AGP Executive Report

Publishing & Local Books: A south Minneapolis bookstore, Wild Rumpus Books, is celebrating more than 30 years of kids’ reading with a whimsical, animal-filled space that turns storytime into a community hangout. Anime-to-Books Buzz: Crunchyroll is streaming the OVA episode (episode 13) for The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter, tying back to the boys-love light novel series and its Blu-ray/DVD bonus release. Comics Spotlight: DC’s Deadman #1 launches as part of its Next Level push to give less-mainstream characters a bigger spotlight, with early reviews praising its tone and color-rich presentation. Cricket Nonfiction: Penguin’s new Chasing like Dhoni digs into IPL’s rags-to-riches appeal, but critics note it may lean on familiar stories rather than fresh revelations. Library & Community Events: Joplin families get a new StoryWalk opening June 11 for Look Up! by local creator Isaiah Basey. Book Industry/Business: Wiley’s $452M Emerald Publishing acquisition is in focus, alongside other publishing-platform moves and AI-related publishing debates. Big Publishing Moments: Netflix’s A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder Season 2 arrives after the Season 1 twist, keeping the YA mystery momentum going.

Film-to-page buzz: Anna Kendrick is set to direct the movie adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s LGBTQ hit “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” with the novel’s Golden Age Hollywood romance and BookTok-fueled popularity front and center. Publishing & rights: Wiley has agreed to buy Emerald Publishing for £337m, a major consolidation move in academic publishing. Book-to-screen legacy: “Cape Fear” returns as an Apple TV series, extending John D. MacDonald’s 1957 thriller into a nine-hour Southern Gothic rework. Children’s media expansion: “Warrior Cats” (90M+ copies) is being developed as an authorized animated series for Tencent Video, debuting in 2028. Local literary life: St. Marys Museum’s summer exhibit “Building St. Marys” and author talk with architecture expert Shannon Kyles kick off June 6, while Burm Booksellers hosts B.K. Clay’s signing June 26. Industry & AI policy: Publishers will be able to opt out of having their content used for AI features in Google Search, via a CMA “world first.” Space science for readers: Operation Period is raising $1.2m to study menstruation in microgravity with Virgin Galactic.

Film & Publishing Adaptations: Anna Kendrick is set to direct and star in the film adaptation of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s LGBTQ hit The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, with a new movie push that keeps the book’s BookTok-fueled momentum front and center. Literary Grants & Heritage: Venezuela’s National Book Center (CENAL) opened 2026 grants for literary creation, adding a new Cinematographic Research track to mark 60 years of Cinemateca Nacional work, with projects focused on Venezuelan audiovisual heritage. Book-to-Screen Gothic Romance: Sydney Sweeney will produce and star in Hollow, a feature adaptation of Lindsey Anderson Beer’s debut novel, reworking The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with gothic, supernatural, and erotic-thriller elements. Publishing Industry Watch: Wiley is buying Emerald Publishing for £337m, a major consolidation move for academic and professional publishing. Local Reading Culture: A Churubusco Women’s Literature Club—founded in 1905—keeps meeting twice monthly at the public library, marking 121 years of community book discussion. June Paperback Buzz: New June paperbacks include R.F. Kuang’s Katabasis and Ron Chernow’s Mark Twain, signaling a busy summer gifting season.

Big Publishing Deal: Wiley is buying Emerald Publishing for £337m, a major consolidation move for academic and professional publishing. Rights & Talent Moves: Fitzcarraldo Editions hires Jennifer Tighe as operations director; Bright Agency appoints Michael Joosten as global agent. Library & Literacy: Libraries Connected names author Kate Mosse Public Library Champion for 2026, spotlighting public libraries’ role in reading and community. New Book Launches: Hamish Hamilton acquires Zoë Hitzig’s Your Life Without You; Puffin lands Pamela Butchart’s Diary of a Number One Superfan; Ebury Spotlight takes GK Barry’s It’s Giving Life. Publishing Policy Debate: Lee Child calls “editing old books” to remove offensive passages “slightly Orwellian,” arguing novels are historical artefacts. Global Publishing Programs: Malaysia’s PENA launches phase three of the PENA-Malaysia MADANI publishing project with RM1m for writers across genres. Culture & Adaptation: Audible sets Russell Tovey’s debut novel Starlings for 1 July with Andrew Scott and George MacKay starring. Literary Events: Hay Festival’s Nibbies Salon explores the author-editor relationship with Saara El-Arifi and Natasha Bardon.

