The Island Before No by Christina Uss, illustrated by Hudson Christie

June 9, 2026

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if the answer to your every wish was…yes?

Cake for breakfast?

 Yes!

Can I stay up late?

YES!

In Christina Uss’ picture book, The Island Before No, that is exactly how life works. On an island inhabited by unnamed walruses, every question is met with an affirmative. For the most part, life seems quite pleasant. Even when the walruses say yes to things they don’t really want to (like wearing an itchy shirt), life continues smoothly, as saying no simply isn’t part of their vocabulary. … More The Island Before No by Christina Uss, illustrated by Hudson Christie

Reasons to Look at the Night Sky by Danielle Daniel

March 13, 2026

Reasons to Look at the Night Sky by Danielle Daniel is a middle grade novel in verse that takes place in Ottawa where Luna lives with her florist and poet mother, astronomer father, and ninth-grader older brother, Leo. Daniel first establishes Luna’s commitment to science through her family, especially her relationship with her mother. The latter’s way of seeing the world is rooted in art while Luna doesn’t see the value in poetry or visual art; she believes in scientific explanations. … More Reasons to Look at the Night Sky by Danielle Daniel

5 Questions for David Farr

March 9, 2026

David Farr is one of the UK’s leading screenwriters and directors for film, TV and theatre. In 2009, he was appointed Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, where his productions of The Winter’s Tale, King Lear and The Homecoming all opened to critical acclaim. David is known for his work on Spooks and his BBC adaptation of The Night Manager, for which he wrote seasons 1 and 2, starring Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston. He wrote his first feature film, Hanna, in 2009, and has since adapted it into a hugely successful series for Amazon Prime, and has recently adapted The Midwich Cuckoos for Sky. He directed his first feature film The Ones Below in 2015. … More 5 Questions for David Farr

5 Questions for Clara Kumagai

January 20, 2026

CLARA KUMAGAI is from Canada, Japan and Ireland. The recipient of a We Need Diverse Books Award Mentorship, Clara was also a finalist for the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award, a Yoto Carnegie 2024 nominee and shortlisted for the KPMG Children’s Book Ireland Award. Clara has been chosen
by The Irish Independent as a Top 20 Irish Kid’s Book of 2023, as well as a Best Book of 2023 by The Irish Times, the Observer and Waterstones. She is the author of Catfish Rolling. … More 5 Questions for Clara Kumagai

Mindworks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction by Neal Shusterman

December 18, 2025

Mindworks, by Neal Shusterman, is a collection of short stories that intermingle sci-fi, horror, dystopian fiction, the supernatural, and even family drama. Its range is vast and eclectic including stories about various subjects from a dolphin politician, to a spray-painting teen in a love-triangle, to the begrudging “living dead,” and, somehow, it all works. … More Mindworks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction by Neal Shusterman