Diez find the trophy in time for the World Cup championship match?”

Questions for Angela? Don’t mind if I do!

Betsy Bird: Angela! Thank you so much for answering my questions today. As was pointed out to me by your publicist, THE MYSTERY OF THE STOLEN WORLD CUP TROPHY is magnificently timed for this year’s World Cup games here in the States. This says to me that in order to get this book out in time, you must have been given a pretty strict deadline. Tell us a little bit about coming up with the story and writing it with the knowledge that it had to be ready to go by summer 2026.

Angela Cervantes: It’s true. It was an unforgiving deadline. I blame myself. However, I believe it just shows that not only was I super passionate about writing this story about my young sleuth Diez Espada, but that I’m also a glutton for punishment.

In all seriousness, the World Cup-inspired mystery floated in my mind for a long time. By the time I finally shared the concept with my agent, there was real concern that I wouldn’t be able to finish it and have it ready to be released for the men’s World Cup. Luckily, my agent and I found a home for it with Macmillan and with my editor, Carina Licon, who shared my excitement for the story and the World Cup. She and I quickly bonded over our favorite team (Mexico’s national team!) and all the drama, tears, and joy that accompanies the World Cup. Together, we crafted a schedule that worked for both of us. Knowing she was on my side lessened the pressure and allowed me to dive into the story and enjoy every second writing it.

Want to know more about that real world heist? Or the change in the publishing industry that now makes it so that books can come out simultaneously in English and Spanish? Or how the heck you write both sporty and mystery books at the same time? Yeah. Better read the full interview here.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that while children’s librarians do not argue about many things, there is one topic bound to be the subject of raucous debate whenever it arises. Mainly this: What is the picture book animal of the year?

Bears or chickens? Capybaras or pigs? Read enough books for kids and you see the trends. I submit to my dear readers the possibility that the matter has been settled in 2026. For all intents and purposes, there is truly only a single animal of the hour. The one. The only.

The puffin.

By complete coincidence, two puffin-related titles are coming out in 2026, and they complement one another perfectly. On the one hand you have Colleen Paeff and Linda Ólafsdóttir’s PUFFLINGS FLY FREE (out as of yesterday). This picture book follows the true life efforts of families in Iceland’s Westman Islands, gathering at midnight to save lost baby puffins, or pufflings and guide them safely back to the sea.

And at practically the same time you also have Maria Gianferrari and Maris Wicks of PUFFINS (out since April), a nonfiction picture book title that follows one adorable puffling as she eats, grows, and learns how to survive on her busy, bustling island.

Naturally, we had to get these crazy kids together.

Today, I am pleased as punch to present a video interview with these four creators. We discuss Iceland (can you guess which of the four hasn’t been?), how these books work so well with one another, the Northern Lights, and much much more. This was a deeply fun talk. These folks? They know how to puffin.

See the video and delightful discussion all here. Worth a gander.

So…. I don’t wanna brag… but I wanna brag. I’ve got this really killer writing group. It’s here in the Chicago area and it contains some stellar members. One of them may have missed her calling as an editor, actually. You know the kind of person I mean. The sort who has such a firm, concise method of giving notes that I’m just kind of in awe of her. I am speaking, naturally, about today’s guest, Karla Valenti. It isn’t just that Karla’s a Pura Belpré Award-winning author. It isn’t just that nobody writes fantasy the way that she does. A lot of it is, instead, the simple fact that whenever there’s a new Valenti novel on the horizon, it is an EVENT. Today, we celebrate one such event. Quetzal’s Labyrinth comes out September 1st and is a marvelous mash-up of Aztec gods and the occasional sassy rubber chicken. Or, put another way:

“From the Pura Belpré Award–winning author of Lola comes an action-packed middle grade fantasy where Aztec mythology crashes into everyday life. When twelve-year old Diego discovers ancient gods are real, he must journey into a deadly labyrinth to stop a vengeful power before it destroys the world.

Diego never believed his abuelo’s stories of gods and monsters and the ancient magic woven through Mexican history. Not until he finds himself sprinting down a dark hallway, chased by a beast straight out of lore—its fur as coarse as iron and five human hands clawing furiously at his throat.

Turns out, the myths are real, and their magic is erupting into Diego’s world. As shadowy creatures besiege his apartment, abuelo’s dog Cholo fixes Diego with a human gaze and speaks. Cholo reveals they’ve been unwittingly ensnared in a centuries-old rivalry between the great God Quetzal and his ruthless brother Tezca. Tezca is rising, summoning an army of minions, while Quetzal, the only one strong enough to stop him, has vanished.

The stakes are legendary, but maybe, deep down, Diego is too.”

Today, Karla joins us to give us the inside scoop on all things Quetzal.

Betsy Bird: Karla! Thank so much for answering my questions today! I don’t want to brag, but I had the chance to read a very very early draft of QUETZAL’S LABYRINTH a while ago, so you can imagine how friggin’ thrilled I am to see it in its final form! But before we get into any of that, let’s back up a bit. Tell us about the origins of the book. Where did you get the idea to go all in on the Aztec gods with this story?

Karla Valenti: The book actually started as a story about two human brothers who stumble on a hidden maze in their grandfather’s building—a maze that leads to a secret world coveted by an evil billionaire. The billionaire pits the brothers against each other with ugly consequences for the brothers. While I was drafting that version, I was also deep in research for my Legendarios chapter book series. At the time I was specifically exploring the Aztec origin myth, featuring two cosmic brothers who fight each other with devastating consequences for humanity. The overlap was hard to miss and suddenly my story pivoted to focus on two brothers locked in a cosmic struggle with humanity at stake… except now the brothers weren’t human but gods. Once I made that connection, the rest felt inevitable and the story opened up into full Aztec mythology, a rich storytelling terrain to pull from!

