Scholastic will publish a holiday picture book by Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey called Roc and Roe's Twelve Days of Christmas, featuring the celebrity couple's twins. The book will be illustrated by AG Ford, and will follow the children as they put their own spin on the Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” It's set for release in fall 2014; the deal was developed by D. Christopher Jennings and Robert Caruso of Impact Republic, Nick Cannon's Ncredible Entertainment, and Ken Geist at Scholastic.
Erin Stein at Little, Brown has bought Cookie Meets Peanut, a picture book by author and talk show host Bethenny Frankel, inspired by Frankel's daughter and dog, to be illustrated by Daniel Roode. In the book, Cookie is Mommy's darling doggy, and she has all of her attention. But with the arrival of the new baby (“Peanut”), Cookie feels suddenly replaced, and must learn to share. A publication date of September 9, 2014 has been set; Andy McNicol of William Morris Endeavor did the two-book deal for world rights.
Lauri Hornik at Dial has bought a book by actor and TV writer B.J. Novak called The Book with No Pictures. It's billed as a picture book without pictures, and, as the publisher explained, it “turns the notion of the [format] on its head.” Novak elaborated: “I wanted to write a book that would introduce the youngest of kids to the idea that words can be their allies – that the right words can be as fun, exciting, and ridiculous as any pictures. Also, I can't draw.” The book is scheduled for release later in 2014; Richard Abate at 3 Arts Entertainment did the deal for world English rights.
Emily Easton at Walker has acquired three picture books by Salina Yoon, including books two and three in Yoon's newest series that debuts this April with Found, featuring a gentle bear character and his beloved stuffed animal; and the fifth untitled book in Yoon's Penguin series. The new Penguin book is scheduled for spring 2015; #2 and #3 of the bear books are slated for winter 2015 and spring 2016. Jamie Weiss Chilton at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Sarah Zhang at Boyds Mills Press has acquired two picture books by Shelley Moore Thomas: Kitten Wants a Puppy and There Are No Dragons in This Book. In the first book, a kitten can't understand why she isn't allowed to have a puppy and a few other not so cat-like things, and in Dragons, an interactive book, readers search for dragons that aren't there (or are they?). Publication of Kitten is set for fall 2015; Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal for world rights.
Paula Wiseman at S&S's Paula Wiseman Books has bought world rights to Please Open This Book, a sequel to Warning: Do Not Open This Book by Adam Lehrhaupt, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe. Publication is planned for fall 2014; the deal was done by Alexandra Penfold at Upstart Crow Literary on behalf of Lehrhaupt, and Judith Hansen at Hansen Literary on behalf of Forsythe.
Georgia McBride at Month9Books has bought The Veiled Man's Goddess trilogy by Amy McNulty, a YA fantasy romance where one girl fights to save the boy she loves from a spell that forces all men to wear masks and only ever love one woman, each their “goddess.” Publication will begin in 2015; Jason Yarn at Paradigm sold world English rights.
Tamar Mays at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to Itty Bitty Kitty by Joan Holub, illustrated by James Burks, about an unlikely friendship between a girl and a giant cat. In the story, Ava wants a pet but her parents say she's too little; when she finds a kitty, she thinks she can keep him a secret, until he starts to grow. Publication is set for summer 2015. The multi-book deal was done by Liza Voges of Eden Street Literary on behalf of Holub, and Kelly Sonnack of Andrea Brown Literary on behalf of Burks.
David Levithan and Zack Clark at Scholastic bought Michael Jensen and David Powers King's epic YA fantasy, Woven, in which a spoiled princess and the ghost who haunts her, a recently murdered young knight, embark on a quest to thwart death itself. Clark will edit, and publication is scheduled for spring 2015. Meredith Bernstein at the Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency held the auction for world English rights; Jacqueline Murphy at Fineprint is handling foreign rights.
