Stacy Whitman of Tu Books has acquired world rights for YA graphic novel I Am Alfonso Jones, written by Tony Medina (l.) and illustrated by John Jennings (center), illustrator of the graphic novel adaptation of Octavia Butler's Kindred, and Stacey Robinson. In the story, teenager Alfonso Jones is thrust into the afterlife where he watches his family fight to gain justice after he is killed by an off-duty police officer. Publication is slated for fall 2017; the author and illustrators were unagented.
Dana Leydig at Puffin has bought Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley's Upstaged, pitched as a modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet, about a teen girl who always winds up playing the Rosaline in her off-stage relationships – the girl before he finds “the one” – but when cast as Juliet in her school play, she begins to notice the Romeo she never expected. Publication is scheduled for summer 2018; Katie Shea Boutillier of Donald Maass Literary Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Kendra Levin at Viking has signed Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle author Janet Fox's second middle-grade novel, The Last True Knight. Edwina, living in Elizabethan England, sets out to find her kidnapped older brother and avenge her father's murder while disguised as a boy, accompanied by an aging knight whose magical stories not only presage the obstacles they face but hint at larger mysteries. Publication is set for fall 2018; Erin Murphy of Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Russ Busse at Little, Brown has acquired Mark Tatulli's Short and Skinny, at auction, pitched as Smile for boys. It recounts the author's summer after seventh grade, when he was determined to bulk up, stop getting pushed around, and impress a girl; and when he discovered the joys of Star Wars. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Daniel Lazar at Writers House negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights.
Stacey Barney at Putnam has bought North American rights to Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth by Sheila O'Connor. In the summer of 1968, 11-year-old Reenie struggles to save her beloved older brother from the Vietnam War by way of an unlikely penpal friendship with a mysterious neighbor. It's set for publication in spring 2018; Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal.
Tara Walker and Samantha Swenson at Tundra Books have acquired Ashlyn Anstee's (Are We There, Yeti?) next picture book, Hedgehog, about a hedgehog who hogs the hedge he lives in. He won't let anyone else move in even though the garden is overcrowded with animals searching for a home for the coming winter. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency sold North American English rights.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook has bought puppeteer and author-illustrator Cindy Derby's debut picture book How to Walk an Ant, a whimsical "how to" guide for aspiring bug-walkers. Publication will be in winter 2019; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Tamar Brazis at Abrams has acquired debut author Galia Bernstein's I Am a Cat, a picture book about the many characteristics that cats share, whether they are big or small. Publication is slated for fall 2017; Anne Moore Armstrong of Bright USA brokered the deal for world rights.
Julie Bliven at Charlesbridge has bought The Secret Society, a picture book by Yevgenia Nayberg loosely based on her own life as a left-handed immigrant child and her imaginary “secret society.” Publication is planned for September 2018; Anna Olswanger of Olswanger Literary sold world rights.
Jenna Pocius at Little Bee has acquired author-illustrator Barbara Dilorenzo's picture book Quincy, about a chameleon who can't seem to blend in. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kate O'Sullivan at HMH has bought world rights for There's Something About Sam written by Hannah Barnaby (l.), illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. Despite Max's initial hesitation to invite the new kid, Sam, to his sleepover party, he soon discovers that what makes us different makes us special, and new friends can come in all shapes, sizes, and species. Publication is set for spring 2019; Linda Pratt at Warnick & Pratt represented the author and Judy Sue Goodwin Sturges at Studio Goodwin Sturges represented the illustrator.
Joy Peskin at Farrar, Straus & Giroux has acquired Susan Verde's picture book, tentatively titled Alternative Energy, a celebration of a child's boundless energy. It will be illustrated by Andrew Joyner, and is slated for 2019. Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the artist in the deal for world rights.
Susan Van Metre at Abrams has bought world English rights to Mama's Work Shoes by Caron Levis (l.; Ida, Always), a picture book about a girl struggling with her mother's return to the work force, who finds comfort in the sound of Mama's shoes bringing her back home. Vanessa Brantley-Newton (The Youngest Marcher) will illustrate, for spring 2019 publication. Emily Mitchell of Wernick & Pratt Agency represented the author and Lori Nowicki of Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Rebecca Davis at Boyds Mills Press has acquired North American rights to What If…? Then We… by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, to be illustrated by Fred Koehler, creators of One Day, The End. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Elizabeth Harding represented the author and Tracey Adams represented the artist.
Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to Whitney Stewart's (l.) Mindful Me, which explains mindfulness to middle-graders, and provides exercises, meditations, and writing prompts to help kids handle difficult emotions and personal challenges. Stacy Peterson will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2017. Erzsi Deàk at Hen&ink Literary Studio represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Callie Metler-Smith of Clear Fork imprint Spork has acquired world English rights to debut author Kelly Johnstone's (l.) picture book, My Bigger Than an Elephant Secret, illustrated by Carina Povarchik. In this story, the narrator and reader explore together just how many sacrifices can be made to hear a secret so big that it's bigger than an elephant. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Essie White of Storm Literary Agency represented the author and the illustrator.