Publishing & Books: CBSE has opened a Class 12 answer-book verification and re-evaluation portal, with Aadhaar authentication required and a June 2–6 window for students to request fixes or re-check specific questions. Literary Events: Truro Public Library hosts a free June 5 program blending poetry, translation, and film tied to ancient Greek voices. Book Reviews: Robert B. Marks’ “Deep Time in the Mono Lake Basin” spotlights the Mono Lake ecosystem and the human history around it. Community Reading & Bookshops: Wisconsin’s Bookshop Quest 2026 sends readers to 35 independent bookstores with a map-marking trail. Faith & Identity Memoir: Mykle-Kane’s “Loving the Impossible” is promoted as a semi-autobiographical faith-and-Black LGBTQ+ story that mixes spiritual memoir with a legal thriller setup. AI & Text: A report claims AI can now read parts of a long-untranslated cryptic book, with early pages identified as Arabic. Rights & Policy: A discussion highlights how abortion restrictions and child welfare enforcement can intersect to target mothers.

Children’s Publishing Deal: Hachette Children’s Group acquired debut YA dark academia thriller Ink and Shadows by Lauren Willmore. Crime Fiction Acquisition: Viking snapped up Harriet F Townson’s seasonal mystery Murder on the Royal Crescent. Rights & IP at Warsaw Book Fair: Sheikha Bodour witnessed ERRA’s cooperation agreement with Poland’s KOPIPOL to strengthen collective management of authors’ rights for scientific and technical works. Pride Month Reading Culture: A South Jersey bookstore launched a Pride Book Club, turning queer titles into a local community ritual. Accessible Library Services: Indianapolis Public Library debuted new accessible bookmobiles, “Frog” and “Toad,” designed with ramps, wider doors, and improved visibility. Legal Pressure on Publishing: Meta forced whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams to sit silently at Hay Festival after a legal order blocked her from promoting her tell-all book. International Booker Spotlight: Coverage of the International Booker Prize 2026 explains the submission-to-shortlist process and what the award means for translated fiction.

US Publishing & Policy: The USDA plans to close the Beltsville Bee Research Lab, a key hub for honeybee disease diagnosis as beekeepers face pesticide-resistant varroa mites and major colony losses. Caribbean/Identity Literature: Trinidad and Tobago’s NCIC launched a heritage-focused book program with three new releases, using literature to spotlight Indo-Trinidadian history and community memory. Private Markets Meets “Transparency”: Apollo Global Management will start daily pricing across about $830B in credit assets, pushing more frequent valuation into an industry long known for opacity. Children’s Books & Censorship: A Swedish children’s “How to make a baby” book sparked death threats and bans abroad over depictions of IVF and childbirth, while Norway embraced it. Independent Bookstores: The American Booksellers Association reports independent stores are expanding again, with membership up sharply and new formats (mobile and pop-up) driving growth. Book Culture & Community: In San Diego, a local bookstore highlights how independent shops are building momentum—while other regions keep hosting author events and reading drives. Cricket & Books: A new Harappan scholarship piece revisits West Asia–Indus trade through socio-economic context, not just artifacts.

Publishing & Sales at PBAKL: Malaysia’s ITBM is bringing 500+ TVET titles to the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair and exploring Malay translations to widen access to technical knowledge. Author-Reader Connection: At the same fair, writers say social media helps build audiences and boost sales, with readers discovering authors online before meeting them in person. Prison Reading Rights: In Minnesota, incarcerated readers are voting on the next “Inside Literary Prize,” a major U.S. book award judged exclusively by people in prison, with plans for more prison libraries. New Fiction Buzz: Kathryn Stockett’s long-awaited follow-up to “The Help,” “The Calamity Club,” lands with a 1930s Mississippi story about women building community. Cultural Exchange at Warsaw Book Fair: Sharjah’s Guest of Honour programming highlights how local stories travel far, including Emirati-Polish author conversations and Arabic-language initiatives for children in Poland. Digital Books Tax Fight: Philippines authors and publishers ask the Supreme Court to scrap VAT on digital publications, arguing it blocks education and freedom of expression. Comics & Community: A Minnesota nine-year-old’s debut comic sells out at a local signing, while Perth’s Queer Book Club picks “How to Dress for Old Age” for June.

