Do kids fantasize about finding a way to hang out with magical companions? More than 22 million of them do, based on sales numbers for the How to Catch series from Sourcebooks Wonderland. Launched in 2016 with How to Catch a Leprechaun, written by Adam Wallace and illustrated by Andy Elkerton, the series has expanded to include board books, graphic novels, and novelty editions, and currently encompasses 45 titles—with more ready to hit shelves.
In its 10th anniversary year, How to Catch is releasing five new books. Beginning with My First How to Catch a Mermaid (out now), the 2026 lineup continues with How to Catch a Bookworm (Apr. 7), Snap & Snuggle: How to Catch a Class Pet (Apr. 28), How to Catch a Garden Gnome (May 5), and Snap & Snuggle: How to Catch an Elf (Oct. 6).
The series was the brainchild of the late Karen Shapiro, founder of the Wonderland imprint, who landed on the concept of intermingling mythical characters and settings, inventive traps, splashes of science, whimsical rhyming, and bountiful humor. According to Nicky Benson, senior publishing manager at Wonderland, who currently oversees How to Catch, the idea for the series was sparked by a casual conversation that Shapiro had with Shana Drehs—VP, editorial director at Sourcebooks Landmark and Nonfiction—who mentioned that her daughter was making leprechaun traps at school for St. Patrick’s Day. “In true Karen fashion, her immediate first question was, ‘Is that a thing? Sounds like a book!’ ” Benson recalled. After Shapiro talked with Sourcebooks CEO Dominique Raccah about the idea, Benson added, “It was put into the publishing program and the rest is history!”
Playing a key role in the series’ history—and present life—is Elkerton, who hails from Scotland and came on board quite serendipitously after Shapiro had lined up Australian author Wallace to write How to Catch. After having a U.K. agent for years, the illustrator recalled, “I’d reached a career crossroads and thought it was time I looked further afield for a representative who was able to cast a wider net to get me commissions.” His plan worked. The first U.S. agency he contacted, Shannon Associates, signed him on, and within a week he was asked if he wanted to provide some sample art for a planned series from Sourcebooks.
“They asked for a picture of a Rube Goldberg ‘trap’ with a girl and her nonplussed dad,” Elkerton said. “I did a spread for them, and a day later John Aardema [Sourcebooks senior art director] wrote me a three-word email—‘You’re our guy’—and that was it! How I came to be involved with the series was all about luck and timing, or at least that's how it felt to me!”
The series’ team has been reshaped somewhat in recent years, as Alice Walstead has taken over the role of principal author from Wallace, and titles are developed in-house by Benson in conjunction with Wonderland associate editor Elisabeth Clary and publishing assistant Harper Stewart. “Our team works very closely together to carry on the legacy that Karen started,” Benson said. “We hope we are making her proud!”
The publisher will promote the How to Catch anniversary throughout the year, with a new website
and a dedicated Instagram channel; a social media contest aimed at families and classrooms; retail promotions; partnerships with nonprofit organizations for book giveaways; and 100,000 holographic anniversary stickers to place on books sold this year.
