The Weekly 411 (9/11/26)

Sept. 11, 2026 vol. 36

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 Instagram and Bluesky. This week's illustration is by Deb Johnson.

Publishing News

Bologna's Children's Book Fair 2026: Agents and Rights Directors Talk Trends

Picture Book Giveaway

We are pleased to host a giveaway of the picture book, Goodbye, Koi by Jack Wong (Orchard Books), out Sept. 15. Enter to win a copy via the widget below.

About the Book: As a young boy prepares with his family to leave their home — and the koi fish he’s always cared for — his world fills with questions. What will happen to his fish? Will they be safe and happy in their new home? Through his wonder and worry, readers glimpse the universal feelings that come with any life transition: curiosity, uncertainty, and the hope that we will be okay. Lushly illustrated in the tradition of Chinese brush painting, Goodbye, Koi will resonate with any reader who has ever had to say goodbye to a pet, a place, or a way of life.

About the Author-Illustrator: Jack Wong was born in Hong Kong and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His acclaimed picture book When You Can Swim, published by Scholastic, has won the Governor General's Award for Illustration, the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. He is also the creator of the picture books All That Grows and The Words We Share. Jack lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Middle Grade Giveaway

We are pleased to host a giveaway of the middle grade novel, The Wump by Tony DiTerlizzi (Dial Books) out Sept. 29. Enter to win a copy via the widget below.

Art by © Tony DiTerlizzi, design by Omou Barry

About the Book: Timothy’s grandpa has a saying: the best way to deal with bullies is to wump ‘em. But Timothy would never hurt a fly—and not just because he genuinely loves bugs. He’s always been a good kid…until a shadowy monster appears and begins feeding on his darkest thoughts. Facing bullies both at home and at school, Timothy cocoons himself in the monster’s shadows, where he is consumed by a desire for revenge. But how much of himself can Timothy give up before he is completely transformed?

About the Author-Illustrator: Tony DiTerlizzi is the co-creator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles series and the bestselling Wondla series, both of which have been adapted into television series. He was awarded a Caldecott Honor for his cinematic version of Howitt's classic The Spider and the Fly. His art has graced the work of J. R. R. Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, and Greg Bear. He and his wife reside with their pug in Amherst, Massachusetts.

For Writers

What's Your Point (Erin Entrada Kelly)

All About Perspectives in Novels

7 Things Writers Should Know About Verbs

The Psychology of World Building

Marketing & Creating a Platform

How to Partner with a Bookstore for a Preorder Campaign

Writing Courses

Sept. 19 11 a.m. CST/ 12 p.m. EST Layering in Novels Join award-winning middle grade author Lynne Kelly for a webinar that will explore practical strategies for layering middle grade novels from the first draft through revision. Using examples from mentor texts and hands-on practice, we’ll work on creating strong characters in page-turning stories while weaving in emotional depth, interconnected subplots, rich settings, and more. Whether you're drafting a new novel or revising a work-in-progress, this workshop will help you create layered stories that connect with young readers and stay with them long after they've closed the book.

Submissions: Agents & Editors

Sept. 26 10:30 a.m. PDT/ 1:30 EDT The Editor-Agent: What I do to Get Your Manuscript Submission Ready (And What I Don't Do) For those of who consider themselves “editorial agents,” this means taking on a whole other level of working with our clients. Agent Carter Hasegawa will share his thinking when he considers working with a new client, or how he decides which manuscript to submit, and he'll share his process of what he does to get the manuscript ready to submit to major publishers.

Inspirational Things

5 Myths of Writing & Publishing Success