Read on here to hear a most insightful encapsulation of why Greek myths are better known than Aztec ones in the States (the Spanish play a part) and much more.

Rambunctious? Bumbling? It’s hard to typify the sheep in this Nancy Shaw series (though their publisher has certainly tried over the years). The darlings of the 80s and 90s, “Sheep” appreciation has depreciated significantly over the intervening decades. Today, Kate and I delve into two of the most notable of the sheep books to truly declare whether they deserve a bit of classic status to keep them in the mix, or if they should be discounted and lost to the sands of time. As it happens, it’s an ALLLLL Michigan episode here today (Kate, myself, Nancy, and Margot all hail from there).

For the full Show Notes (which, spoiler alert, include quite a bit of knitting love) read on here.

Twelve Daring Grays: A Whale Migration Adventure
By Nora Nickum
Illustrated by Elly MacKay
Candlewick Press
$18.99
ISBN: 9781536234701
Ages 5-9
On shelves now

I’ve had animal ingenuity very much on the brain recently. What animals are capable of learning. What they pass down. And I’ve been thinking too about the assumptions we humans make about them. We expect a lot from animals… but not too much, right? Like, we expect a dog to understand that when we point at something they should look that way, but we don’t expect them to problem solve or anything. It gets a little more complicated when we’re talking about large intelligent species that dwell in the oceans. Humans have a vague sense that whales are intelligent, but since we can’t talk to them yet (AI or no AI) our respect only goes so far. So what are we to make of it when a small group of whales finds a dangerous but potentially life-saving solution to a problem that has plagued them for years? And when that situation is placed in a picture book for kids, suddenly we adults are in the funny position of presenting our children with an example of intelligent problem solving that has nothing to do with us in any way, shape, or form. A humbling moment. A brilliant book.

Here is the problem: Each year gray whales eat shrimp in the Arctic and then, when it gets cold, they migrate to Baja California in Mexico to birth their calves. That done, they return to the Arctic, but they’re not eating anything along the way. Sure, their blubber gives them energy, but sometimes it’s not enough. So what caused twelve of these gray whales to suddenly start to do everything differently? While other whales flirted with starvation, thirty years ago a couple of these whales figured out another way. They split off from the group and took a 170 mile detour to the Salish Sea. There, they found shallow waters that, when the tide is high, allow them to plow the ocean floor for a feast of millions of ghost shrimp. If they wait too long, the tide is out and they’re stranded. But if they time it right, day after day, they’ll be healthy, fit, and ready to head over to the Arctic as planned. Accompanied by artist Elly MacKay’s incredible cut paper artistry, Nickum’s text highlights the risk, the bravery, and the ingenuity of creatures facing a difficult world.

A deep dive (no pun intended) in the full review. Read on here.

And, y’know, it occurs to me that as nice as these previews are, it probably behooves me to tell you a little something about these little publishers that I highlight. Take Eerdmans, for example. I’ve always had a soft place in my heart for them since they’re Michigan-based and I’m a born and bred Michigander (Kalamazoo 4-life, baybeeee!). But what makes Eerdemans so very very interesting is that they’re one of the very few religious publishers to make the crossover into mainstream children’s book publishing. Sure they do some light religious stuff (you’ll see a touch of that today) but a lot of the children’s book imprint titles are secular. And remember back in 2009 when they won their first 2008 Caldecott Honor for A River of Words? When small publishers win huge awards, I get very happy.

’m happy today too with the array of titles I’ve seen. Take a gander. You may see something you like:

This Is How to Spot Animals by Aline Portman, trans. by Laura Watkinson

ISBN: 978-0802856616

Publication Date: October 6, 2026

A Belgian import! We don’t see as many Belgian titles in a given year as I would like. This little charmer also stands out thanks to its oblivious lead and its pitch perfect readaloud qualities. Are you a fan of dramatic irony in picture books? Then you are in luck. Our hero, the bear, is “spotting animals” today and he’s more than willing to give you, the reader, some tips. Unfortunately, for him, he seems to be missing all the action. The refrain that keeps coming up throughout the book is, “But today we’re out of luck. There’s nothing to see here.” Reminds me a bit of that old Ellen Raskin title Nothing Ever Happens on Our Block. The art, however, brings to mind the works of Sebastian Meschenmoser with its limited color palette. Best of all, this is Aline Portman’s English language debut. Let’s give her book a warm and hearty welcome so that we can see more of the same in the future, eh?

That’s just a teeny taste. Check out all the titles right here and you’ll not regret it.

Two days ago, to kick off Pride Month, Evanston Public Library had the pleasure of hosting Kyle Lukoff, now author of at least twenty-one books. Y’all know Kyle. He’s the Newbery Honor winner of Too Bright to See, and the National Book Award Finalist for A World Worth Saving. Does a picture book called I’m Sorry You Got Mad sound familiar? Or When Aidan Became a Brother? In any case, I got to interview Kyle as part of the virtual talk and in the course of things the subject of his 2026 picture book came up.