Andrea Davis Pinkney at Scholastic has acquired world rights to an activism book by Marley Dias, the 12-year-old social activist behind #1000BlackGirlBooks, a movement to collect and donate children's books that feature black girls as the lead character. In the book, Marley will explain how she has turned her passion into a literacy crusade that has captured international attention, and will show kids how to make their own dreams come true. Scholastic Press will publish in spring 2018; Charlotte Sheedy of Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency brokered the deal.
David Gale at Simon & Schuster has bought Jonathan Maberry's Rot & Ruin: Broken Lands, which will push reset on his YA series Rot & Ruin, about teenagers surviving the zombie apocalypse. In Broken Lands and its sequel, Lost Roads, Maberry introduces a new cast of characters and puts a new spin on the walking dead by exploring bizarre mutations, new human threats, and a nightmare landscape of nature gone wild and weird. The books are scheduled for summer 2018 and 2019; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties did the deal for world rights.
Emilia Rhodes at HarperTeen has acquired a YA novel, The Black Coats by Colleen Oakes, author of the Queen of Hearts trilogy, about a teen who joins a vigilante group seeking justice for violence against women. Publication is planned for winter 2019; Jennifer Unter of the Unter Agency sold world English rights.
Jennifer Ung at Simon Pulse has bought Juleah del Rosario's debut YA novel-in-verse, 500 Words or Less. The story follows a high school senior who attempts to salvage her reputation by writing her Ivy League-obsessed classmates' college admissions essays, while she struggles with a moral compass that no longer points north. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Brent Taylor at the TriadaUS Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Stacy Whitman of Tu Books has acquired world rights for Clockwork Curandera, a YA steampunk graphic novel reimagining of Frankenstein set in an alternate colonial Mexico, by Pura Belpré Honor recipient David Bowles and illustrated by Pura Belpré winner Raúl the Third. Publication is set for fall 2019; the author was unagented, and Jennifer Laughran of Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Brett Wright of Bloomsbury has bought world rights for two books in a new middle-grade series from E.D. Baker as well as book seven in the Wide Awake Princess series and book four in the Magic Animal Rescue series. In the new series, entitled More Than a Princess, a half-fairy princess proves that her talents have nothing to do with her size or looks, as she cleverly saves her kingdom from invasion. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Victoria Wells Arms of Wells Arms Literary negotiated the deal.
Christina Pulles of Sterling Children's Books has acquired three books by Kim Harrington in a Gamer Squad middle grade series, billed as Pokémon GO meets The Goonies. Harrington is the author of the YA novel Forget Me as well as the middle-grade series Sleuth or Dare. The first in the new series, Attack of the Not-So-Virtual Monsters, will publish this August; Kate Testerman of KT Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Namrata Tripathi at Dial has bought world English rights to Ann Dee Ellis's second middle grade novel, The Wild Place. The story follows 12-year-old Cass, who after reconnecting with her maternal grandmother discovers she is a descendant of Etta Place, mistress of the Sundance Kid, and finds herself on a journey to unearth long-lost outlaw treasure. Publication is set for spring 2019; John M. Cusick of Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management brokered the deal.
Neal Porter at Roaring Brook imprint Neal Porter Books has won at auction two nonfiction picture books by author-illustrator Chris Gall. The first, tentatively titled Take Me to the Moon, explores the “how” of how we got to the moon as seen through the eyes of a model-making boy, based on the author at that age. The book will publish in winter 2019, leading up to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kathy Landwehr at Peachtree has acquired U.S. rights to Rapunzel, a new picture book by Bethan Woollvin, author of Little Red, winner of a 2016 New York Times Best Illustrated prize. The book reimagines the classic fairytale in Woollvin's irreverent style. It will be published in October 2017; Bell Lomax Moreton brokered the deal.
Kelsey Skea at Amazon/Two Lions has bought Nanny Paws, a picture book by Wendy Wahman, author-illustrator of Don't Lick the Dog. It tells the story of a canine nanny and the two little girls she cares for. Publication is planned for spring 2018; John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the deal for world rights.
Barb McNally and Heather Hughes at Sleeping Bear Press have acquired world rights to three untitled board books by Chick 'n' Pug author Jennifer Sattler, as the launch of the Jennifer Sattler brand that Sleeping Bear is creating. Publication for the first book is fall 2018; Anna Olswanger of Olswanger Literary represented the author-illustrator.
Jen Besser at Putnam has bought North American rights to a second collaboration by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld, the team behind Stick & Stone, Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish, a tribute to one of the most cherished birthday traditions. Publication is tentatively slated for spring 2019; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented the author and by Amy Rennert at the Amy Rennert Agency represented the illustrator.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan's Christy Ottaviano Books has acquired world rights to Counting on Katherine: The Story of How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13, a picture book biography of mathematical genius Katherine Johnson written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk. The book is scheduled for 2018; Susan Schulman at Susan Schulman Literary Agency represented the author and Deborah Warren at East West Literary represented the illustrator.
Grace Kendall at FSG has bought world rights to Newbery Honor author Cynthia Lord's Borrowing Bunnies, a nonfiction picture book with photography by her husband John Bald, about their experience fostering two rabbits that were full of surprises. Publication is set for winter 2019; Tracey Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for both author and photographer.
