Claudia Gabel at HC's Katherine Tegen Books has bought When We Set the Dark on Fire, a debut novel by Tehlor Kay Mejia set at the Medio School for Girls, where young women are trained to become one of two wives assigned to high society men. With revolution brewing in the streets, star student Dani Vargas fights to protect a destructive secret, sending her into the arms of the most dangerous person possible – the second wife of her husband-to-be. It's slated for winter 2019; Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret sold world English rights.
Sarah Landis at HMH has acquired Megan Shepherd's new modern gothic YA fantasy, Grim Lovelies, at auction, the first in a duology. In contemporary Paris, a society of magic handlers called the Haute control everything from what jewelry catches our eye to where wars are fought, but this centuries-old system is about to be turned upside down – not by one of the city's powerful witches, but by a witch's enchanted teen maid. Publication will begin in 2018; Josh Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Ari Yarwood at Oni Press has bought world rights to the YA graphic novel Pizza Run, written by Erin Cabelly (l.) and Eugene Levistky, and illustrated by Nicole Rodriguez. For Kiersten, a pizza delivery girl, the mad science experiments, interdimensional invaders, alien goddesses, and cultish PTA parents of her town are just an everyday reality. But when new girl Naomi stumbles into her life, Kiersten realizes that just because she's used to the horrors of her hometown, that doesn't make it a safe place to live. It will take all the girls' cunning, determination, and teamwork to get safely back home – and get all the pizzas delivered on time. Publication is planned for 2019; the authors were unagented.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook Press has acquired Thundercluck! And the Kitchen of Destiny, a debut illustrated middle-grade fantasy novel by Paul Tillery and Meg Wittwer, in a two-book deal. When an egg is accidentally struck by the power of Thor, it hatches a lightning-wielding super chicken that must defeat an evil culinary villain with an appetite for poultry. The first book is set for fall 2018; Melissa Nasson at Rubin Pfeffer Content brokered the deal for world rights.
Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion has bought a board book, Ellie in Color, and a picture book, Ellie's New Friend, by Pixar animator Mike Wu. Both titles feature Wu's signature painting elephant. Ellie in Color teaches the youngest readers about color as Ellie paints her way toward a masterpiece, while in Ellie's New Friend, a talented baby panda who can paint just like Ellie moves to the zoo, and jealousy from Ellie grows into a friendship between two artists. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018 and summer 2019 respectively; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr. / Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Lee Wade at Random House's Schwartz & Wade Books has acquired I Walk with Natasha by Karescoët, a wordless picture book about a neighborhood of children that comes to the defense of a girl who is bullied. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions sold world rights.
Ken Geist at Scholastic has bought world rights to Tammi Sauer's picture book Knock, Knock in a preempt. In the story, Bear is getting ready to settle down for winter hibernation, and keeps getting interrupted by more and more friends at his door, until at last he manages to turn the tables on them. Guy Francis will illustrate; publication is slated for 2018. Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented Sauer and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented Francis.
Josalyn Moran at Quarto's Seagrass Press has acquired world rights to Seagrass Dreams, written by Kathleen A. Hanes (l.) and illustrated by Chloe Bonfield. The book is the lead title in Seagrass Press's launch season; it's a counting book and introduction to marine life that stars animals that make their home in seagrass. Publication is set for May 2017; the author was unagented, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented the artist.
Orli Zuravicky at Scholastic has bought world rights to Good Night, Little Monsters, a picture book by Kara LaReau, where wee creepy creatures are put to bed by their famously monstrous parents, to be illustrated by Brian Won. It is scheduled for fall 2018; Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary represented the author and Rubin Pfeffer of Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the artist.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook has acquired the nonfiction picture book Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet, by Curtis Manley and illustrated by Jessica Lanan, a description of the search for an Earth-like planet across the vast reaches of space. Publication is slated for winter 2019; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author and Edward Maxwell of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the artist.
Diane Muldrow at Golden Books has bought How to Be a Princess by Sue Fliess (l.), illustrated by Natalie Smillie, about a girl who learns what it takes to be a royal from a real princess. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Jennifer Unter of the Unter Agency represented the author and James Burns at Bright USA represented the artist.
Jessica Echeverria at Lee & Low has acquired world rights to The Turtle Ship by debut author Helena Ku Rhee (l.), illustrated by debut illustrator Colleen Kong-Savage. It's a picture book about a boy named Sunsin who, inspired by his pet turtle, designs one of the greatest battleships in history and fulfills his dream of sailing the world. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; the author is unagented and Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis represented the illustrator.
Fiona Simpson of Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to Eve Porinchak's One Cut, a YA nonfiction book that is one of two inaugural titles in a new line of nonfiction crime books for teens from Simon Pulse, called Simon True. In the book, after a backyard fistfight ends in an accidental death, four teenage friends are tried for murder, convicted, and sent to prison for life. Publication is scheduled for May 2017; Porinchak, an agent with the Jill Corcoran Literary Agency, represented herself.
Janine O'Malley at FSG has bought Kim Savage's third psychological thriller, In Her Skin, the story of a teen con artist who insinuates herself into a wealthy Boston family by impersonating a girl who went missing from their home seven years earlier, unaware the family has a dark secret of its own. Publication is planned for February 2018; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties brokered the deal for North American rights.
Alison Weiss at Sky Pony Press has acquired Jennifer Sommersby's YA novel Sleight, about a teenage girl growing up in a traveling circus, and the turn her life takes after her aerialist mother falls (intentionally?) to her death, revealing a dangerous and magical legacy hidden within the circus family. Publication is set for spring 2018; Daniel Lazar at Writers House sold North American rights.
Emilia Rhodes at HarperCollins has bought North American rights to Gone to Drift by Diana McCaulay. This middle grade novel set in Jamaica follows a boy's search for his missing grandfather and the illegal dolphin trade he uncovers in the process. Publication is slated for winter 2018; Margot Edwards at Rights Consultancy negotiated the deal on behalf of Papillote Press.
TK at Quarto Children's Publishing has acquired a series of books called The Animal Tales, written by Leanne Lauricella, founder of Goats of Anarchy, a New Jersey sanctuary that rescues special needs baby goats. The series will launch in September 2017, with additional titles in November 2017 and February 2018. Quarto Publishing Group has several other projects in the works with Lauricella, including Goats of Anarchy: One Woman's Quest to Save the World One Goat at a Time, due out this March. The author was unagented.
Tracy Gates at Viking has bought Ariel Bernstein's debut chapter book series, Warren & Dragon, to be illustrated by Mike Malbrough, pitched as a modern-day Calvin and Hobbes-esque friendship story about a dreamy boy and his vain dragon companion, in a two-book deal. The first book, 100 Friends, and a second title are both slated for summer 2018. Mary Cummings at Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises represented the author and Lori Kilkelly at Rodeen Literary Management represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Stephanie Pitts at Schwartz & Wade acquired, and Lee Wade will edit, Tanya Valentine's Make Room for Little Taco Truck, illustrated by Jorge Martin, a picture book about a taco truck looking for his place among the other food trucks in the big city. It's scheduled for summer 2018; Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary Agency represented the author and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Tamar Mays at HarperCollins has bought world rights to Bunny's Book Club author Annie Silvestro's (l.) The Christmas Tree Who Loved Trains, the tale of a train-loving tree who, with the help of a little holiday magic, learns to love much more. Paola Zakimi (Secrets I Know) will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2018. Liza Voges at Eden Street represented the author and Emily Van Beek at Folio Literary Jr./ Folio Literary Management represented the artist.