Now The Vicious Cycle (out October 6th) may be one of the best named picture books of 2026. It’s a clever little thing, adeptly telling a story of a unicycle with issues, and something much smarter and deeper at the same time. Illustrated by Singapore-based artist Priscilla Tey, Henry Holt & Co. describe the book in this manner:

“This is the story of a unicycle.
A unicycle that goes around in a path of its own making.
A path that gets deeper and deeper as more time passes.
A path that becomes impossible to leave.
Until a new friend enters the circle, and little by little, introduces a new way out.

In this arresting allegorical story, Newbery Honor winner Kyle Lukoff tackles big ideas around trauma, emotion, and growth that everyone—no matter their age—can relate to. It is a profound book about the ruts we dig ourselves into, how trusted friends can show their support by helping us see outside ourselves, and how the choice to heal is ours alone.”

And apparently I just can’t stop talking to Kyle. We discuss the book with him and Priscilla together:

Betsy Bird: Kyle! You’ve told me about so many of your books over the years, but the one that you return to, time and again, and that seems to hold a particular place in your heart is THE VICIOUS CYCLE. There could be any number of reasons for that. Let’s start off with learning where this book came from in the first place. Where did it originate?

Kyle Lukoff: Ha, I didn’t realize I had been doing that. Way to call me out.

This book has the simplest origin story imaginable. I remember telling a good friend of mine, “Wouldn’t it be funny if there was a picture book about an angry unicycle, and it was called ‘The Vicious Cycle’?” This was probably in 2020, before I had the confidence that I have now–that if I want someone to write a book about something, I can often be the one to do it. But for a couple years I didn’t have anything besides the title, and a vague visual sense of an angry unicycle. Then one night I was at a very boring function, extremely caffeinated (and had maaaybe had a cocktail or two), and I decided to go into my mind palace and write the thing out in my imagination. I typed it out the next morning, sent it to my agent, and it went from there.

BB: Honestly, I think that’s how it should work. And Priscilla! Thank you so much for also talking with us today about your work on this book. Tell us a little bit about why you agreed to take on this project.

Priscilla Tey: My pleasure! Thank YOU for taking an interest in our book! 🙂

Well, when I first read the manuscript, it was an easy “yes” for me. The story instantly resonated, having been in both the positions of the unicycle and Emily. And I think that’s the case with many of us. We’ve been in ruts and been the ones helping others get out of ruts too. But aside from that, what hooked me into this project was how Kyle chose to capture that experience through this extended analogy. I was a high school teacher before I chose this freelance artist life, and I’ve learnt that when it comes to navigating intangible mental landscapes, visual analogies can do wonders. Rather than tell a person to think differently, sometimes presenting visual parallels to their situation can help them map out cognitive pathways for themselves. I liked that Kyle’s story did that. You could remove the ‘moral takeaways’ and any subtle messages and it still reads like a good story. This means that you could draw whatever lessons you want from it without feeling like they were prescribed to you.

The thing is, in the course of our discussion, Kyle and Priscilla together give, what I can only describe as, an intensive course on the art of creating picture books. If you read nothing else today, this is The Best Thing.

I am happy to report that we are continuing our sneak peeks into the smaller publishers out there. This month (as well as last) we’re zeroing in on some of the Fall releases. In May we explored books from Transit Editions and a slew of little guys represented by Publishers Spotlight. Today we turn our attention to North South Books. They’re the English-language imprint of the Swiss-based NordSüd Verlag and they’ve been around for about 30 years now. Typically, they publish picture books from all over the world, and today’s selection is a marvelous example of precisely that:

Fancy Dogs
Written and illustrated by Tini Malina
Translated from German by Tammi Reichel

ISBN: 9780735846272
On sale: October 6, 2026

Awww. Look at that l’il guy. That’s how you do a cover and title, folks. Now what, precisely, is it that makes a dog “fancy”? This book (one of the MANY German titles on the list today) covers dogs dressed up in everything from sequined threads (good translation) to fancy beds. That said, they’re still dogs and they’re still gonna do gross dog stuff. In a sense, the book examines how we imagine our dogs vs. how they really behave. Last year Tini Malina created a picture book called Selma about a spider that didn’t play by everyone else’s artistic rules. This year she has this book and, in Fall of 2027, we’re gonna get a chance to see its companion book: Sassy Cats. Ah-yup! Need I even mention that this is to be simultaneously published in Spanish?

Consider this but a TASTE of the full offerings on display in this preview. It’s just nine titles in total, so read the full preview here.

“I don’t hate these rhymes!” It’s a return to New Zealand today with a local classic that has long eluded our particular podcast. Will the little black terrier with the catchy name capture the hearts and minds of these Yankee sisters or will his charms elude them entirely? On this episode we discuss books that you have to practice reading aloud, why people give their dogs last names, and whether these specific doggy butts in this book were sanitized for American audiences.

For the full Show Notes (including my own favorite doggo name) read on here.

*sigh*

Folks… I dunno. It can be disheartening being in this business sometimes. Folks disparaging the whole of children’s literature in the 21st century isn’t anything new, but can I be honest? When people say that the bulk of books for kids today aren’t great, they’re (a) wrong and (b) just talking about fictional picture books. Which is more than a little limiting. Let me tell you a story then.

In the year 2010 (so, a good sixteen years ago) I encountered a middle grade novel called The Boneshaker. It was a little confusing at the time because in that exact same year there was an adult fantasy novel by Cherie Priest by the same name (ya can’t copyright a name!). I read the book and at the tender age of 32 I was utterly and wholly charmed by it. To me, it seemed to glean the best elements of my favorite author of all time, Ray Bradbury. There was, in fact, more than a hint of Something Wicked This Way Comes to the entire affair. What I didn’t realize at the time was that its author, Kate Milford, was using that book to spread her wings. And spread them she did.

