Maria Barbo at HarperCollins has acquired debut author Kathryn Purdie's Auraseer trilogy, about a 17-year-old girl who is obliged to use her gift for feeling – and absorbing – the emotions of others to protect her nation's emperor from harm. Publication of book one, Auraseer, is scheduled for winter 2016; Josh Adams at Adams Literary did the three-book deal for world rights.
Michael Strother at Simon Pulse has acquired Shaun David Hutchinson's We Are the Ants, about a teen possibly abducted by aliens and told the world will end in 144 days unless he pushes a button. But in the aftermath of his boyfriend's suicide, he's not sure the world is worth saving. Publication is set for spring 2016; Amy Boggs at Donald Maass Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for North American rights.
Liza Kaplan at Philomel has bought Sara Crowe's Carnegie Medal-nominated middle-grade novel, Bone Jack, in which a teen caught between his recently returned veteran father's PTSD and his best friend's descent into grief is training to be the stag boy in the annual Stag Chase. Publication is slated for spring 2017; Laura Langlie negotiated the deal for North American rights on behalf of Joanna Swainson at Hardman & Swainson in the U.K.
Mallory Loehr and Maria Modugno at Random House have bought rights to three picture books from Kim Krans. ABC Dream features unexpected choices to illustrate the letters of the alphabet, 123 Dream treats numbers in a similar fashion, and a third, untitled book are all scheduled for publication in spring 2016. Meg Thompson of Einstein Thompson Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Donna Bray at HarperCollins's Balzer + Bray imprint has acquired Suzanne Kaufman's debut picture book, It's Confiscated!, about squabbling siblings who must figure out how to team up after Mom confiscates all their toys. Alexandra Penfold of Upstart Crow Literary did the deal for world rights.
Deidre Jones at Little, Brown has bought Cheryl Bardoe's Nothing Stopped Sophie: A Story of Math and Impossible Dreams, a picture book biography of French mathematician Sophie Germain, who grew up during the French Revolution and secretly followed her dream to study mathematics, changing the world with her discoveries; Barbara McClintock is illustrating. It's slated for publication in spring 2018; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and Jennie Dunham at Dunham Literary represented the illustrator for world rights.
Lee Wade at Random House's Schwartz & Wade Books has acquired Rachael Cole's (l.) debut, City Moon, illustrated by Blanca Gomez, about a child learning about the moon with his mother. It is scheduled for release in fall 2016. Marzena Torzecka at Marlena Agency represented the illustrator and the author represented herself for world rights.
Christian Trimmer at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers has bought debut author Christian Heidicker's YA novel, Miles in the Infinite Sandbox. Told in "censored" blog posts, the novel follows basement-dweller Miles after he is sent to video game rehab, and touches on issues of pop culture, sexism, and human connection. Publication is slated for summer 2016; John M. Cusick at Greenhouse Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Cindy Loh at Bloomsbury has bought, at auction, The Silent Adventures of Mime Boy, a picture book from Salina Yoon, author of the Penguin picture book series. The new book, which focuses on themes of self-acceptance and friendship, will publish in winter 2016. Jamie Weiss Chilton of Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Lee Wade at Random House's Schwartz & Wade Books has acquired world rights to Lucy's Travels, a wordless picture book debut by Stephanie Graegin. In the book, a girl follows a fox into the woods and enters a fantasy world. It's set for spring 2017; Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated the deal.
Arthur Levine of Scholastic's Arthur A. Levine Books imprint has acquired world rights to Back to School with Bigfoot and its sequel by Samantha Berger and Martha Brockenbrough. The picture book examines the worries of returning to school when you're seven feet tall. Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented Berger, and Sarah Davies of the Greenhouse Literary Agency represented Brockenbrough.
Andrea Cascardi at Egmont USA has bought world rights to Seed School, a nonfiction picture book by Joan Holub and illustrated by Mike Lowery. The book follows a little seed who goes to school to learn about how she and other seeds change as they grow. Publication is scheduled for fall 2016. Liza Voges at Eden Street Literary represented the author and Susan McCabe at Lilla Rogers Studio represented the illustrator.
