COVER REVEAL and sneak peek!
If you don't know, publishing is a slow, extremely slow, glacially slow industry full of secret news and waiting. Oh, so much waiting!. But once in a while the opportunity to share progress or good news comes by and when it does you...
SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!
(or make a blog post and post on social media hoping people see it - same thing)
This weekend is one of those opportunities! I am thrilled to share the cover reveal to my next book, IN THIS CLASSROOM, with illustrations from Arthur Lin and publishing with Red Comet Press on 6/9/26.
I love all of my books, but this one hits different for me as it is the first book I have written that blends my almost 20 years of teaching experience with my love of writing.
So what are we waiting for? Hit that play button and let's REVEAL that COVER!!!!
TA-DA!!!!!
I absolutely LOVE the way Arthur imagined this story and his playful character design. I think they are the perfect for the lower elementary classroom and that kids are going to adore them. I know I do. And unexpected bonus: I think I am now a character in a story.
June is a long way away, but if you have the ability to I'd love if you could do a couple of simple things to help this book be successful.
Share with ALL of the teachers you know
Tell them about it, share this post with them, tag them in the comments of one of my social media posts about it - whatever works for you - The more teachers who get this book, the more kids who will benefit from the messages within it, and THAT is what I am really, really hoping for.
Also, I am creating a whole bunch of FREE, easy to use, classroom tested resources to accompany the book. And I know, teachers LOVE freebies that make their lives easier.
Mark as 'Want to read' on GoodReads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239923132-in-this-classroom
That's it for now! Of course I won't stop you from preordering, but there is also plenty of time before pub day to do that later.
And as a thank you for making it this far, have a sneak peek at the full class of characters!
ABOUT ANDREW HACKET
Andrew Hacket is a writer, second-grade teacher, and father of three. He is the author of Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea, Curlilocks and the Three Hares, and Hope and the Sea.
His next book, IN THIS CLASSROOM illustrated by Arthur Lin, hits shelves on June 9, 2026!
Andrew recognizes that being a kid is hard and he writes to create ways for kids to see themselves in stories and characters, to accept and overcome their insecurities, or to escape for just a little while through the power of their imaginations.
Congrats on the cover reveal! Blending almost 20 years of teaching with writing sounds like it could make IN THIS CLASSROOM feel deeply authentic, and I appreciate the honesty about publishing’s glacial pace—that waiting game is brutal. The classroom setting also makes me think about familiar spaces turning unsettling. If you enjoy narrative horror, I’ve been poking around the-falsesun.com, which has a visual novel vibe with multiple endings. Either way, excited to see Arthur Lin’s illustrations.
Congratulations on the IN THIS CLASSROOM cover reveal! The blend of almost 20 years of teaching experience and your love of writing sounds like it will resonate with so many readers, and Red Comet Press is a great home for it. Publishing’s glacial pace is real, so I totally get celebrating every milestone. While waiting for 6/9/26, I’ve been filling short breaks with a quick poople game — endless word ladders, no daily cap, and no download. It’s a fun little distraction between book news refreshes.
Congrats on the cover reveal! IN THIS CLASSROOM sounds wonderful—blending 20 years of teaching with writing must give it such authentic heart. Publishing may be glacially slow, but moments like this are worth the wait. On a related note, I've been using WorldGuesser for quick geography breaks—dropping into random street views is oddly addictive and a fun way to explore the world between reading sessions. Wishing you a smooth path to 6/9/26!
Congratulations on the cover reveal! It's wonderful to see your teaching experience woven into your writing—almost 20 years in the classroom must give you endless inspiration. I'm a big believer in blending passions, and I've found that even quick gaming breaks can recharge creativity. For anyone needing a fun, free distraction, PolyTrack is a low-poly racing game that's playable unblocked online. It's surprisingly addictive! Check it out here: https://playpolytrack.com/play-unblocked. Wishing you a smooth path to publication!
What a fun way to introduce the cover and give readers a sneak peek. The preview creates curiosity while leaving enough unanswered to make people want to see the complete work. I always enjoy seeing how authors build anticipation around a new release. For a completely different kind of entertainment, the poop game is also worth checking out when you need a quick, playful distraction.