Saudi-Malaysia Publishing Ties: Saudi Arabia says Malay-Arabic translations are still below expectations and will push deeper cooperation with Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair. Warsaw Book Fair, Sharjah in the Spotlight: Sharjah’s Guest of Honour push pairs Emirati publishing and archaeology with cultural exhibits and translation-focused partnerships at Warsaw International Book Fair. LitRPG Adaptation Debate: Pirateaba, author of The Wandering Inn, argues animation would work better than live action for the genre’s complex creatures and characters. Festival & Community Reading: Wisconsin launches Bookshop Quest 2026, a statewide independent bookstore crawl with June missions and prizes; Portland Book Week returns with author events, tea parties, and bingo. New Releases: Debut author Ames Lowen announces satirical picture book If You Give a Man-Baby Some Bronzer (June 14); Ani Retak’s Breathe Wisely hits Amazon with a nervous-system-focused breathing guide. Book Industry Watch: Hay Festival will remove Sarah Wynn-Williams’ Careless People from sale to avoid breaching an injunction tied to promotion.

Teen Publishing Breakthrough: 15-year-old Bethany Taylor’s debut YA-style murder mystery, When Friends Fall Silent, lands on Amazon June 19 after support from her English teacher and family. Literary Method & History: Romila Thapar and Namit Arora discuss Speaking of History, arguing that method matters more than easy certainties when interpreting India’s past. Juneteenth Memoir: Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” announces her new memoir A Committee of One for June 2, timed to the holiday. Bestseller Watch: This week’s sales roundup highlights combined print and e-book fiction leaders, including A Parade of Horribles. Banned Books Backtrack: Knox County, TN reverses its removal of Alex Haley’s Roots from school libraries after backlash. Comic-to-Screen Buzz: Tom King updates fans on the animated adaptation of Mister Miracle, with scripts and production moving fast. E-Reader Review: Boox’s E Ink Go 10.3 Lumi is reviewed as a distraction-light reading and annotation tablet. Cultural Translation: Padma Viswanathan’s translation On Earth As It Is Beneath earns an International Booker shortlist nod. Community & Pride: Underdog Bookstore in Monrovia plans its first Pride book festival June 20 with 50+ LGBTQIA+ authors and family-friendly events. Anti-Semitic Message in Book Box: Pittsburgh officials investigate a hateful note found on a novel in a neighborhood book-box program.

Warsaw International Book Fair: Sharjah opened its participation as the first-ever Arab Guest of Honour, with Sheikha Bodour launching AUS Press at the fair and unveiling its first title, spotlighting translation and knowledge exchange. Festival Lineup: Bookmarks announced the first featured authors for its 21st Annual Festival of Books & Authors in Winston-Salem, rolling out names in stages ahead of Sept. 26. New Releases & Local Authors: A Maine author’s new book tackles the eastern DRC conflict; a Toledo teacher releases horror collection Zombie Seagulls; and a local teacher in Alabama debuts a Southern Gothic novel set in 1870. Publishing Industry & Access: Independent children’s publisher Messy Press plans a UK launch, while Texas moves to restrict prison book donations, drawing criticism as a disguised ban. AI & Rights: A major author win looms in an Anthropic-related case, while publishers and authors keep pushing back against AI copying. Other Book News: A true-crime-meets-memoir Cave Mountain expands Benjamin Hale’s earlier reporting into a new book.

Publishing & Trust: An advertising self-regulation leader argues public confidence is the industry’s “solid” asset, calling for standards built into ad tools and stronger action against bad actors. Community Reading & Events: Umatilla Public Library hosts a May 31 watch party for George Takei’s graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy, part of the One Book, One Coast network. Censorship & Schools: After Windsor’s Scythe ban was reversed, author Neal Shusterman speaks with students about partnership with parents and educators. Civil Rights & Education: Elaine Weiss’s Spell Freedom ties today’s book bans and curriculum rewrites to the legacy of Jim Crow-era voter suppression; she appears June 12 at a Juneteenth event. Literary Festivals: Berkeley’s 12th Bay Area Book Festival returns May 29–31 with a “Writing the Future” theme and major free programming. New Releases & Publishing Moves: Thomas Calder’s independently released thriller The Executor’s Silence expands into a series; and Wang Meng’s Xinjiang-set story collection In Ili is adapted for film with global translation plans. AI & Authorship Debate: A column warns AI-aided writing is now mainstream, with implications for originality. Book-to-Screen Buzz: HBO Max’s Stuart Fails to Save the Universe adds Wil Wheaton as a guest.

