The Weekly 411 (5/15/26)
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| © Daniel Mahoney |
May 15, 2026 vol. 20
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 Daniel Mahoney.
Publishing News
Book Bans Increasingly Target Nonfiction, PEN America Reports
Picture Book Giveaway
We are excited to host a giveaway of the picture book, Mr. Chow's Night Market by Emily Sun Li, illustrated by You Ting Cheng (Penguin Workshop), out now. Enter to win a copy via the widget below.
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About the Book: Mr. Chow’s Night Market is a picture book about a very sleepy grocery store in Taiwan and a very grumpy grandpa who owns it. Neither of them can wake up early enough to open on time, so after seeking advice from their neighbors, they decide to transform the store into Taiwan’s first night market instead! It’s a whimsical fable and a love letter to night owls, Taiwanese culture (and snacks!), and the courage it takes to do something different.
About the Author: Emily Sun Li (she/her) is a Chinese American children's book author. She holds an M.S. in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and an MA/MFA in Children’s Literature and Writing for Children from Simmons University. Her debut picture book, Mr. Chow’s Night Market was called “a visual delight—and vindication for night owls” by Kirkus Reviews. Her second picture book, The Lo Mein Loophole: A Sweet-and-Sour Tale of How Chinese Immigrants Found a Way—and Fed a Nation, is forthcoming from Penguin Workshop in Summer 2028. She lives in Ithaca, New York.
About the Illustrator: Yu Ting Cheng (she/her) was born and raised in Taiwan. As a child, her adventures began at her great-grandfather’s private zoo, home to three crocodiles, two peacocks, and many dogs. She earned an MFA in computer art from the School of Visual Arts in New York and interned at Bill Plympton Studios as an animation coloring artist. Through her illustrations, she hopes to express joy and a sense of wonder.
YA Graphic Novel Giveaway
We are pleased to host a giveaway of the middle grade graphic novel, Fustuk by Robert Mgrdich Apelian (Penguin Workshop). Enter to win a copy via the widget below.
About the Book: Inspired by Armenian and Persian mythology, this delectable YA graphic novel follows the youngest of three dysfunctional siblings who strike a magical deal to save their mother's life. Seventeen-year-old Katah Fustukian has always felt like the odd one out in his family of chefs. Unlike his older siblings, he is useless in the kitchen, and too young to have known their late father—a legendary Hye chef who’d made a name for himself in the Pars Empire.
But with his mom’s illness worsening, Katah hopes that his vision-like dreams are a sign of magic stirring within him—especially after they lead him to Az, a powerful div with some mysterious connection to his family. In an attempt to save their mom’s life, he and his siblings strike a deal: Az’s help in exchange for a dish that rivals their father’s. But after the siblings clash over what to cook, Katah will have to make sense of his magic and family history—and wager far more than a single meal to meet Az’s demands...
About the Author-Illustrator: Robert Mgrdich Apelian (he/him) is an Armenian American author-illustrator based in Everett, Massachusetts. He's an avid reader of seinen manga and is especially passionate about making the most of comics as a storytelling medium. A primary goal of his work is to celebrate the diversity and cultural excellence of the Middle East and to portray it as something other than tragic and war-torn. Visit him online at robertapelian.com or on Instagram @robertapelian.
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June 8 SCBWI California: San Francisco/South Self-Publishing 101 Webinar with Author-Publisher Ariane Erickson. Have you considered independent publishing as the right path for your book project? We have the perfect webinar to learn about the options, understand the steps involved, and get your questions answered by someone who has walked the walk. "Self-Publishing 101" will focus on picture books and include an overview of self-publishing, the benefits and challenges, what it takes to self-publish a high quality children's book, how to make money, and how to stay motivated. Throughout the presentation Ariane will show examples of the process, successes, and failures (some of them quite funny) using her books and publishing experience. There will be time for Q&A following the presentation. This webinar will be recorded and is open to SCBWI members and non-members.
- What: award for middle grade and YA fantasy/sci-fi authors
- Who: SCBWI members, unpublished (self-published ok)
- Prize: tuition to summer SCBWI conference plus $600
July 1- July 31 Emerging Voices Award
- What: grant to foster the emergence of diverse voices children's literature
- Who: any writer or writer/illustrator from a marginalized identity that is traditionally under-represented in children’s literature in America; un-agented, unpublished, over 18
- Prize: 2 recipients will receive full tuition at any SCBWI virtual event, mentorship and showcase for editors/agents
June 1 - June 30 Ezra Jack Keats Showcase Prize (repost)
- What: apply for cash award to advance professional artistic development and growth
- Who: BIPOC creator who has not been traditionally published
- Award: $3500
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