Weslie Turner at Macmillan/Imprint has acquired new YA and middle grade projects by L.L. McKinney in a three-book deal. McKinney's middle-grade debut follows a Black girl gamer who discovers that she's the reincarnated King Arthur and must find her knights before she can face off against the evil Morgana. The deal also includes two YA novels; A Crown So Cursed, planned for fall 2020, will continue the story begun in the author's Nightmare-Verse novels, and will be followed by a prequel novel set in the same world. Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jenny Bak at Little, Brown/Jimmy Patterson Books has bought two books in a new series by Kerri Maniscalco, beginning with Kingdom of the Wicked. Set in 19th-century Italy, this YA fantasy follows a witch seeking answers in the murder of her beloved sister, and the demon prince who is tasked with finding a bride for his master. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Barbara Poelle at Irene Goodman Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Monica Jean at Delacorte has acquired debut author Dana Swift's Cast in Firelight, a YA fantasy about two teens destined to inherit a magical empire, who must put aside their misgivings about each other when a deadly plot is unearthed. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Amy Brewer at Metamorphosis Literary Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Carlisa Cramer at Jolly Fish has bought North American English rights to Amy Bearce's Paris on Repeat, an upper middle grade twist on Groundhog Day. Fourteen-year-old Eve Hollis, an American military kid living overseas, becomes stuck in a time loop in Paris and must take risks to discover what trapped her there—or she'll have to relive the most awkwardly painful day of her life forever. Publication is set for fall 2020; Alice Sutherland-Hawes at Madeleine Milburn negotiated the two-book deal for North American English rights.
Stacy Whitman at Tu Books has acquired Stonewall by George M. Johnson, author of the forthcoming All Boys Aren't Blue. The nonfiction graphic novel, which will be illustrated by Theo Lorenz, explores the history of the LGBTQ+ movement and its roots in the Stonewall Riots. Publication is slated for 2022; Eric Smith at P.S. Literary represented the author, and Naomi Davis at BookEnds represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has bought, in an exclusive submission, a middle-grade novel by Kate Klise. Conceived as Rear Window for young readers who love mysteries and dogs, Mystery on Magnolia Circle chronicles the summer that a 10-year-old girl, convalescing from an injury, witnesses a neighborhood crime and suspects that a classmate is involved. Publication is planned for spring 2021; the author represented herself in the deal for world rights.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired world rights to Caroline Brooks DuBois's middle-grade novel The Places We Sleep. In this novel-in-verse set in a small military town, 12-year-old Abbey's aunt goes missing in the World Trade Center on 9/11 and her father deploys to Afghanistan, leaving Abbey to search for her place in a world that is falling apart. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020; Louise Fury at the Bent Agency did the deal.
Erica Finkel at Abrams/Amulet has bought world rights to Cathy Carr's debut middle-grade novel, 365 Days to Alaska, about a girl from off-the-grid Alaska who struggles to adjust when she moves to Connecticut following her parents' divorce. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency brokered the deal.
Semareh Al-Hillal at Groundwood has acquired No Vacancy by debut author Tziporah Cohen, about an 11-year-old Jewish girl who, with her Catholic friend, creates a Virgin Mary apparition at a drive-in movie theater to save her family's failing motel. Publication is set for fall 2020; Jacqui Lipton at Storm Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jennifer Greene at Clarion has bought Elaine Scott's Picture Something Invisible: The Story of Black Holes, a middle-grade nonfiction book about the dense and deadly regions in space that have been at the forefront of science news since 29-year-old electrical engineer Katie Bouman captured the first-ever image of one this past April. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Susan Cohen at Writers House handled the deal for world rights.
Carol Hinz at Lerner/Millbrook has acquired world rights to Planet Ocean by Sibert Honor author Patricia Newman (l.) and photographer and Women's Divers Hall of Fame member Annie Crawley, the duo who created Plastic, Ahoy! and Zoo Scientists to the Rescue. The middle-grade nonfiction title helps readers to recognize that the ocean's story is our story, and to understand the link between humans and pollution, climate change, and sustainability. Publication is set for fall 2020; Deborah Warren at East/West Literary Agency represented the author, and the photographer represented herself.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has bought North American rights to author-illustrator Chris Gall's Big Rig Rescue, a picture book about a wrecker putting a crashed semi back on the road while the snow falls, featuring winches and hooks and the different parts of tow trucks and how they work. Publication is scheduled for winter 2021; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal.
Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has acquired world rights to Zoey Abbott's Something in My Head, a picture book about a Pig who has something troubling on her mind, and a Horse friend who helps her figure out how to deal with it. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal.
Farrin Jacobs at Little, Brown has bought world rights to Daddy and Dada, the debut picture book by Ryan Brockington (l.) and Isaac Webster, illustrated by Lauren May. The book is about a girl named Rumi who has two fathers (and one little brother and one funny dog) and loves to learn about all the different kinds of families in her neighborhood. Publication is planned for spring 2021, in time for both Father's Day and Pride Month; the authors and illustrators represented themselves.
Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick has won at auction world rights to Eric Geron's (l.) debut picture book, Poultrygeist. The story follows a chicken that crosses the road and ends up on the other side: in the spirit world. Other ghost animals encourage the poultrygeist to embrace its dark side to scare the reader, but it may be too chicken. Pete Oswald will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2021. Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Cheryl Klein at Lee & Low has acquired world rights to Bonnie's Rocket by Emily Lau (l.) (writing as Emeline Lee). In this STEM-friendly picture book, Bonnie's father must spend the next year in Florida working as an engineer on the Apollo 11 launch, so Bonnie decides to build a rocket of her own. The manuscript was inspired by the author's grandfather, who helped design the life support systems for the Lunar Module and the spacesuits for the Apollo 11 astronauts. The book will be illustrated by Alina Chau; publication is set for fall 2020. The author was unagented, and Marietta Zacker at Gallt & Zacker represented the artist.
Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has bought world rights to Katherine Locke's (l.) Bedtime for Superheroes, a picture book about how even superheroes must wind down, eat a good dinner, take a bath, and read a book before turning out the light. Rayanne Vieira will illustrate; publication is slated for November 2020. Louise Fury at the Bent Agency represented the author, and James Burns at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Talia Benamy at Philomel has acquired world rights to The Stars Beckoned, a picture book biography about astronaut Edward White, the first American to walk in space, by Saturdays with Stella author Candy Wellins (l.). Courtney Dawson will illustrate; a summer 2021 publication is planned. Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary represented the author, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator.
Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to Unless Alphabet by Tom Llewellyn (l.), illustrated by Mark Hoffmann. A is for apple, unless you're being chased by a blood-sucking vampire—then A is for Aaaaaagghhh! Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Ginny O'Donnell at Cottage Door has bought world rights to Katie Turner's A, Beast, C, an alphabet book written in rhyming prose that introduces readers to the “beasts” of myth, legend, and lore. George Ermos will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2020. Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the author, and Alexandra Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
