EMILY KADO: THE SPIDERS’ SECRET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MAY 19, 2026 (PORTLAND, OR) — When the lights go out, imagination turns everything up.

Announcing EMILY KADO: THE SPIDERS’ SECRET, the newest middle-grade graphic novel from Papercutz, the kids’ imprint of Mad Cave Studios. Written and illustrated by Antoine Dodé, translated by Joe Johnson, with lettering by Dave Sharpe, this 120-page adventure blends gentle humor with eerie twists, an uplifting and encouraging children’s story that champions the power of imagination and proves that we all dare to face our fears, no matter how old you are!

Emily’s favorite thing to do is play with her best friend, Suzie. One day, when Emily goes to surprise Suzie at her house, Suzie isn’t home…but other scarier things are! Soon, Emily is on her own exciting adventure where she is joined by a new, helpful insect friend along the way. With his help and that of her special witch costume, Emily finds the courage to confront her fears of spiders, the dark, and…crazy clowns!

Antoine Dodé shared, “I have always loved scary stories. I believe they help us come to terms with our fears, and reading them—warm under the covers while rain taps against the windows and the air turns cold outside—is one of my greatest pleasures. Halloween has always felt like the perfect extension of that. When I was a child, it existed in France mostly through American pop culture, and I was fascinated by it. The day I learned that Emily Kado would be translated into English, I felt an indescribable sense of joy—I would finally be able to share this story with the country that made me fall in love with Halloween. Now, I hope for just one thing: that you enjoy discovering Emily Kado’s adventure—safe under the covers, with a warm cup of hot chocolate in hand… and ready to savor the shivers.”

A strong fit for readers drawn to character-led adventures that explore fear through imagination, Emily Kado: The Spiders’ Secret sits comfortably alongside stories that embrace the surreal and the sincere in equal measure. It’s a story about growing up without rushing it.

Emily Kado: The Spiders’ Secret goes on sale August 11, 2026, in paperback (ISBN: 9781545827499 | $12.99) and hardcover (ISBN: 9781545827505 | $17.99) formats. Preorder through your local comic shop, bookstore, or at papercutz.com today!