Publisher Spotlight (Fall-Winter 2026): Floris Books, Gecko Press, Helvetiq, & Kube Publishing

This is a particularly choice batch of upcoming books today, folks. Lots of translations, certainly, but also some fascinating artist styles and risks. Thanks once again to Ellen Myrick and Publisher Spotlight for showing some of these to me:

The Polar Bear Day by Park Jihee

ISBN: 9781782509776

Publication Date: October 6, 2026

Tis a good year for wordless picture books (called “silent picture books” overseas), and this one has ways of standing out. For example, it was created with discarded cardboard and other things found in the trash. And though I’d be loathe to admit it, it has some real, strong Good Dog, Carl vibes. As you can see, this is the tale of one lonely little boy and the Arctic visitor who comes to play. For an extra cute twist, if you look closely at the papers that make up the polar bear then you’ll see that the writing on him consists of Korean newspaper stories on environmental topics. Subtle. Oh! And this book originated in South Korea.

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Snowfall by Park Sun-jung

ISBN: 9781835750049

Publication Date: September 1, 2026

And aother wordless one! Boy, I wasn’t kidding about them being everywhere. And like The Polar Bear Day, this is yet another debut from a South Korean creator. In this tale, little anthropomorphized snowflakes, resembling nothing so much as roly poly ghosts, make their way to a city. There they have a series of small adventures in which they meet a friendly dog, skate against a lake, etc. Spot lam on the cover is also going to help these little flakes stand out.

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The Blanket by Marie Dorléans, translated by Katy Lockwood-Holmes

ISBN: 9781782509790

Publication Date: September 22, 2026

A quirky comforting joke about a metaphorical (or maybe NOT so metaphorical) security blanket. Tommy’s scared of a lot of things, but fortunately he has this is a comically oversized blanket to keep him safe. So what happens when he starts taking it absolutely everywhere? . As I write this, wildfire smoke is choking my Chicago suburban air. Seems like now might be the perfect time for a story that stresses how the safe and the familiar may be comforting but it’s great when you push yourself to do new things. Plus that red really pops.

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Cass and the Beast by Claire Mabey and Jill Colder

ISBN: 9798348030377

Publication Date: August 4, 2026

This particular book from a Carnegie-longlisted Scottish creator focuses on a community where a fearsome beast lurks outside everyone’s homes, freaking them all out. Contains one of the most powerful view of a mob in a picture book I’ve seen in a long time. Young Cass, however, remains inside and can see the outline of the beast. Seems only natural that she should go outside to talk to it. When she does, she gets to meet and hang out with the beast, soon renaming it “Bear”. A sweet tale about getting to know the unknown.

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Red Snake, Blue Snake by Olivier Tallec

ISBN: 9798348051358

Publication Date: August 4, 2026

I don’t think I ever noticed before how much Jon Klassen and Olivier Tallec have in common until I took a close look at this book. In this tale of a complicated friendship, these two titular snakes may seem similar, but they can also be massively different personalities. As such, the book really leans into the idea of different perspectives. After all, two people look at one thing and can see two different things. A day in the life of a friendship.

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Pocket Observology: A Field Guide by Giselle Clarkson

ISBN: 9798348042424

Publication Date: September 1, 2026

At my library (Evanston Public Library) we are SUCH big fans of Clarkson’s “Observology” series. I just know my co-workers will be delighted when I let them know that she has yet another new one out soon! Clearly, this is an author/illustrator who knows what she’s doing. This latest addition has all the usual hallmarks of her other books (like the informative illustrations). Pocket-sized it contains how-to guides, comic illustrations, weatherproof cover, and built-in, useful tools–such as a ruler, key, and quick access sections. Basically, it wants you to take it with you on your outdoor adventures. Who are you to resist the call?

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When I Want to be Silent by Zornitsa Hristova, illustrated by Kiril Zlatkov, translated by Angela Rodel

ISBN: 9783039641482

Publication Date: September 1, 2026

Bulgarian! Bears! I mean, isn’t that just about everything you could want in a picture book today? With some serious Shaun Tan vibes (by way of Peter Reynolds, maybe), this story is about a bear who does not want to always use its words. Been there, little guy. It tells you how sometimes it’s okay to let the words wash over you, or to picks the times you want to be quiet. SEL Alert!!. Accompanied by these amazing illustrations, I’d say that this is a title to keep an eye upon.

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Destination Antarctica: The Frozen Continent Bursting With Life by Guillaume de Rémacle & illustrated by Adrienne Barman, translated from French by Jeffrey K. Butt

ISBN: 9783039641468

Publication Date: September 8, 2026

After Greg Neri’s incredible My Antarctica came out, it just sort of whetted everyone’s desires for even more Antarctica-related fare. And who better to write another book on the subject than someone that has guided expeditions in both the Arctic and Antarctic since 2018? The title is straight up Informational Fiction, my friends. It’s not technically graphic nonfiction, but you are learning a lot of solid information like what tools you need to survive in the Antarctic. All kinds of great things like that.

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Borders: Meeting Our Neighbors Around the World by Gudol & illustrated by Haerang, translated by Sophie Bowman

ISBN: 9783039641499

Publication Date: October 6, 2026

This next book comes with a whole set of awards from around the world already in place. We’re talking the a triple crown of prestigious honors like the 62nd Korea Book Award, Taiwan’s Openbook Good Book Award, and the renowned French Prix Sorcières for nonfiction. Originally published in South Korean (a country that knows a thing or two about this subject) the book talks about the challenges of getting across borders all around the world. It talks about how they were drawn, which are porous, which are controlled, the geographical features that influence them, etc. Timely? More than a little, wouldn’t you say?

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The Grumpy Bear by Annette Pehnt and Jutta Bauer, illustrated by Josephine Mark

ISBN: 9783039641611

Publication Date: February 23, 2027

Awwww! I was such a huge fan of this illustrator’s previous graphic novel My Trip with Drip so it’s a real treat to see them back with something new. Apparently, this story is based on the Beerbeiss stories, which are this beloved children’s classic in Germany by Annette Pehnt and Jutta Bauer. Thanks to Mark’s talents, it’s now a graphic novel. The plot focuses on the story of a bear who moves in, discovers that everyone is trying to be friendly, and is having none of it. This is all aided by the fact that Josephine Mark is particularly good at rendering sweet and ingratiating creatures onto the page. Kind of reminds me of the “Bear and Mouse” books by Bonny Becker and Kady MacDonald Denton.

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Dear Prophet Muhammad by Jenny Molendyk Divleli, illustrated by Rumeysa Abis

ISBN: 9786256698185

Publication Date: June 30, 2026

Let’s say you wanted to write a book about the Prophet Muhammad’s character as described in the Shama’il (a collection of hadiths/sayings and actions). How do you do that in a picture book without just making it a list? the solution Divleli came up with is to have the main character write a series of letters to Muhammad where all kinds of questions can be asked. That kind of format definitely makes the subject matter more kid friendly. Our rare Turkish publisher inclusion.

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Hidaya Vol. 1: Wira and the Spiritual World by Fahem and Hamid

ISBN: 9782960373301

Publication Date: April 21, 2026

Muslim manga! You see, Karama Studio (founded in Belgium in June 2024 by Fahem and Hamid) is a manga production studio primarily inspired by Muslim spiritual culture. They’re debuting with this title in which a kid wants superpowers and discovers all the powers that the prophet has. Are you getting some Studio Ghibli vibes from it, cause I sure am.

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And that’s it for the day! Don’t worry, there are far more to consider in the future. Stay tuned!

Filed under: Publisher Previews