Author Jacqueline Woodson discusses her new novel for adults, 'Another Brooklyn.'

Publishers Weekly gave 'Another Brooklyn' a starred review, saying that Woodson "combines grit and beauty in a series of stunning vignettes, painting a vivid mural of what it was like to grow up African-American in Brooklyn during the 1970s."

Woodson is a National Book Award winner for 'Brown Girl Dreaming,' her 2015 YA novel. 'Another Brooklyn' is her first adult novel in 20 years.

Then, Publishers Weekly editorial director Jim Milliot presents the 2015 rankings of the world’s largest publishers.

No one likes to see you bringing problems to the workplace--unless he or she is a reference librarian.

Once upon a time, reference librarians assisted patrons to find something--usually in a book. In 2016, the job is to work out what the problem is, then find the proper resources to solve it.

“Today’s library user wants help doing things, rather than finding things,” notes Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.

“As one librarian told us, reference librarians should not be as passive as those old reference resources that stood on the shelves, waiting to spill their treasures,” he tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “Instead, librarians must strive to get to the root of the patron’s problem. Not ‘what are you looking for?’ or even ‘How can I help you?’ but, ‘What problem are you trying to solve?’

Patrick McDonnell talks to PW KidsCast about his new picture book, ‘Tek: The Modern Cave Boy,’ about a prehistoric child who is glued to his tablet, phone, and other technology.

Historian Heather Ann Thompson discusses her new book, 'Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy.'

She tells PW Radio, "There was a great deal of important civil rights activism in the 1970s," adding, "The state knew the retaking of Attica was going to be a bloodbath."

The Attica uprising in New York State, according to Thompson, "is a David and Goliath story...Attica's prisoners became political because of the state's brutality."

Then, Publishers Weekly editorial director Jim Milliot talks about some big changes at Barnes and Noble.

In journalism, August is as close to a slow season as it ever gets in the newsroom. This week, though, that changed in a hurry – with flood waters inundating Louisiana; war raging on in Syria; and fires roaring through southern California. Even the book world came back from vacation to find its way into the headlines.

On Tuesday, Ron Boire, CEO at the Barnes & Noble book retail chain, barely made it to his one-year anniversary before the company’s board had sent him packing. The sudden move makes way for the next B&N chief who will be the third to hold the job in less than three years.

As Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer, tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally reaction to the Boire departure from B&N’s biggest customers ranges from shock to dread.

“The head of one large publisher said he was angered to hear the news because finding and building a new executive team will set B&N back by six months,” Albanese says. "This publisher told PW, ‘I need them to execute on the ground’ during the holidays.”

Science writer Ed Yong discusses his new book, 'I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life.'

"So many health problems that we think of as individual have to do with microbes," he tells PW Radio. "Culturally, we have come to associate microbes with death, disease, dirt."

He adds, "The vast majority of microbes are benign or beneficial to us."

Then, Publishes Weekly contributing editor Clare Swanson explores how regional cookbook authors become national celebrities.

With the New York Public Library setting the standard, more and more public librarians will begin spelling “books” with an “e.”

Public libraries, of course, have offered e-books on loan for a number of years, but few readers – and not very many publishers – were ever pleased with the experience. Last month, the New York Public Library rolled out SimplyE, its much-anticipated e-book lending app that looks to solve many of the problems that have plagued library e-book users since the inception of the market.

“I believe the SimplyE app can be the breakthrough its creators envisioned for library e-book borrowing,” reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer. “It is easy to download and use—simply enter your library card number and PIN, and within minutes you can start borrowing e-books. The interface is well designed and easy to navigate. It looks like any commercial e-book platform.

There are currently important functional limitations, Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally, though the app comes with a promise of future upgrades.

“Currently, the app is available only for Android and iOS; it doesn’t work for Kindle e-books, PDFs, or with e-ink devices. But in an email to NYPL users last month, Johannes Neuer, NYPL’s director of customer experience, said that additional features are in the works, including a Kindle Fire version, a desktop reader, an mp3 audiobook format, as well as page bookmarking and text annotations.”

Ann M. Martin talks to PW KidsCast about ‘Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure,’ a modern-day spinoff from Betty MacDonald’s beloved Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series.

Trenton Lee Stewart, author of the bestselling Mysterious Benedict Society series, discusses ‘The Secret Keepers,’ a middle grade mystery that unfolds after a boy named Reuben discovers a strange and powerful antique watch.

On today’s show, author Nadja Spiegelman discusses her memoir, 'I’m Supposed to Protect You From All This.' Nadja is the daughter of New Yorker writer Françoise Mouly and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman, the renowned creator of Maus.

Then, Publishers Weekly assistant news editor John Maher gives us a look at the changes in PEN America.