Alex Borbolla, while at Atheneum, bought world rights to Jenny Lacika’s nonfiction picture book TALKING BOOKS: DR. ROBERT B. IRWIN AND A NEW WAY TO READ, illustrated by Ashanti Fortson in their picture book debut; Feather Flores will edit. Told in lyrical, evocative prose, this biography details how perpetually curious Robert B. Irwin found new ways to learn and explore the world after losing his sight at a young age, ultimately making stories accessible to readers of all abilities through the creation of the first audiobooks. Publication is set for Spring 2026; Miranda Paul at the Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author and Susan Graham at Einstein Literary represented the illustrator.
