The Weekly 411 (4/24/26)
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| © Laura Piggott |
April 24, 2026 vol. 17
The Weekly 411 gathers all the links added to Kidlit411 each week. To receive this post by email, sign up for our email updates. Are you on Facebook? Join our Kidlit411 group for conversations and camaraderie. We can also be found on Bluesky. This week's illustration is by Laura Piggott.
Publishing News
Publishers Go Paperback First as Readers Shun Bulky Books
Middle Grade Graphic Novel Giveaway
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the middle grade graphic novel debut, Aku: Journey to Ibra (Random House Books for Young Readers) out now. Enter to win a copy via the widget below.
About the Book: When 12-year-old daydreamer Aku inherits an astronaut helmet from his dead grandmother, he gains the power to transport himself throughout the metaverse. The helmet lets Aku travel back and forth between Earth and the planet Ibra, where he meets extraterrestrial friends and explores their fascinating planet. On Ibra, there are no bullies. On Ibra, Aku can be his most Aku self. Benji and Trae come along, too, and the three friends find their happy place. But their joy is short lived. Aku's visits open a rift in the universe, allowing space soldiers to invade Ibra and steal its most precious resource: the lunaberry. If Aku doesn't figure something out quickly, his joyful adventures could spell doom for an entire planet.
About the Author: Micah Johnson, a former Major League Baseball player turned artist, is the creator of the phenomenon that is Aku. After overhearing a young boy ask his mom if astronauts could be Black, Micah was inspired to create Aku, a 3D animated boy wearing an oversized astronaut helmet. That same year, Micah created a fine art piece that catapulted him from retired athlete to creator of the “2020 NFT of the Year." Aku: Journey to Ibra is Aku's origin story and Micah's first book. He lives in Maine with his wife and daughter.
Picture Book Giveaway
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, Finley: A Moose in Chartreuse, by Candace Spizzirri, illustrated by Chantelle & Burgen Thorne (Gnome Road Publishing) out on April 28. Enter to win a copy via the widget below.
About the Author: Candace Spizzirri crafts children’s books with humor and heart. Like her spirited character Finley, she adores Paris, bold adventures, and the color chartreuse. Passionate about education, Candace co-founded both an elementary and a high school in Southern California. She loves spending time with her husband, son, daughter, daughter-in-law, and five delightful grandkids. Visit her online at candacespizzirri.com
About the Illustrators: Chantelle & Burgen Thorne are a multi-award-winning (married) illustration team. They live in the countryside surrounded by tall trees and an amazing variety of wild birds and animals. When they’re not at their desks illustrating stories for kids, you’ll find them being towed around the woodland paths by their beloved dogs. Find them online at chantelleandburgen.com
Internal Conflict vs. External Conflict: The Shift from Projection to Agency in Character Arc
6 Ways to Discover Your Character's Greatest Fear
4 Things I Do Before I Write the First Word of a Novel
All My Middle Grade Author Friends Are Writing Other Things and I'm Not Mad
- What: Award voted by SCBWI members for excellent books published in 2025 in various regions.
- Who: SCBWI members can nominate their books by May 31
- Award: recognition from your peers
- What: submit your MG or YA manuscript (novel or GN). Manuscript should address the needs of children and teens of color or Indigenous children and teens by providing stories with which they can identify and relate, and which promote a greater understanding of one another.
- Who: writers who identify as African/African American/Black, Asian/Asian American/AAPI, Indigenous & First Nations/Native American, Latinx/Latino/Hispanic, or Middle
- Award: a standard publishing contract of advances + royalties worth $15,000 + mentorship
How to Smartly Evaluate a Small Publisher - Plus Digital Only Presses and Hybrids
Authors Guild Statement on Use of AI in Publishing and New Model Contract Clause
Intensive Study of Children's Literature - Immerse yourself in the craft and business of writing for young readers. Join our MFA faculty and students for eight intensive days of lectures, workshops, readings, and panel discussions with award-winning authors and publishing professionals. (University of San Francisco)
May 20 4 p.m. CST What Children's Editors Are Looking For (Besides Great Writing!) Get inside an editor’s head and learn what factors they consider when they’re reviewing a manuscript. Senior acquisitions editor Katherine Easter (Zonderkidz, Blink YA, and DaySpring Kids, imprints of HarperCollins) offers insights into the publishing process and explains what she looks for in submissions, so you can help your project stand out from the crowd. If you register for this event, you can purchase a written critique from Katherine to get her expert feedback on your story! Add it on for $75 at checkout.
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