Diane Landolf at Random House has acquired Cornelia Funke's Lilly and Fin, translated by Oliver Latsch, a story of two merkids who must avoid capture by a human couple who collect rare aquatic creatures. Publication is slated for summer 2017; Jenny Savill at Andrew Nurnberg represented Funke, and Oliver Latsch at Latschlit represented himself in the deal for U.S., Canada, and Philippines rights.
Karen Chaplin at HarperTeen preempted Rebecca Ross's debut trilogy, starting with Impassioned, a fantasy inspired by Renaissance France about the bastard granddaughter of an Earl embroiled in a plot to dethrone the king. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary and Media brokered the deal for world English rights.
Sarah Landis at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has bought Emily Bain Murphy's debut young adult novel The Disappearances. The novel follows a teen girl who moves to her recently deceased mother's hometown and discovers that every seven years it is cursed to lose the experiences that weave life together – the stars in the sky, the sound of music, the ability to dream – and that her mother may be to blame. Publication is set for spring 2017; Peter Knapp at New Leaf Literary & Media sold world English rights.
Vicki Lame at St. Martin's has acquired Candace Ganger's debut YA novel, The Inevitable Collision of Birdie + Bash, about two teens who fall in love not knowing of their connection to a horrific accident. The book is planned for publication in spring/summer 2017; Bethany Buck at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Daniel Harmon at Zest Books has bought Erin E. Moulton's Things We Haven't Said, a YA anthology. It will be a collection of true stories from survivors of sexual violence, geared toward empowering teens of today who are facing similar situations; contributors include Melissa Marr, Carrie Jones, and Cheryl Rainfield. Publication is slated for fall 2016; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Zareen Jaffery at Simon & Schuster has acquired two middle-grade novels by Emma Trevayne. In the first book, The House of Months and Years, 10-year-old Amelia Howling doesn’t feel at home in her new house or with her newly enlarged family, but her parents' preoccupation with her orphaned cousins at least allows her the time to uncover the dwelling's secrets. The house is a calendar house – an architectural oddity designed to reflect lengths of time – but within the 12 rooms and behind the 52 windows, Amelia and her family are not alone. Publication is scheduled for spring 2017; Brooks Sherman at the Bent Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Phoebe Yeh at Crown Books for Young Readers has bought two Goyle, Guardian middle grade novels by Paul Durham, set in modern-day Boston. The darkly humorous fantasy adventures feature a 130-year-old-gargoyle whose human form is that of a 12-year-old boy. Publication is set for 2018; Markus Hoffman at Regal Hoffmann & Associates negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Mary Kate Castellani at Bloomsbury has preempted debut author Ginger Johnson's Spectrum, a middle grade novel about a boy who can see all the colors of the spectrum in a world of black and white. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Michelle Witte at Mansion Street Literary Management brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick has acquired the middle grade biography Dreaming in Code: Ada Byron Lovelace, Computer Pioneer by Emily Arnold McCully. The daughter of Lord Byron, Ada's wild amalgam of mathematics and poetry gave her uncanny vision into the future. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Susan Cohen at Writers House did the deal for world rights.
Abby McAden at Scholastic has bought four early chapter books in the Enchanted Pony Academy series by Lisa Ann Scott, with Amanda Maciel editing. The series features rare ponies born with sparkly hooves invited to join a special academy beyond the clouds. Publication is slated for spring 2017; Jennifer Unter of the Unter Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Namrata Tripathi at Dial has bought Corinna Luyken's debut picture book, The Book of Mistakes, at auction. It's a journey through an artist's idea and the mistakes she builds upon to make her composition more than she ever thought it could be. Publication is set for spring 2017; Steven Malk at Writers House brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Kate Harrison at Dial has acquired world rights to Charlotte and the Rock by filmmaker Stephen W. Martin, to be illustrated by Samantha Cotterill. The story stars a girl who wants a pet more than anything – and then gets a most unusual one. Publication is scheduled for spring 2017; Laurie Abkemeier at DeFiore and Company represented the author and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Jeffrey Salane at Little Simon has acquired world rights to Music Is… by Brandon Stosuy, director of editorial operations at Pitchfork, and illustrated by Amy Martin, author-illustrator of Symphony City, which introduces the many moods and styles of music to the youngest audiophiles. Publication is planned for fall 2016; the author is unagented, and Meredith Kaffel Simonoff at DeFiore and Company represented the illustrator.
