Los Angeles, CA (November 10, 2026) – Following the instant New York Times bestseller success of Aaron Blabey’s Game of Pets: The Boy Who Knew Too Much and its recently announced animated feature adaptation in development at Amazon MGM, Foundation Media Partners (FMP) today unveiled the first list of upcoming titles to be launched via FMP’s long-term publishing deal with Macmillan. The lineup brings together bestselling authors, digital creators, comedians and emerging voices across children’s fiction, and graphic novels.
Leading the slate is New York Times bestselling author Jim Benton, creator of It’s Happy Bunny and Dear Dumb Diary, with three projects to be published under Macmillan’s Odd Dot imprint, including Everybody, which Foundation is also producing as an animated short narrated by John Goodman, currently in post-production. Odd Dot will also publish a three-book series expanding digital creators ROCK SQUAD’s Bloodsuckers universe. Another imprint, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers will publish Dead F’ing Cheerleaders from Calabasas, a YA graphic novel from comedians Kylie Brakeman and Patrick McDonald, featuring artwork by Butcher Billy and Wagner Loud.
First announced in February 2025, FMP and Macmillan’s groundbreaking partnership brings publishing and entertainment development together from the outset, creating opportunities for authors and publishers to remain creatively involved as their intellectual property expands across formats. Moving beyond traditional book-to-screen adaptations, the program encourages established creators to explore new genres, audiences and storytelling formats while opening doors for emerging voices, with opportunities for authors to participate in screenwriting and producing roles.
THE FIRST BOOKS TO BE PUBLISHED UNDER FMP/MACMILLAN PARTNERSHIP:
JIM BENTON
The bestselling author and award-winning cartoonist brings three distinct projects to Foundation Books, spanning existential humor, dark comedy and absurdist adventure:
- Everybody — Inspired by a viral cartoon, Benton’s illustrated meditation on life, death and everything in between was published in February 2026. Foundation is producing an animated short starring John Goodman, currently in post-production.
- Cherise the Niece — Benton’s first “kid-ult” picture book blends dark comedy and macabre storytelling, following a seemingly innocent orphan whose guardians meet increasingly mysterious ends.
- Spoonduck — A middle-grade martial arts adventure following an abandoned duck raised by a disgraced mentor who must clear his teacher’s name after he is falsely imprisoned.
BLOODSUCKERS — ROCK SQUAD
Digital creators ROCK SQUAD expand their existing Bloodsuckers universe into publishing with a planned three-book middle-grade series blending romance, fantasy and vampire adventures. Building on the group’s digital series, the books explore the characters and their world in greater depth, bringing an established entertainment property to a new storytelling format.
DEAD F’ING CHEERLEADERS FROM CALABASAS — KYLIE BRAKEMAN AND PATRICK McDONALD
Comedians and writers Kylie Brakeman and Patrick McDonald bring dark humor to this YA graphic novel about an elite Southern California high school cheerleading squad hiding the fact that its members have become the living dead. Blending horror, satire and high school social politics, the project features artwork by pop artist Butcher Billy in collaboration with Wagner Loud.
The slate builds on Foundation’s established success developing literary properties across entertainment, including its longstanding relationship with Aaron Blabey. Patrick Hughes, Foundation’s founder and CEO, served as executive producer on DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys (2022) and The Bad Guys 2 (2025), as well as Netflix’s Thelma the Unicorn (2024). Foundation is also developing the recently announced Game of Pets animated feature with Rideback at Amazon MGM and has a first-look agreement with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for film and television adaptations.
We believe the people who create great stories should have the opportunity to help shape where those stories go next,” said Patrick Hughes, founder and CEO of Foundation Media Partners. “With Foundation Books, we’re bringing authors, publishers and entertainment partners together from the beginning, creating a more collaborative approach to developing intellectual property across formats.”
“What makes this first slate so exciting is the range of voices and creative perspectives we’re bringing together,” said Amy Wilson, Head of Books at Foundation Media Partners. “From bestselling authors to digital creators and comedians, we’re working with talent who have distinctive stories to tell, while exploring new genres, audiences and opportunities for their work to grow beyond the page.”
“It is thrilling to find a company who so closely aligns with our approach to publishing. Like Macmillan, Foundation Media emphasizes creativity, innovation, and true collaboration with the authors and artists whose work we publish,” saidJen Besser, President of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. “We could not be more excited to partner with Foundation and to bring these first projects into the world.”
About Foundation Media Partners
Foundation Media Partners (FMP) is a Los Angeles-based entertainment, production, publishing, representation and brand partnerships company specializing in the development and expansion of intellectual property across film, television, music, sports and consumer brands. Led by founder and CEO Patrick Hughes, FMP works with leading creators, authors and global brands to develop original content, build franchises and create opportunities at the intersection of entertainment and culture. Its portfolio includes DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys franchise, Netflix’s Thelma the Unicorn, and strategic partnerships with Southwest Airlines and Varsity Spirit. With more than 90 million books in print across Foundation Books and its clients and authors, FMP continues to expand its publishing business through its partnership with Macmillan and first-look agreement with Simon & Schuster.
About Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group is comprised of eleven imprints: Balzer + Bray, Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, Feiwel and Friends, First Second, Godwin Books, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Odd Dot, Neon Squid, Priddy Books, Roaring Brook Press, and Square Fish. These imprints are home to award-winning, New York Times bestselling authors including Madeleine L’Engle, Natalie Babbitt, Leigh Bardugo, Aaron Blabey, Gene Luen Yang, Tomi Adeyemi, Marissa Meyer, Eric Carle, Nick Bruel, Loren Long, Angeline Boulley, Nancy Tillman, John Patrick Green, George M. Johnson, Eoin Colfer, and hundreds more popular authors and illustrators. Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group is proud to publish many of the classics of children’s literature including A Wrinkle in Time, Tuck Everlasting, The Black Cauldron, and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, as well as modern classic titles including Speak, On the Night You Were Born, and We Are Water Protectors and series’ including Bad Kitty, Investigators, and Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novels.