Now the year is 2026. There have been 10 books in the Roamers series, the latest of which is Rialto. Released last month, Rialto is one of those books that you could read completely on its own without any knowledge of the others in this series. But if I’m going to be honest, the kid that reads at least a couple of these books together is going to get SO much out of this latest. That said, check out this boss description:

“Ivy and Dahlia Vicar know this summer’s trip to visit friends in Rialto, Missouri, is going to be different from their usual family vacations.

Twelve-year-old Dahlia, an artist who lives with anxiety, is looking forward to something new. Rialto, after all, has its own abandoned theme park! But mystery-loving, fourteen-year-old Ivy is struggling with how to be the right kind of big sister to Dahlia, and longs for the way things—especially vacations—were when they were younger.

In Rialto, it quickly becomes clear that this vacation will also be different in totally unexpected ways. For one thing, the town stands in the middle of an improbable forest that, according to local legend, swallowed it overnight decades before. Then there are Dahlia’s even more improbable sightings of impossible creatures—a giraffe with antlers and a leopard with wings. And there’s their new friend Remy, whose family inherited the house they’re all staying in from an aunt who left bequests for local friends that Remy must personally distribute.

When he enlists Ivy and Dahlia to help deliver these gifts, they find themselves drawn into a mystery going back to the time when Rialto Park was still open. And it begins to seem that, if they are going to help Remy solve it, they will have to find a way to believe in magic.

Themes of friendship, family, mental health, and resilience are expertly woven through this magical, richly imagined story of two sisters and an enigmatic town that transforms everyone who visits it. “

It has cover art from Arch Apolar. It has interior illustrations by James Firnhaber. And it has me asking Kate Milford a whole slew of questions here today.

BB: Kate! Such a thrill to talk to you about RIALTO today! It’s been a day or two since we were last in this world. How did you come up with the idea of an abandoned theme park? What is RIALTO’S origin story?

Kate Milford: So delightful to talk to you, too! And it has been a while, hasn’t it? It’s funny, actually, I went back and looked, and my earliest notes about this book were from like 2010, and they were about an entirely different potential story. About the only thing that remained in the final version of that original idea was a link to Venice, though even that link is different in the story that eventually became RIALTO. That early idea didn’t have the theme park angle, and that was so early in my career that I also hadn’t envisioned it as being connected to the other books (or book, really, because at that point the only thing I’d published was THE BONESHAKER). I am trying to remember now at what point I changed everything. When Clarion bought RIALTO, I was using a synopsis that reflected some of the earlier idea, but now it also had a sort of kitschy roadside attraction–not quite an amusement park, but like Rialto Park it was abandoned, and also, in its way, magical. (My love of oddball roadside attractions goes just about as deep as my love of amusement parks.)

The thing I love about theme parks in particular is (this will just shock you) the worldbuilding. A really well-made theme park makes you believe that the place you’re experiencing just might continue out of sight behind every door and window, even if intellectually you know some of them are just set dressing and the rest lead to break rooms and electrical closets and what-have-you. Ever since the days of family trips to Disneyworld when I was a kid, I was always as much in love with the detailed theming as I was with the actual rides, and the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean were formative bits of visual storytelling for me, from the entrances and queues all the way through the exits. They made me want to go home and write stories, and all these years later, I’m sure my early love of immersive, narrative places like theme parks contributed to how I wound up approaching my own invented worlds. And of course, abandoned–or just never finished–theme parks are out there to be found all over the world. When I was a kid in Maryland, we used to go to a very old, very handmade theme park called The Enchanted Forest that was maybe half an hour from my grandparents’ house in Catonsville. (Every time I smell the bromine that most parks use to treat their water, it takes me right back there.) It opened in the fifties and closed in the nineties, and for a long time it just sat abandoned off Route 40. Some of its structures have been relocated to a local petting zoo, and the rest of the grounds have been redeveloped, but in my heart it is still there, off of Route 40, hidden in the woods, waiting to be found and explored and still smelling of bromine. I wrote it into Nagspeake as the abandoned Fantasytowne all the way back in the days when Nagspeake was just the tourism website, and then I wrote it into THE THIEF KNOT, but I think The Enchanted Forest has been waiting in the back of my mind for a time to find its way into the Roaming World in a bigger way.

Like what you see? A fan of process? You’re going to get your money’s worth with this interview so read the full thing here.

In my life, my blogging separates quite neatly into two separate and quite specific times of year. You’ve the Spring books (premiering in the fall) and the Fall books (premiering in the spring). What time of year is it right now? Spring. What books are we now going to enjoy? Fall. And thanks to the efforts of one miraculous Ellen Myrick of Publisher Spotlight, we’re going to give a little time and attention NOT to the big whopping Five (the five major publishers in America that control most of children’s book publishing). Nope. We’re going to zero in instead on the l’il guys. The small publishers that produce rare, wild, interesting, strange books for kids. The kinds of books that upset expectations. The kinds of books that no one in their right mind would ever consider “crud”.

Let’s dive in:

I don’t usually introduce the new publishers, but this one is a little different from the rest. Based in British Columbia, it’s actually been around for 10 years. All of its creators are authentically Indigenous and have final approval over their books, allowing them the chance to make sure that everyone in their community approves.

