Phoebe Yeh at Crown won at auction debut novelist Rebecca McLaughlin's The Nameless Queen, a duology about the ruffian thief, Coin, who unwittingly inherits a kingdom; and the throne, power, and the danger that come with it. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Pete Knapp at New Leaf Literary & Media negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Jordan Brown at HarperCollins/Walden Pond has acquired a narrative nonfiction history of how America was shaped by food and drink, titled Abraham Lincoln's Lunch, written by historian and journalist Suzy Evans. The book covers FDR's “Royal Hot Dog” picnic at Hyde Park that prefaced World War II, the Molasses Flood in 1919 Boston, and many other events. Publication is slated for 2018; Daniel Lazar at Writers House brokered the deal for North American rights.
Justin Krasner at Workman has bought Korwin Briggs's debut work,Mythlopedia, a humorous illustrated encyclopedia of world mythology. Publication is set for spring 2018; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions did the deal for world rights.
Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has acquired Zoe Waring's No Hugs for Porcupine, a story about a poor little porcupine who longs to be hugged but can't because he's too spiky, and about an armadillo who teaches him a new way to show affection to his friends. Publication is planned for fall 2017; Alli Brydon at Bright USA negotiated the deal for world rights.
Victoria Rock at Chronicle has bought world rights to Lonely Boy by debut author Jacqueline Veissid (l.) and debut illustrator Merrilees Brown. In the picture book, a boy throws a bottle with a message into the ocean hoping to find a friend. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author and Teresa Kietlinski of Bookmark Literary represented the illustrator.
Meredith Mundy at Sterling has acquired Cece Meng's (l.) next picture book World Pizza, a look at the idea of world peace, in which Momma sees a wishing star but then garbles her wish a bit, and things don't go exactly as planned. Ellen Shi is on board to illustrate. Publication is set for spring 2017; Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Meng, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented Shi in the deal for world rights.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has bought John Micklos Jr. 's (l.) One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me, illustrated by Clive McFarland. This story of a tree's changing leaves blends the concepts of counting, colors and the four seasons. Publication is slated for fall 2017; Erin Murphy of Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong of Bright USA represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Orli Zuravicky at Scholastic has acquired world rights to Haunted Halloween by Sue Fliess, a novelty counting book, to be illustrated by Jay Fleck. Publication is scheduled for 2018; Jennifer Unter of the Unter Agency represented the author, and Kirsten Hall of Catbird Productions represented the artist.
Bethany Buck at Sky Pony Press has acquired North American rights to three children's books by Julian Lennon (r.). The bedtime titles were written with bestselling author Bart Davis (The Midnight Partner); an illustrator for the project is yet to be chosen. The first book in the series, Touch the Earth, is inspired by Lennon's 2007 documentary, Whaledreamers, and is set for April 2017, to coincide with Earth Day. The second and third books in the series are scheduled, respectively, for 2018 and 2019; Robert Gottlieb and Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group brokered the deal.
Leslie Wainger at Harlequin Teen has preempted The F Word as well as a second untitled novel, by Stanford University sophomore and Huffington Post Teen blogger Kiley Roache. In the YA novel, an ardent feminist pledges to write an exposé about a troubled fraternity, but the longer she lives in the house, the more complicated the situation becomes. Publication is slated for summer 2017; Nicole Resciniti at the Seymour Agency negotiated the deal.
Alison Weiss at Sky Pony Press has bought Kim Foster's Game of Secrets, a YA spy thriller set in an alternate Victorian world where people with special abilities are considered Tainted and are hunted down and killed. A girl awaiting execution is rescued by a mysterious gentleman and whisked away to a clandestine countryside spy institute founded by Christopher Marlowe, in training for Her Majesty's secret service. The book is planned for fall 2017; Sandy Lu at the L. Perkins Agency did the deal for world rights.
Abby Ranger at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to House of Night and Day and Forest of Light and Dark, a creepy, fairy tale-flavored middle grade duology by Gregory Funaro. In a quiet valley in rural New England, two children move into an ominous old house that stands next to the much feared darkwoods, where a powerful ancient magic lives in the wood itself – including in the carved wooden animals that fill the children's house and come alive at night. Publication for book one is set for fall 2018; Bill Contardi of Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents brokered the deal.
Krista Vitola at Delacorte has bought Dana Alison Levy's new middle grade novel, This Would Make a Good Story Someday. Told in journal entries, postcards, and other travel documents, it follows Sara, a 12-year-old whose summer plans with her friends are upended by the news that one of her moms has won a writing prize: a cross-country train trip for the whole family. It's scheduled for summer 2017; Marietta B. Zacker of the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Elizabeth Lynch at HarperCollins has acquired two middle grade novels, Maggie and Abby's Neverending Pillow Fort and an untitled sequel, from debut author Will Taylor. Recently reunited best friends Maggie and Abby are thrilled to discover a magical door between their pillow forts, but things change when they realize the mysterious and intricate couch kingdom they've stumbled upon is already inhabited. Publication is slated for winter 2018 and winter 2019 respectively; Emily Keyes at Fuse Literary did the deal for world English rights.
Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has bought Max Brunner's (l.) and Disney animator Dustin Mackay's Superfail, a debut illustrated middle grade novel about a group of defective superhero kids who band together to save one of the greatest superhero teams of all time. Publication is planned for fall 2017; world rights were negotiated by Clelia Gore at Martin Literary & Media Management.
Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown has acquired world rights for the next picture book by author Samantha Berger and illustrator Mike Curato What If…, about the endurance, power, and resilience of the creative spirit. Publication is set for spring 2018; Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates brokered the deal for both the author and illustrator.
Paula Wiseman at S&S/Paula Wiseman Books has bought world rights to Alyssa Satin Capucilli's In the Busy, Busy Harbor, the story of a busy harbor as seen by the littlest tugboat. Dave Mottram is on board to illustrate. The book will pub in spring 2018; Liza Voges of Eden Street represented the author and Anne Armstrong from Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Arthur Levine of Scholastic's Arthur A. Levine Books has acquired world rights to Cheerful Chicken by Martha Brockenbrough, to be illustrated by Brian Won. The story introduces a super-enthusiastic chicken who dreams of leading a barnyard cheerleading team. The other animals may not share her perky positivity, but a squad of enthusiastic fluffy friends has her back. Publication is scheduled for 2019; Sarah Davies of Greenhouse Literary represented the author and Rubin Pfeffer of Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the illustrator.
Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick has bought world rights to Susan Hood's Double Take: A New Look at Opposites, to be illustrated by Jay Fleck. The rhyming picture book goes beyond opposites to explore relative relationships, yin and yang, and points of view. It's set to publish in spring 2017; Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the author and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow has acquired author-illustrator Fiona Woodcock's Look, a picture book exploring a child's day using 32 words that include a double “o,” and another picture book, still untitled. Publication for Look is planned for summer 2018; Alli Brydon from Bright USA did the deal for world rights.
Christina Pulles at Sterling has bought Wolf Camp author-illustrator Andrea Zuill's Dance Is for Everyone, a picture book in which a ballet class must figure out how to accommodate its newest student – an alligator. Publication is slated for spring 2017; Erzsi Deàk at Hen & ink Literary Studio brokered the deal for world rights.
