Iyana Jones

2 weeks ago | publishersweekly.com | Iyana Jones

The annual YALLWEST book festival kicked off with a preview event on May 2 and welcomed an estimated 35,000 guests for the festival on May 3. Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, Calif. hosted attendees for a day of panels, book signings, and keynote addresses from big-name authors such as Tricia Levenseller, Tahereh Mafi, Adam Silvera, and more. “It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic readers even in the rain!” said festival director Melissa de la Cruz.

1 month ago | publishersweekly.com | Iyana Jones

R.I.S.E. Fest, a festival in western Massachusetts founded by expressive arts educator Gina M. Krosoczka and her husband, graphic novelist Jarrett J. Krosoczka, hosted its first event over the weekend of April 18. Authors and students were invited to the Northampton Center for the Arts for two days of panels, workshops, and performances from authors and students. “Our young people need to feel seen and celebrated,” said Jarrett in a statement.

1 month ago | publishersweekly.com | Iyana Jones

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the author-illustrator duo behind the U.K. picture book classic The Gruffalo and its sequel The Gruffalo’s Child, will revisit their beloved character in a new picture book from Dial Books for Young Readers, due in September 2026. Originally published in 1999, The Gruffalo follows a mouse, who in hopes of avoiding being eaten by other animals, invents the titular monster to scare off the others, only to learn that there may really be a monster to fear.

1 month ago | publishersweekly.com | Iyana Jones

YA authors and fans gathered in Houston on April 12 at Alief Taylor High School for the annual TeenBookCon, a day of YA-centric book festivities. More than 800 guests turned out for book signings and panels with topics that ranged from crafting main characters and plot twists to graphic novel development, plus keynote speeches from celebrated authors Nic Stone and J. Elle.

1 month ago | publishersweekly.com | Iyana Jones

Dave Eggers will return to the world of his Newbery Medal–winning middle grade novel The Eyes & the Impossible with The Eyes, the Fire & the Avalanche Kingdom, a sequel set to release November 18 from Knopf Books for Young Readers. In this new installment, illustrated by previous collaborator Shawn Harris, adventurous dog Johannes cannot resist an invitation from a goat to join her on a ship leaving on a trip.