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) has 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.