Tess’s Red Dress by Carolyn Roberts & Kelsey Mata Foote

ISBN: 9781778540905

Publication Date: May 12, 2026

I think we’ve seen enough picture books in the 21st century to know that, when handled correctly, they are capable of discussing tough topics. In this story, a family is expecting a new addition. In the course of things, the young heroine of the story’s mom explains why her daughter is named for her sister. It turns out, mom’s sister was one of the missing Indigenous women. This subject is discussed in a way that is appropriate for a child, but also understands the loss that the child may be experiencing. The book is clear about showing how the family is made of activists with the dad being involved. As they go to a march for all the missing women, the age-appropriate and empathetic language introduces child readers to Red Dress Day and the importance of remembering those Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirit People. It also has some of the most badass author/illustrator images I’ve seen in a long time.

To see the full preview and a slew of more incredible titles, read on here.

You know all the recent talks about children’s literature regarding what’s good and what’s crud? Lord, it’s such a limited conversation. The world of books for kids is vast and has so many disparate and diverse pathways. You’ve the Big Five publishers, sure (Harper Collins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Scholastic) and then you’ve the second tier big guys (Little Brown/Hachette n’ such) and then all these itty bitty publishers out there, churning out incredible fare but without the same publicity dollars. Ever heard of Gloo Books? Nor had I. But they’re a small independent publisher with a diverse focus and they’ve got this book coming out July 21st that really caught my eye.

A Bike Is Not Just a Bike: An Ode to Girls Who Dare to Ride by Brenna Jeanneret, illustrated by Michelle Pereira, did not, upon first glance, entice me. A history of women riding bicycles? Sure. We’ve seen that before. And I’m not going to be interested in a picture book work of nonfiction unless it does something new, interesting, and fun. Welp, turns out this was the book I’ve been waiting for. Look, here’s the description from its publisher:

“A Bike Is Not Just a Bike is the inspiring story of how the ordinary bike came to represent freedom for women and girls.

In the 1880s, a bike was just a bike—unless you were a girl. Then it was considered dangerous, unladylike, even scandalous. But some dared to ride anyway. Pedal by pedal, they defied expectations. Riding a bike became a revolutionary act offering independence, challenging fashion norms and moving women one step closer to the right to vote.

This lyrical celebration honors the fearless women who refused to stay in their lane and spotlights modern-day heroes like Ayesha McGowan and Dr. Lynnea C. Salvo. Complete with historical footnotes, A Bike Is Not Just A Bike celebrates girls riding everywhere and moves us all toward freedom, equity, and joy.”

This is precisely the kind of nonfiction I like. A little bit unexpected. Quite a lot a bit of fun. And beautifully illustrated besides. Even so, I needed to hear from the author herself…

Betsy Bird: Brenna! I appreciate so much your taking the time to answer my questions today. A BIKE IS NOT JUST A BIKE is one of those books that makes me take into consideration how easy it is for nonfiction authors to get stuck in ruts of too often telling stories in the least interesting way. Your book, in contrast, took subject matter that sounds simple on paper (the history of women and bikes) and takes this wholly innovative method in its storytelling. Before we get into how you told this story, I want to know the why. Where did you get the idea for this book?

Brenna: Betsy, hi! First, thank you so much for your kind words and for having me on the blog. As a kid with ADHD growing up in the 90s there wasn’t as much awareness or support as there is now. Once I started school my extra energy started to become an issue. I was a good student but I couldn’t sit still, or keep quiet. My parents had me tested and when the results came back so did the recommendation for Ritalin. But it just zonked me out. I was a totally different kid. My mom asked for a re-evaluation and they said no. So, the very condensed version is, she took me off meds and gave me a bike. Physical exertion has been my coping mechanism ever since and this book is an ode to all the women that made riding a bike for little me an option. I think my life would look much different if I hadn’t been given the chance to channel my energy in this way.

You’ll want to read the full interview here if, for no other reason, to see the full list of things women were NOT allowed to do on bikes (“#4: Don’t race. Leave that to the scorchers).

“People, I don’t promote taking drugs, but…”

Time for a NEW cult classic! I’ve been searching for this book for years, but I was completely unable to get my hands on it… until now. Apparently it was republished back in 2017 , and I was able to find it at The Rabbit hOle’s bookstore a couple weeks ago. IS it the longest picture book title featured on this podcast? We think so, but only if you cut out anything that has a subtitle. In the meantime, we speculate about Pincus’s love of the booty, what the Broom Handle owes The Simpsons, and Kate even works in a Bob’s Burgers reference (so, really, there’s something for everyone here).

You can see interior images and Show Notes (including why I think this guy is a clear cut predecessor to Sideshow Bob) all here.

The Genie Game
By Jordan Ifueko
Illustrated by AI (Magnific)(oh… we’ll get to that)
Amulet (an imprint of Abrams)
$19.99
ISBN: 978-1-4197-6437-0
Ages 9-12
On shelves now

When you’re an adult reviewing a book for kids, you are automatically placed in the awkward position of not being the intended audience for that title. Even if it’s the best book in the world, what you get out of it is going to be different than what a kid does. And the lens through which you read the book varies wildly from adult to adult as well. There’s the parent lens, the teacher lens, the librarian lens, and the reviewer lens. Oh. And one more. The fellow children’s author lens. Since I ascribe to four of those five descriptions, I never really know how I’ll read a middle grade novel for kids when I pick it up. To my infinite surprise, upon starting The Genie Game I found myself reading this book as another children’s author. I was admiring Ifueko’s ability to plunge the reader IMMEDIATELY into an alternate America, world building with enviable efficiency and speed. Reading further, that lens shifted. Now I was a reviewer, agog over the author’s seemingly effortless ability to meld character development for a bunch of different people within a social commentary (and social justice) format. And then it’s fun! So so so so fun! If I was a kid I would get a HUGE kick out of this book! By the time I was done I discovered that I was reading it like a child would. Which is to say, I’m now hungry for more. Adept and incredible, The Genie Game looks like fluff, but packs a wallop when it comes to storytelling panache.

