[Moonlit Musings] Lyla In The Loop Book Deal, Heading Into Production for "Finding the Light", and More!
July 2025
Summer’s in full swing, and so are we! As we soak up the sunshine and celebrate storytelling in all its forms, July brings exciting updates we can’t wait to share—from an exciting new licensed 10-book deal that takes kids from the screen to the page, to launching a new animation project, and a Blizzard Soul Fest recap!
Moonbeam Lands PBS KIDS’ Lyla In The Loop A 10-Book Publishing Deal
We’re proud to share that Moonbeam Literary & Media represented PBS KIDS' Lyla in the Loop creator and Emmy-award winner Dave Peth in a major publishing deal with Paw Prints Publishing, the children’s and teens imprint of Baker & Taylor. The upcoming slate will feature 10 books adapted from the hit PBS KIDS animated series, beginning in Spring 2026 with a mix of storybooks, leveled readers, and a 5-minute story collection—all designed to engage emerging readers through humor, heart, and practical problem-solving.
If you’re not already watching, Lyla in the Loop centers on Lyla Loops, a curious, creative 7-year-old girl, her little blue best friend Stu, and her family's neighborhood diner, Loops Lunch. This award-winning show uses everyday adventures to introduce young viewers to foundational concepts in strategic thinking, STEM, and computational logic—with plenty of laughs along the way. It’s especially powerful for girls in STEM, and we’re excited to help bring the Loops family from screen to page!
The show premiered on February 5, 2024 and is currently airing nationally on PBS stations and streaming free across PBS KIDS digital platforms. It is produced by Mighty Picnic and Pipeline Studios.
The news was picked up by License Global, The Toy Book, Kidscreen, The Mommies Reviews, and featured in Publisher’s Weekly’s Licensing Hotline and Bookshelf.
Stay tuned for more as we help shepherd this STEM-powered series into readers’ hands!
What’s Competing for Kids' Attention—and Where Reading Fits In
A study by Penguin Random House and Dubit paints a vivid picture of how middle-graders and teens (ages 8–17) navigate their limited free time—and where reading stacks up in a crowded media landscape.
With only about six hours of daily free time, kids and teens are choosing between everything from video games to streaming to social media. For 8–12-year-olds, the top motivators when choosing content are:
Characters they like (77%)
Parent-approved content (76%)
Content they trust and understand (70%)
Teens (13–17) share some of those motivations but place more emphasis on:
A great storyline (67%)
Low cost or free content (63%)
Across the board, humor and action/adventure top the charts for favorite genres. Notably, teens also show rising interest in scary/creepy content and mystery/thrillers, aligning with the popularity of shows like Stranger Things and The Walking Dead.
So where does reading fit in?
Kids report reading 8–10 hours per week, peaking right after school for younger readers and at bedtime for teens. Audiobooks are trending up, especially among light-to-moderate readers, compared to 2017 levels. Still, reading competes with other popular activities:
Streaming video online (70%)
Gaming via apps or consoles (65%)
Spending time with family (74%)
When it comes to discovering new content:
Friends are the top influencers for both kids (56%) and teens (63%)
For book discovery, younger kids respond to cover illustrations and teacher recs, while teens rely on social media, back cover blurbs, and bookstore reviews
Why it matters for Kids’ Lit & Media Professionals
The data reinforces what we already know at Moonbeam: we’re in a noisy, highly competitive space—but great storytelling still cuts through. As creators and curators of kids' media, we focus on what kids love most: strong characters, engaging worlds, and humor and heart at the core. And as discovery becomes more peer- and algorithm-driven, we’re thinking beyond the bookshelf—into trans-media experiences that meet young audiences where they already are.
“Finding the Light” Heads Into Production
We’re excited to announce that 10-year-old Kei Durham from Columbus, Ohio, is the winner of Moonbeam’s 2025 Kids Create a Cartoon contest! His imaginative story, Finding the Light, follows an anglerfish who loses his glow and embarks on an undersea journey to reclaim it. Kei developed his story in one of our workshops led by Moonbeam client, author Tracy Blom, hosted in partnership with Center of Science and Industry (COSI), Columbus Metropolitan Library, and The Wave Foundation at Newport Aquarium.
His story will now be turned into an animated short film by Katie Scala, a rising senior in the Animation Department at Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD). Katie will be mentored by seasoned industry professional Magali McDonald, an animation producer known for her work with Sesame Street, Canticos, and the upcoming Charlotte’s Web adaptation.
Over the next few months, Katie and Magali will collaborate through creative reviews—storyboarding, animatics, visual development, and more—bringing Kei’s vision to life. The short film will premiere with a red carpet event this December. Stay tuned for updates as we follow this incredible creative journey from page to screen!
Artist Spotlight: Mikki Hernandez
This month, we’re spotlighting Mikki Hernandez—a multi-talented actress, voiceover artist (check out her recent spot for Google!), writer, and now, children’s book author. Mikki earned her degree in Communications from UCLA and works in film, television, and commercials. Of mixed-race heritage herself, she explores themes of identity and culture on her blog MixedKids&Co. When she’s not creating stories, you’ll likely find her dancing or planning her next international adventure. Mikki lives in Los Angeles.
We’re proud to represent Mikki’s heartfelt debut picture book, Cake Mix: Learning to Love All Your Ingredients—a powerful story about identity, self-acceptance, and embracing the beauty of diversity. When young Remy, a mixed-race child, is asked “What are you?” at school, she’s left questioning where she belongs. But a baking lesson with her mom helps her realize that—like a cake made from many ingredients—every part of her heritage contributes to who she is. With a renewed sense of confidence, Remy returns to school ready to celebrate her story.
Perfect for classrooms, families, and libraries, Cake Mix is a joyful invitation to spark meaningful conversations about race, culture, and belonging.
And, Mikki joined us in person for Moonbeam’s first vendor event at Blizzard Entertainment’s SOUL FEST!
We loved having Mikki with us at Blizzard Entertainment’s SOUL FEST, a vibrant Juneteenth celebration at their Irvine campus spotlighting Black-owned businesses and creators in art, books, wellness, and more.
Jesse and Mikki had a blast signing copies of their books and connecting with readers excited to see children’s and middle grade literature centered around underrepresented voices, while Rebecca supported the sales of a curated collection of our artists’ books. Meanwhile, Moonbeam’s company mascot, Bella the Corgi, got to meet key figures of video game lore, including Diablo and a 12-foot tall, 2-ton bronze orc warrior.
We’re so grateful to the Blizzard team for creating such a meaningful event—and for letting us tour the Blizzard Library, where we donated a copy each of Cake Mix and Dream Warriors.
More to come from Mikki and our other amazing authors soon!
Catch you in the next issue!
Jesse & Rebecca