Andrew Karre at Dutton Young Readers has acquired Walk It Down and a second YA novel from Ashley Hope Pérez, author of the 2016 Printz Honor book Out of Darkness, which Karre edited at Carolrhoda Lab.Walk It Down concerns the deaths of two teenagers in a corn storage bin in rural Indiana. The boys die – literally drown in grain – doing the dangerous job known as "walking down the corn." A third boy survives, trapped for hours after witnessing the deaths of his brother and best friend. Publication is scheduled for 2018; Steven Chudney of the Chudney Agency did the deal for world English.
Celia Lee at Scholastic/Branches has bought a four-book series called Press Start! by Thomas Flintham. The story features the adventures of retro video game character Super Rabbit Boy as he tries to save his pixillated world, while remaining unaware that he is being played by a real human boy. Publication for the first book is slated for spring 2017; Alan Lynch at Arena Illustration negotiated the deal for world rights.
Annette Pollert-Morgan at Sourcebooks has acquired at auction two YA novels from debut author Chelsea Sedoti. The first, The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett, is a darkly comedic mystery featuring a teenage girl and the disappearance of a classmate. It is scheduled for fall 2016 release; Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary and Media did the six-figure deal for world English rights.
Margaret Anastas at HarperCollins has bought Booki Vivat's debut illustrated middle-grade novel, Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impending Doom, a humorous, diary-style story of anxious 11-year-old Abbie Wu's middle-school struggles and triumphs. Publication is set for fall 2016; Steven Malk at Writers House brokered the three-book deal for world English rights.
Mallory Kass at Scholastic Press has acquired at auction children's librarian Kim Ventrella's debut middle grade novel, The Skeleton Tree, the story of a boy who finds beauty – and possibly a friend – in death with the help of an unusual tree growing in his backyard. Publication is slated for fall 2017; Brianne Johnson of Writers House negotiated the deal for North American English rights.
Aubrey Poole at Sourcebooks has bought a middle grade chapter-book series by Deborah Lytton, The Fictional and (Sometimes) Fabulous World of Ruby Starr, which stars an imaginative fourth grader. The first book is set for spring 2017, with the others scheduled to appear a year apart. Stacey Glick of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management brokered the three-book deal for world English rights.
Carol Hinz at Millbrook Press has acquired two middle-grade science titles from Patricia Newman. Sea Otter Heroes shows how sea otters play a critical role in keeping the ecosystem in balance. Zoo Scientists profiles what three zoos are doing to help save endangered animals. Publication for the first book is slated for spring 2017, with the second for fall 2017; Deborah Warren at East/West Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Georgia McBride of Month9Books has bought a chapter book series from Lauren Baratz-Logsted, entitled The Adventures of Sherlock Bones Books. The first two books, to be published simultaneously, are Case File #1: Dogged to Death and Case File #2: Doggone. Each book is a retelling of a different Arthur Conan Doyle tale featuring a dog as Sherlock Holmes. Books one and two will release in September 2016; the deal was unagented.
Jill Davis at HarperCollins's Katherine Tegen Books has acquired Elise Gravel's picture book series, Super Dudes, in a two-book deal. The series stars Super Bob and Super Sue, who use their super powers to dismantle Captain Evil's plans to take over the world, rescue kids forced to eat broccoli, and prevent other misfortunes. The series is scheduled to launch in fall 2017; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words brokered the deal for world English rights.
Laura Godwin at Henry Holt has bought world rights to Margarita Engle's Cara Cara, a picture book about a family in Havana, Cuba, and how they care for their beloved old Chevy. Mike Curato, creator of the Little Elliot books, is set to illustrate. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Michelle Humphrey at the Martha Kaplan Agency represented Engle and Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented Curato.
Alessandra Balzer at HarperCollins imprint Balzer + Bray has acquired world English rights to Just Being Jackie by Margaret Cardillo (l.), and another, unnamed title. Jackie is a look at the life of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, continuing the duo's series of biographies revolving around feminist style icons with philanthropic achievements. Julia Denos is set to illustrate. A pub date has not yet been set; Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the author and Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the artist.
Karen Nagel at Simon & Schuster's Aladdin imprint has bought Who Broke the Vase?, Jeffrey Turner's picture book about a little dog who struggles with admitting the truth, and who discovers that even adults have the same struggle. Publication is scheduled for spring 2017; Anna Olswanger of Olswanger Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Beth Terrill at NorthSouth Books has acquired Monica Brown's Frida and Her Animalitos, about the artist and the animals that inspired her art and life, to be illustrated by John Parra. Publication is planned for fall 2017 in both an English-language and simultaneous German edition. Stefanie Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary represented both the author and the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Marissa Moss of Creston Books has bought Vivian Kirkfield's debut picture book, Sweet Dreams, Sarah, the story of Sarah E. Goode, the first African-American woman to own a U.S. patent; Chris Ewald will illustrate. The story showcases not only the invention but the spirit and determination of the inventor herself. Publication is set for spring 2017; Essie White of Storm Literary Agency represented the author and Liza Fleissig of Liza Royce Agency represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