Kind of weird. Nobody can remember Mango anymore. Nobody, except her younger 13-year-old sister Valentine. Valentine (who dreams of someday becoming a feared and fabulous film director) was sent a strange letter and now she’s the only person in the world to remember she has (had?) an older sister who disappeared months ago. Where is she? After receiving a mysterious text message, Valentine goes to a small boba café, only to find herself sucked into immortality against her will. Valentine is now a player in The Genie Game. As a genie herself, her goal is to answer as many wishes as possible for the three corporations that rule everything in her world. She doesn’t have magic powers, but she does have an inability to age, brains, and along the way a crew of good friends who will help her with her ultimate goal: Finding Mango. Trouble is, it’s hard to know who to trust in this game. You may even find you can’t trust yourself.

I have thoughts. Lots of thoughts. BIG thoughts about how incredible the writing is in this book… and how appalling the AI art it contains is. Read the full review here.

Each year my library (Evanston Public Library) produces a list of 101 Great Books for Kids. And because this list releases in late-October/early-November, it is important that we discuss potential titles for inclusion all year long in monthly meetings. Just yesterday we had our meeting to discuss the 2026 Fairytales/Folktales/Religious Tales AND Poetry AND Graphic Novels we’ve enjoyed as of late. And though I didn’t really mean to, I had a whopping eight new GNS to talk about (and that doesn’t even take into account the seven OTHER comics for kids that I think are above par). One of the titles that I got to present to the group? Opting Out by Maia Kobabe and Swati “Lucky” Srikumar (out now).

You may perhaps recall hearing the name “Maia Kobabe” somewhere in the past. It just so happens that Maia wrote a book by the name Gender Queer: A Memoir that, aside from winning a Stonewall Honor and an Alex Award in 2020, also became the nation’s most banned book from 2021-2023. Opting Out, in contrast, is Maia’s first middle grade graphic novel, and is being created along with Lucky Srikumar, who is also debuting.

The publisher describes it this way:

“Bodies are the worst. I wish I didn’t have a body.

Saachi is a storyteller. At school, she’s surrounded by kids she’s known forever — including her best friend, Lyla, who shares Saachi’s love of fantasy novels and creating new worlds.

But as seventh grade starts, kids are changing. Suddenly, it matters who you like and if you can find a boyfriend or girlfriend. Even Lyla seems more interested in hanging out with her new boyfriend than in writing and drawing with Saachi anymore. Saachi’s not interested in any of that boy/girl stuff. Why can’t things just stay the way they were?

Saachi also doesn’t love all the ways her body is changing. What if she doesn’t feel like a girl — or like a boy, either? In a world where there is so much either/or, Saachi is going to need to find her own options . . . and create her own story.”

And here are my own thoughts on the title from my own personal write-ups:

“A keen examination of the nebulousness of self that comes during adolescence. This drills into that time when people are slotting themselves into very distinct categories and where any deviation from those categories makes it difficult for the person in question. I cannot recall another middle grade or graphic novel that really dove into a person’s complete and utter disgust with the human body itself. Maia and Lucky do a great job with examining that aspect of Saachi’s experience.”

I’m downright honored to host both creators on this site today:

Betsy Bird: Maia! Such a delight to speak with you today! After working in the world of adult graphic novels it’s great to see you moving towards children’s for the first time. Why write OPTING OUT now? Where did the book come from?

Maia Kobabe: When I was touring with Gender Queer all the way back in 2019, I had many parents of nonbinary or gender questioning kids tell me how much the book meant to them and how useful and encouraging it was in thinking about their kids’ potential futures. But often their kids were a little too young to read the book themselves, and so many parents asked me if I would consider making a “young reader” version of Gender Queer. I wasn’t interested in redoing the book I had just finished or in abridging my memoir, but that planted the idea in my head of writing a new book that covered many of the same themes and questions as Gender Queer but aimed at middle grade readers.

BB: Saachi’s ethnic identity could have been any number of things. I believe (and please correct me if this is inaccurate) she’s presented as Desi or Indian-American. I wonder if the both of you could answer if that always the plan from the start, or did you come to that decision later in the creative process? And Lucky, thank you too for taking my questions today. As far as I can tell, this is your first book for kids so far. How’d you get paired on the project, and did you know Maia personally previously?

Lucky Srikumar: Hi! Thank you for having me! This is my first ever book and I’m so excited! Maia and I met over ten years ago through their sibling and my best friend, Phoebe Kobabe.

Maia had about 20 pages of a script written when e approached me, e actually paid me to give my opinion on whether the best friend character could be written as an Indian character.

I had a lot of thoughts but I did say that I would want the main character and their family to be Indian and Maia’s reaction was to invite me to join in and work on it with em and of course I couldn’t say no.

After that I ended up contributing to the art as well, helping with character designs and taking the lead on coloring the whole thing.

I feel so blessed to have gotten to work on this especially because I can’t picture the story without all these cultural elements anymore. It became it’s own thing and I’m so incredibly proud of it!