Meredith Mundy at Sterling Children's Books has acquired world rights to Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro (l.). Teagan White is on board to illustrate. It's the story of a mouse who loves winter so much that she finds a creative way to get her friends to join her in the cold. Publication has not yet been scheduled; Liza Voges at Eden Street represented Silvestro and Nicole Tugeau at T2 Children's Illustrators represented White.
Kristen Pettit of HarperCollins has bought two titles in a new middle grade series by Andrea Portes, author of Anatomy of a Misfit. The modern gothic series, called Henry & Eva, is set in Big Sur and follows the titular brother and sister as they attempt to solve the mystery of their parents' deaths. Publication of the first book is scheduled for winter 2018; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Krista Vitola at Delacorte has acquired Amanda Searcy's debut novel,Truth Is, a psychological thriller following two teen girls, one from a Texas border town hoping to outrun her past and another who fears for her future in a public housing complex; when their worlds collide, only one girl will make it out alive. Publication is slated for fall 2017; Rachel Brooks at L. Perkins Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Mary Cash of Holiday House has bought North American rights to Miriam Halahmy's Hidden, a novel about two teenagers facing homelessness. Publication is set for spring 2016; Margot Edwards Rights Consultancy did the two-book deal on behalf of the Anne Clark Literary Agency.
David Linker at HarperCollins has acquired Zac Gorman's middle grade illustrated fantasy series Thisby Thestoop and the Black Mountain. In the series, a 12-year-old-girl becomes gamekeeper at a massive dungeon full of monsters and winds up having to save the princess when a royal tour goes awry. Publication is planned for winter 2018; Jennifer Linnan of Linnan Literary Management negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Erin Stein at Macmillan/Imprint has bought world rights to the first four titles in the Super Happy Party Bears series by Marcie Colleen, illustrated by Steve James. These chapter books explore the hijinks of the unrepentantly cheery Bears as they annoy everyone in the Grumpy Woods – yet save the day with a party. Publication of the first two titles is scheduled for fall 2016; Susan Hawk at The Bent Agency represented the author and Ryan Mita at Advocate Art represented the illustrator.
Emma Sector at S&S/Aladdin has acquired Rowan Oakwing: A London Fairy Tale by Ed Clarke, an early middle grade novel about a girl who discovers the secret world of fairies hidden in London's parks. Publication is slated for summer 2017; Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge and White did the deal for U.S. rights.
Rob Broder at Ripple Grove Press has bought U.S., U.K., and Canadian rights to the Harry Chapin song Mr. Tanner, which will be made into a picture book illustrated by Bryan Langdo. The story follows a singing bear who gives up his life laundering clothes to try to gain fame in New York. Publication is set for fall 2017; rights were sold by Chapin Productions LLC.
Tracey Keevan at Hyperion has acquired Nanette's Baguette, a picture book by Mo Willems in which the heroine makes her first solo trip to the bakery; it is set in a handcrafted paper-modeled French village. Publication is planned for October 2016; Marcia Wernick at Wernick & Pratt brokered the deal for North American rights.
Susan van Metre at Abrams has bought the third title in Andrea Beaty's picture book series, entitled Ada Twist, Scientist. Ada, classmate of Iggy Peck and Rosie Revere, has a boundless curiosity for science and love of the question “Why?” David Roberts will illustrate. Publication is slated for September 2016; Edward Necarsulmer IV of Dunow, Carlson & Lerner represented the author and Christine Isteed of Artist Partners represented the artist in the deal for world rights.
Julia Maguire at Knopf has acquired world rights to Fort-Building Time, a picture book by Megan Wagner Lloyd about the joys of building a fort in every season, to be illustrated by Abigail Halpin. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary negotiated the deal for the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Kristin Ostby at Simon & Schuster has bought Alan Katz's If I Didn't Have You, illustrated by Chris Robertson, which puts a humorous spin on the sentimental parent-child picture book. Publication is set for spring 2018; Josh Adams of Adams Literary represented the author and Alli Brydon of Bright USA represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
