Chris Hernandez at HarperCollins has preempted a new series, The Wishmakers, by Tyler Whitesides, about a boy who opens an ordinary jar and gets more than he ever wished for – literally. Now the fate of the world rests on him, his genie, and their unlimited wishes. The first book is due out in winter 2018; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Lauren Smulski at Harlequin Teen has acquired Gregory Scott Katsoulis's debut YA speculative sci-fi novel, All Rights Reserved, and a sequel. The premise: copyright law has spun out of control and one girl swears herself to silence rather than pay a penny to the Rights Holders for the privilege of speaking. The first book is scheduled for fall 2017; Lisa Rodgers at JABberwocky Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Elizabeth Bewley at HMH has bought world rights to Girl Made of Stars, a LGBTQ young adult novel by Suffer Love author Ashley Herring Blake. When her twin brother is accused of date rape, a girl is torn between family allegiances and a quest for the truth. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Rebecca Podos at Rees Literary Agency brokered the deal.
Christian Trimmer at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to Daniel Kraus's next YA novel, Bent Heavens. It follows a teenager whose father may or may not have been abducted by aliens. Against all odds, the teen and her friend discover and capture an alien, a creature clutching something belonging to her missing father. They could turn the alien over to authorities… but choose a darker path. The novel is slated for fall 2018; Richard Abate at 3 Arts Entertainment negotiated the deal.
Annette Pollert-Morgan at Sourcebooks has bought Catherine Alene's debut YA novel in verse, The Sky Between You and Me, about a teen who will do whatever it takes to win rodeo nationals to honor her deceased mother, even if it means starving herself of friends, family… and food. The author wrote this story when in recovery for her own eating disorder; publication is planned for February 2017 in anticipation of National Eating Disorder Awareness Month. Sara Sciuto at Fuse Literary did the deal for world rights.
Victoria Rock at Chronicle has acquired world rights to Big Bunny! by Rowboat Watkins, author-illustrator of Rude Cakes, a picture book about a bedtime story that hops between two offstage narrators with competing visions for making it scary. Publication is set for spring 2018; Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal.
Kelly Delaney at Knopf has bought Vanessa Brantley-Newton's picture book Grandma's Purse, featuring a girl who is enthralled with her grandmother and all the wonders she might be hiding in her bag. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words negotiated the deal for world rights.
Lisa Yoskowitz at Little, Brown has preempted New Press editorial director Marc Favreau's Crash: The Fall and Rise of America in the 1930s, an exploration of one of the most turbulent periods in American history told through accounts of the Great Depression's pivotal moments and figures across ethnic, gender, racial, social, and geographic lines. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon McIntyre negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Alex Arnold at HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books has acquired Mia Garcia's second novel, The Year of Everything. The book follows four friends who assign each other New Year's resolutions to try to change the course of their disastrous lives. It will publish in winter 2018; Kerry Sparks at Levine Greenberg Rostan brokered the deal for world rights.
Andrea Spooner and Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown have bought David McPhail's Baby Bear's Book of Tiny Tales, four short stories of friendship and discovery in the spirit of Sendak's Little Bear and Lobel's Frog and Toad, for beginning readers. Publication is set for winter 2018; Faith Hamlin at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates did the deal for world rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion has acquired world rights to Snappsy the Alligator author Julie Falatko's (l.) The Great Indoors, to be illustrated by Ruth Chan, author-illustrator ofWhere's the Party? When a human family goes camping every year, woodland creatures move into their house for a week of relaxing in the great indoors, where they enjoy dance parties, the wonders of refrigeration, and good cell phone reception. Publication is slated for 2019; Danielle Smith of Red Fox Literary represented the author and Rebecca Sherman of Writers House represented the illustrator.
Maria Modugno at Random House has bought world rights to Ninja Baby author David Zeltser's (l.) The Lions' Tale, about a boy's magical midnight adventure with a special companion, which helps him see the world in a different way. Raúl Colón will illustrate. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author and Gail Morgan at Morgan Gaynin Agency represented the illustrator.
Emma Ledbetter at Atheneum has acquired world English rights to a picture book, The Doll Hospital, written by Kallie George (l.) and illustrated by Sara Gillingham. Every child knows with grave certainty that their best-loved stuffed animals and dolls experience heartbreak, difficulty, and sometimes even aches and pains. Enter Dr. Pegs, the perfect doll to administer to the specific needs of each patient. Publication is scheduled for summer 2018; Emily van Beek of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management represented the author, and Amy Rennert at the Amy Rennert Agency represented the illustrator.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has bought world rights for Barry Wittenstein's (l.) The Boo-Boos That Changed the World: A True Story About an Accidental Invention (Really!), a humorous take on the story of how Earle Dickson invented the Band-Aid. This is illustrator Chris Hsu's debut picture book. Publication is set for spring 2018; the author and illustrator represented themselves.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin's Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired Vanessa Brantley Newton's Jewel, a picture book about a girl who worries that she'll never be as talented as her sisters, until she discovers her remarkable talent for spelling. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words sold world rights.
Kelly Loughman at Holiday House has bought world rights to Julie Gonzalez's (l.) Could a Bear Sleep Here? It tells the story of a tired bear who discovers the perfect solution to his noise problem and can finally settle down to hibernate after a series of comical mishaps. Stephanie Laberiswill illustrate. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; the author represented herself and Anne Moore Armstrong of Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Maggie Lehrman at Abrams/Amulet Books has pre-empted world rights to co-authors and fellow VCFA grads Cordelia Jensen (r.) and Laurie Morrison's middle grade debut,Every Shiny Thing. In it, two seventh graders – Lauren, who comes from an affluent family, and her new neighbor Sierra, who is in foster care – team up to enact a Robin Hood scheme to right some societal wrongs, and learn lessons about justice, friendship, and family in the process. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger brokered the deal.
