Publisher Spotlight Spring/Summer 2026 Preview (Part Three)

More books from small publishers! More, I say!

Thanks to Ellen Myrick, I’m showing you yet more titles that you won’t hear about from the big guys. These are smaller titles, but no less worthy and, often, they’ll surprise you. You can read parts one and two as well.

The House by NiñoCactus, ill. Celia Sacido

ISBN: 9788410438156

Publication Date: May 5, 2026

Let us kick off the preview with something legitimately gorgeous, shall we? If you were a fan of Loren Long’s The Yellow Bus then you’re bound to be a fan of this storyline as well. At first, it seems a bit like The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. It’s just a nice story of a house and the family that lives there. Unfortunately, that’s before a fire decimates the house. The family moves away, but we stay with the house and watch what moves in, now that it’s derelict. In a sense, this is about the second life of the house. And yes, you get it in both English and Spanish. How cool is that?

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Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales: Magical Stories from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man and Brittany​ by Lari Don & illustrated by Elise Carmichael

ISBN: 9781782509622

Publication Date: June 16, 2026

Seems appropriate that I should bring up this book so close to St. Patrick’s Day. Alas, it won’t be out in time for any of your holiday displays this time around, but certainly bear it in mind for 2027. Now, if you know me then you know how big a fan I am of fairy tales and folktales. This beautiful compendium contains ten tales, all included alongside big, colorful, lavish illustrations. Note that even the Isle of Man gets its day in the sun here. Pretty cool.

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Tomorrow I’m in Charge by Jörg Mühle

ISBN: 9798765670538

Publication Date: February 3, 2026

Oh man. Look, just LOOK at that cover. That’s how you do it, folks. Instant appeal. Now naturally I’m going to like this book because it stars a bear and a weasel and, as you well know, I’ve a penchant for sneaky weasels. But at its heart this is a story about friends navigating the very nature of friendship. Or, if you want to be more specific, what happens when two friends are bad at sharing. If the style of Jörg Mühle looks at all familiar to you then it’s possible that the last time you saw anything from this German artist it was with his book, When Dad’s Hair Took Off. MAN my fellow librarians loved that one! Or maybe you saw this duo in another book called Two for Me, One for You. Again, great title AND cover there.

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My Tiger by Joy Cowley , ill. David Barrow

ISBN: 9798765683200   

Publication Date: March 3, 2026

Obviously a natural companion to The Tiger Who Came to Tea, yes? Now I know for a fact that Kirkus starred this particular little title recently, and there are some good reasons for that. First off, there’s the plot. A tiger loves cake, as does its boy, so the two go to a cake store and have a great time. Unfortunately, all that cake leads to the tiger getting a cavity. They then go to the dentist and that’s when things take a surprising turn. I know it’s a small thing, but I really appreciated that both the baker and the dentist in this book were women. Representation y’all! As for the creator, I’ve loved Joy Cowley for years, probably starting with Red-Eyed Tree Frog. And David Barrow? He’s on fire with this book! Pierre would be so proud… Leaves you wanting more tiger antics.

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The Fluffy Futon by Yuichi Kasano

ISBN: 9798348024208   

Publication Date: June 2, 2026

Oh man. I cannot WAIT for this one to hit shelves! It’s like a reverse Napping House or something. In this story, Grandma has just finished washing and drying her futon. It’s soooo fluffy and, quite frankly, irresistible. After a cat gives her the idea, Grandma settles in alongside, followed by a hen with her chicks, a little boy, the dog, a goat, and a pig family. Now look at that linework. So clean and elegant. Here’s one for all those parents looking for picture books that’ll make you sleepy.

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Frank the Monster by Mats Strandberg​, ill. Sofia Falkenhem

ISBN: 9798348027285   

Publication Date: April 7, 2026

Now here we have an illustrated chapter book. When Frank is bitten by a werewolf he gets a chance to meet all the creatures that are othered in their communities. The first in a new series, it’s a tale about trying to belong​. I was unfamiliar with the author, but apparently Mats Strandberg is one of Sweden’s suspense and horror writers for children and adults. This series is an award-winning bestseller and book club choice, translated into more than fifteen languages. Of course, for me the art is key. Sofia really put her back into this one.

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Edith: The Girl Who Was 100 Years Old by Catharina Valckx

ISBN: 9798348024192   

Publication Date: May 5, 2026

This is our last book of the day and it’s one I’ve actually had a chance to read cover to cover. It’s an early chapter book as well, heavily illustrated, and fantastic bedtime reading. In this tale a baby named Edith is visited by two fairies. The first grants her the ability to make any inanimate object come to life. The second gives her the gift of eternal youth. Unfortunately, eternal youth isn’t all its cracked up to be, and to figure out how to reverse the gift Edith, a dog, and a jovial animated lemon companion, set off on an adventure. Charming? You don’t know the half of it.

That’s all for today. Stay tuned for even more in the future!

Filed under: Publisher Previews