Maia: Lucky and I have known each other for over twelve years! They went to college with my younger sibling, Phoebe Kobabe, who helped with the colors on both this book and my first book, Gender Queer. Within one month or less of their friendship, Phoebe called me and said “I met the coolest person, you have to meet them!” That was the very beginning, and then about seven years after that we started working on this book together. I’m so so so happy with the result, in part because Lucky and I made a book together that could have only been created by the two of us together.

I asked Lucky if they would do a read of the book at a very early stage because I wanted to make at least one character Indian-American and I wanted their opinion on what I would need to change in the story to make that work. My initial idea was for the Indian character to be the best friend. Lucky suggested that the story would be much more interesting if the Desi character was the main character, and I agreed, but I knew I could only do that if Lucky was willing to join me as a co-author on the book. Happily, they said yes! Lucky then renamed everyone in Saachi’s family and wrote a lot of new scenes, including the majority of the scenes in which Saachi talks to her parents, and when they visit the temple, as well as many other contributions to the story.

As it turns out, there is a lot more to discuss here. Everything from the character’s bowl cut to the puberty information that kids are going to find here first. It’s fascinating stuff. Read the full interview here.

It’s hard to resist a heist.

You know, we’ve had a lot of discussions in the children’s literary sphere lately about gatekeeping and quality children’s literature, and so on, and such. But these discussions, forgive me, are pretty dang limited. Face it. They’re all about fiction. There’s nothing wrong with fictional stories, of course, but if you want to see where some of the most exciting writing for kids lies these days, then you need to break out the informational titles. They’re kicking ass, taking names, and the guy who’s doing some of the most interesting stuff? That would be one Mr. Steve Sheinkin, naturally.

Sheinkin has a couple books out in 2026, as it happens, but today we’re gonna focus on the one that mixes graphic novel elements with good old-fashioned history. Just so long as that history involves the occasional train robbery, of course. Diamond Fever! is out now and its publisher describes it in this fashion:

“Late one night two travel-weary miners, Philip Arnold and John Slack, show up at a businessman’s office in San Francisco. The miners seem nervous. They’ve got something that needs to be locked in a safe overnight. What is it? Well, that really has to stay secret, but it’s…

DIAMONDS! And lots of them.

Had these two miners just discovered America’s first diamond mine? Well, this is the Gold Rush era after all. Plenty of people are striking it rich. Anything is possible.

When word of the find hits the streets, diamond fever sweeps the country. Wealthy investors are desperate to elbow Arnold and Slack aside and seize control—but can they persuade the miners to reveal the location of their bonanza? At the same time, thousands of prospectors fan out across the mountains and deserts of the West—will one of them find the site before greedy bankers grab everything for themselves?

In this page-turning, high-stakes western adventure, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Steve Sheinkin tells the true story of the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872, a rollicking tale of heists and hijinks, scams and scoundrels—and the last-minute triumph of a most unlikely hero.“

I wanna give a commission to whoever it was that came up with that “heists and hijinks, scams and scoundrels” line, by the way. It’s well done.

Until I figure out who they are, though, let’s talk to creator Steve Sheinkin and his partner-in-crime Jon Chad about what making this book entailed:

Betsy Bird: Steve! Such a delight to talk to you about your latest. You know, usually I kick off one of these talks with a question about how you discovered the story behind your book. In the case of this one, however, it seems to have an interesting after-you-pitched-it-to-your-publisher life of its own. Can you give us the rundown of how this book came to be (and why it’s coming out in 2026 and not 2011?).

Steve Sheinkin: It’s always awesome to talk strange stories with you, Betsy! It’s true that I pitched this Western crime caper about fifteen years ago. Macmillan bought it. But then I dove into the research and simply couldn’t find enough details to bring the action to life. I set the idea aside, but never forgot it. For years, when kids at school visits asked about books I’ve had to abandon, I’d tell the diamond story. And every time, I’d think, damn, I’ve gotta do that one!

Over time, my nerdy detective skills improved. I found stuff (mostly thanks to librarians, of course) that I didn’t even know how to look for fifteen years ago. And in the summer of 2024, my son David and I flew to Denver, rented a pick-up truck, and set out in search of this once-famous diamond mine. If I could find the mine, I figured, I could tell the story. And we found it!

BB: Well, shoot! I kinda want to start talk about that adventure now, but we can’t neglect Jon. Jon! Such a delight to get to lob questions at you today too! So tell us a little bit about getting involved with this project. What appealed to you about Steve’s text?

Jon Chad: I’m always happy to chat about drawing nonfiction comics! This story, and by extension Steve’s masterful text on it, immediately appealed to me because it hit a very specific Venn diagram of my interests. I’ve had a long interest in mining (both contemporary and historic mining practices and technologies), but also in financial crimes and grifts. To have both set against the backdrop of the wild west, and with a cast of such larger-than-life characters, was irresistible.

It’s also worth noting that when I was contacted about working on this with Steve, I was living in Sacramento, California, less than half a mile from Sutter’s Fort, and 30 miles from Sutter’s Mill (considered the origin of the California Gold Rush). Living in Sacramento exposed me to a lot of Gold Rush history and I had come across some stories of various grifts enacted on hopeful miners. Though not a part of the Gold Rush proper, I was surprised to have not heard anything about this story, and was excited to learn more!

