Monthly Archives: January 2026

Announcements

There’s a Book for That: Iran

In light of nationwide protests in Iran that have drawn international attention over the past several weeks, we’ve curated a collection of important nonfiction on Iran and its history. These books help support thoughtful engagement with current events through a historical lens. Among them is KING OF KINGS by veteran war correspondent Scott Anderson, a vivid account of the 1979 Iranian Revolution that provides background for understanding the roots of the present moment. Continue reading →

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Spotlighting Our 2026 ALA Adult Award Winners and Honorees

This week, the American Library Association kicked off the 2026 literary awards season with the announcement of their adult book awards, including the Andrew Carnegie Medals, the Notable Book Awards, and many more. Continue reading →

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Three Listening Library Audiobooks Are 2026 Odyssey Award Winners/Honors!

The Youth Media Awards (YMA), in association with the American Library Association (ALA), are an annual set of prestigious honors for children’s and young adult literature and media. The 2026 Youth Media Awards were announced Monday, January 26, 2026, during a live-streamed event from Chicago. American Library Association’s Odyssey Award committee selected three Listening Library titles for their 2026 list!

The Odyssey Award committee named Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett’s TRANS HISTORY the 2026 Odyssey Award winner for young adults. Jason Reynolds’ SOUNDTRACK and James Robinson’s WHALE EYES were recognized as 2026 Odyssey Honor audiobooks. All three audiobooks were recognized during the ALA’s Youth Media Awards livestream are published by Listening Library, an imprint of Penguin Random House Audio.

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RHCB Authors and Illustrators Receive Accolades from the ALA Youth Media Awards!

The American Library Association (ALA) announced the 2026 Youth Media Awards on Monday, January 26 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel, and several Random House Children’s Books titles and authors were recognized. Continue reading →

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PYR Receives Seventeen 2026 ALA Youth Media Awards!

The American Library Association (ALA) Youth Media Awards (YMA) were announced on Monday, January 26, 2026, during a ceremony in Chicago. These prestigious awards honor the most distinguished books, digital media, and audiobooks for children and young adults published in the previous year.

Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House, has received seventeen recognitions!

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PW’s Spring 2026 Writers to Watch Featuring PRH Authors

Penguin Random House Authors Featured in “Spring 2026 Writers to Watch”

Publishers Weekly recently named several Penguin Random House authors to its Spring 2026 Writers to Watch list, recognizing a standout group of voices whose debuts are shaping the future of literary fiction and children’s fiction. This year’s list reflects the breadth and ambition of storytelling coming from across the PRH community.

We’re proud to celebrate the authors included in this feature, along with the teams whose collaboration and talent are helping bring these books into the world. Congratulations to all on this well-deserved recognition and the exciting year ahead!

Check Out Our “Spring 2026 Writers to Watch”

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Friday Reads: Reality TV Novels

The weather prediction is pretty bleak for this weekend in much of the U.S. “Roughly 160 million are under alerts for snow, sleet and freezing rain” according to the National Weather Service. Best to stay cozy indoors, with a good book, a good show or perhaps the pleasure of the two in one? You might be surprised to learn how many novels have reality show plotlines. We’ve gathered a good batch below offering peak escapism. Have a safe weekend! Continue reading →

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Streaming Now on Netflix: PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION, Emily Henry’s #1 Bestseller

Author Emily Henry and the Berkley team at the Los Angeles premiere.

Netflix’s film adaptation of the #1 New York Times bestseller PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry (published by Berkley in 2021, with subsequent editions, including a deluxe and movie tie-in collector’s edition in 2025) debuted on Friday, January, 9, and quickly became the #1 movie in the U.S. on Netflix.

In the run-up and following its release, the buzz around PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION has been nonstop. As of the first week of release, the social hashtag #peoplewemeetonvacation has already amassed about 60K+ posts on Instagram, 560+ million views on TikTok, and on the day of release, it was trending with over 3 million posts on Threads.

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2026 Book Cover Designers to Watch Featuring Two PRH Designers

Janet Hansen-Brand (l) and Linda Huang (r)

We love seeing book cover design get its moment, especially when it comes to our designers! In a recent OurCulture article highlighting seven designers worth following in 2026, two Penguin Random House colleagues were featured: Janet Hansen-Brand, Director, Art/Design, Alfred A. Knopf & Everyman’s Library and Linda Huang, Director, Art/Design, Pantheon Books.

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