State of the Children's Book Industry in 2026: Regina Brooks

State of the Children's Book Industry in 2026 -

with Regina Brooks

TeMika: Please introduce yourself. Tell us about yourself, your accomplishments, but also, tell us what your favorite book was as a kid.

Regina: Before she moved into publishing, she was actually aerospace engineer, but as the Founder and President of Serendipity Literary Agency, she loves being an agent because she can use both the left and right brain. Growing up, she was also in the arts, having always loved to act and sing and dance —“thus the big hair” — but her mom said that can be your plan B, thus her foray into STEM.

Often asked what was her favorite book was, she instead thinks back on when she was a kid, and would go to the library to read to her friends. "I guess I always had the spirit of education."

TeMika: Are there things you are in love with and want to see more of, and are there things that you prefer not to as much?

Regina: Regina "see things in patterns", and would love to see things “go away." "No more hair books for a while"—or food, and empowerments i.e. I ams. She would really love to see more books with humor! At this point, it could be straight up joke, which might not tickle everyone but we need some humor nowadays.

TeMika: As agents, publishers, editor, aka tastemakers, how do you make your decisions? How do you know what is right at any particular time?

Regina: Trends — it is difficult to write to trends. She discourages people from it. In her opinion, there is usually something bubbling up in the world. A "primordial energy" that people tap into intuitively and they know what they want and start towards it. Agents, editors, and publishers try to follow that, not necessarily create them.

TeMika: Consultations, feedback... it's not easy to receive it. Sometimes its good, sometimes it's bad. Advice on receiving feedback?

Regina: “Harden your feet because people will always be stepping on your toes.” You will always get feedback, so you have to have a strong skin. People are always critiquing you. Take it and grow where you can, and don't take it to heart.

TeMika: Entrepreneurship. Self promotion. What do you like to see in self-promotion? Any advice?

Regina: Regina encourages creators to write a brief essay about the book. Sometimes we get distracted and forget what your motivation was for the book. Once you reconnect to that logline, that purpose, that why then you can make a clearer plan on promoting yourself and your work. 

TeMika: Any advice on the business side of things?

Regina: “Don’t spend your advance, cause you’ll need it.” You might have needs that come up in your career. And keep in mind, the advances aren’t huge at first. It is difficult to do what you want to do if all the money is spent. 

Use it to reinvest in yourself. 
Also, time management. She works closely with creator to make sure that the pacing for projects are good but also, that books are released over a period of time for better visibility. 

TeMika: The things we create, we shape minds, families and communities? If you could reimagine yourself as superheroes, what would that look like?

Regina: If I were a superhero, I would be able to materialize benefactors for artist.  She’d hear an artist’s idea, feel the excitement, and POP — a benefactor would materialize.

Can't make it to the In-Person Winter Conference in New York City, join us online at the Virtual Winter Conference featuring inspirational talks, industry panels and deep-dive Creative Labs, taking place in February of 2026. Videos of all sessions are available to watch for approximately 30 days after the event.

Regina Brooks (Founder & President of Serendipity Literary Agency) is an award-winning author and literary expert with an indefatigable passion for guiding the careers of some of the publishing world’s best and brightest stars. As the founder and president of Serendipity Literary Agency LLC., a full-service company based in Brooklyn, NY, Led by Ms. Brooks, Serendipity Literary Agency LLC., has established a diverse base of award-winning authors in the adult and young adult fiction, non-fiction, and children's genres; including three-time National Book Award finalist, Newberry and Coretta Scott King award-winning author Marilyn Nelson, and Coretta Scott King Award winner, Sundee Frazier, author of Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in it, an Oprah Book Pick and an Al Roker Book Club selection. Read more about Regina Brooks, HERE.