We get into Steve locating the actual (hidden) diamond mine. We get into how Jon turns real historical figures into drawn characters. We get into toy ponies, for crying out loud! Oh, this interview is a hoot. Read the full thing here.

I’m not entirely certain why I’d typify a tale in which a house gets swept out to sea as a “quiet book”, but that’s the only way I can really describe this picture book outing by Lauren Wolk. And when I say “picture book outing” I naturally mean “picture book debut.” For the record, the name Lauren Wolk may be ringing a couple bells out there with folks familiar with contemporary children’s literature. For me, her name conjures up the single greatest antagonist I’ve ever encountered in a work of middle grade fiction. It was a good decade ago (to the month) that I reviewed Wolf Hollow, a book that would go on to win a Newbery Honor. I called that title, “A book unafraid to be uneasy,” and I’ll stand by that statement thanks to its provocative little blond girl villain (who continues to give me nightmares to this day). But with Wolk’s brand new picture book, out today, Lauren is going in another direction. The complexity we’ve come to expect in her books is still there, but with vastly different undercurrents.

The Outermost Mouse is best described by its publisher in this manner:

“The Outermost Mouse loves her life at the tip of the beach. She has blue sky above and sand as warm and soft as her mother below.

Best of all is the house, a huge nest she has made her own. There are jam-jar posies, lanterns full of gold, and a clock that tick-tocks her to sleep at night.

But a storm is coming. When the sky goes dark and a cold wind rises, the little mouse must do everything she can to protect her home. Even though she’s small enough to fit into a teacup, the Outermost Mouse is smart, strong, and brave—and ready to face the wild waves.

Illustrator Kristen Adam brilliantly captures the snug warmth and fierce beauty of the Outermost Mouse’s shoreline world in Newbery Honor–winning author Lauren Wolk’s glorious tribute to the courage and tenacity of a tiny-but-mighty heroine.”

Today, I’ve a chance to discuss the book with Lauren (something I’ve been particularly keen to do since setting eyes upon it):

Lauren Wolk: Betsy! Thanks very much for the interview. Always an honor to have a conversation with you. I’m delighted that you like the book.

Betsy Bird: Lauren! Thank you so much for answering my questions about your debut picture book. THE OUTERMOST MOUSE is this remarkably beautiful (and surprisingly exciting) delve into a love of place like nothing I’ve seen before. Can you tell us a bit about where this book came from?

Lauren: Like so much in my creative life, this book came from a happy accident. (Evidence that I shouldn’t look for inspiration. It will come out of left field when it’s ready.) I was working at a cultural center, hanging a painting of a curio cupboard. In one of the cubbies was a postcard. I wasn’t wearing my glasses, and I thought the caption read, “The Outermost Mouse,” even though the image was of a house and I live on Cape Cod where The Outermost House was a literary landmark. I realized my mistake almost immediately, but my next thought was a question that planted the seed for this book: What if there was a mouse living in The Outermost House, and what if she tried to save it from the storm that swept it out to sea? I let the idea percolate for a while, and then I went down to the beach and wrote THE OUTERMOST MOUSE in one sitting.

There is a great deal more to discuss. Read the full interview with Lauren here, if you would be so good.

I promised Kate that we’d do a British picture book today in celebration of her recent trip to the fair British Isles. It had occurred to me that we’d never done a Babette Cole book before, so I worked out which one is perhaps best-known over there. Now I probably should have done the incredible Mommy Laid an Egg, but I felt like Kate needed a gentler introduction to Cole’s work this time around. I point out in this discussion that in Canada we have The Paperbag Princess, in England we have Princess Smartypants, and what does America have? If you have any ideas of what the logical third leg in this triumvirate might be, we welcome the suggestion.

For the full Show Notes (including Babette Cole’s boss Wikipedia page photo) read on here.

All right, folks! It’s that time again. The small publishers are assembling and already I have planned posts of upcoming Fall 2026 books coming from Nosy Crow, Eerdmans, Enchanted Lion, and everyone that Publisher’s Spotlight represents. But before we get to any of them, let’s kick things off with a view of Transit Editions’s children’s book imprint. If you were already wowed by the incredible The Muéganos earlier this year, then check out what else is slated for release. It’s only three titles but, wowzah! Such doozies:

Have You Ever Heard a Horse Sing? by Pauline Barzilaï, translated by Lindsay Turner

ISBN: 9798893380880

Publication Date: October 6, 2026

Awww. Just look at that hot pink punim. You gonna tell this horse you’re not gonna buy its book? Really?

So I can’t be the only person to notice that Dadaism is beginning to have a second life in the world (the popularity of the band Angine de Poitrine is a nice example of this). In a time of AI, people are glomming onto art that only humans could make. And yes, that applies to surrealist picture books as well. Meet French author/illustrator Barzilaï. Utilizing a very nice use of pink, this may be the funniest animal sounds book you’ve seen in a long long time. Remember the picture book version of What Does the Fox Say? Consider this close kin. Young readers are encouraged to reimagine and reconsider the world around them with this participatory book. How? With the weirdest animals sounds you ever did hear. Remember, this title is a translation from the original French, so the publisher had to work out the funniest possible animal sounds with the translator. The end result is just so deliciously weird (and Batchelder-worthy, I’d argue). The artwork, meanwhile, consists of thickly applied brushstrokes that are almost Maira Kalman-esque. You could frame each page of this book. And let me tell you, someone’s readaloud storytime is about to get EPIC!

I mean… now you kinda have to see what else they have coming out. Don’t worry. I’ve got your back. Just read on here.