New Releases & LGBTQ+ Voices: Interlink Publishing is spotlighting queer Palestinian writing with Homosexual Intifada: A Queer Palestinian Anthology (on sale June 2) and Namesake: Reflections on a Warrior Woman by N. S. Nuseibeh. Mental Health Publishing: Ahead of Father’s Day, Man Therapy (New Harbinger Publications) expands the ManTherapy.org campaign into a nationwide book release. Independent Book Retail: York’s Books & Bevs won Best Independent Retailer, pairing a cozy shop with a café-style “Bevs” side. Community & Festivals: Berkeley’s Bay Area Book Festival returns May 29–31 with a “Writing the Future” theme and nearly 400 authors. Censorship Watch: Windsor students met Scythe author Neal Shusterman after the district reversed its earlier ban. Literary Culture & Books: Ruskin Bond, 92, discusses friendship and why readers still matter in All-Time Favourite Friendship Stories. New Book Drops: HarperCollins imprint William Morrow publishes Jason and Travis Kelce’s No Dumb Questions on June 2. Book-to-World Links: Amazon is placing free new-release copies inside its Bronx Locker Library for pickup. History in Print: Assouline and Abu Dhabi’s National Library and Archives launch Abu Dhabi Before 1971, a visual record of pre-UEA life.

Children’s Author Visit: Laura Numeroff brought her “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” world to Parkside Elementary, reading to students and turning mistakes into a lesson about creativity. Academic Publishing & Ideology: Prashant Barthwal’s “Decolonizing the Bharatiya Minds” argues modern battles are fought in classrooms and publishing, tracing “Cultural Marxism” through major Western theorists. Book Reviews (Culture Wars): “Decolonising the Bharatiya Minds” and “Walking to the Foot of the Sky” both land as thoughtful reads—one tackling epistemology and colonial legacies, the other using a personal walk to reckon with confinement and renewal. Manga Release: Square Enix’s Manga UP! wrapped “Trapped as the Villain in My Favorite Dating SIM” with the final chapter, continuing its English-language run. Royal/Publishing Buzz: A new Kyle Busch collector’s book, “FOREVER ROWDY,” is set for post-season release, while royal-author coverage keeps stirring debate around Kate, Meghan, and Harry. Libraries & Access: Seoul expands multilingual collections as public libraries chase inclusivity amid tourism and demographic change. Digital Exams: India’s CBSE says its OSM marking portal wasn’t compromised, clarifying a testing URL was mistaken for the live system.

Publishing & Culture: Sally Rooney’s new Hebrew translation, Intermezzo, is set to be released by Israeli publisher November Books—after Rooney previously opposed a Hebrew publication tied to BDS-linked activism, reigniting debate over how “BDS-compliant” publishing is framed. Literary Awards: The 2026 CBC Poetry Prize jury has been named (Karen Solie, Randy Lundy, Nadine Bhabha), with submissions open until June 1 and prizes including publication on CBC Books. Community Reading: Canada’s biggest used-book sale returns June 2–7 at the Gale Centre, with most titles priced at $3 and proceeds supporting Birchway Niagara. Local Books & Libraries: Jefferson Parish libraries kick off summer reading with free events and prizes, while Ontario SPCA Spring Adoption Days run May 29–30 with reduced fees for large dogs. New Releases: Palmetto Publishing releases Terry S. Earley’s debut coming-of-age novel Enter the Ring, set against the Vietnam War and the draft. Indigenous Literature: UP Visayas researchers are recognized for Epics of Panay, winning Best Book of Poetry in Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a at the National Book Awards. Publishing Industry/Tech: Coinbase and Standard Chartered expand multi-currency funding rails for institutions via Coinbase Prime. Book-to-Screen: Amazon’s Off Campus hits 36M viewers in 12 days, with season 2 already greenlit.

New Mystery Buzz: Bloomsbury’s Our Deadly Summer turns millennial nostalgia into a fast, funny, two-timeline mystery—best friends in 2001 bury a body, then an unexpected email forces them to face what they did. Crime/Screen Adaptation: Matchbox Shots has acquired rights to The Gurugram School Murder, bringing Leena Dhankhar’s account of the 2017 killing to the screen with the family still pushing for accountability. Literature Meets Power: A new wave of debate on democracy and authorship keeps rolling—Francis Fukuyama and Noam Chomsky’s ideas resurface in fresh commentary on what “liberal democracy” really means. Community Reading Push: Rainier City Library’s new Business Resource Center adds business how-tos and local support next to public computers. Global Stakes: Iraq’s oil output is collapsing to about 1.39m bpd after export disruption, while India’s Morbi ceramics face supply-chain shocks tied to Middle East conflict.