Anne Heltzel at Amulet has acquired comedian and YouTube personality Steve Hofstetter's True Stories of a High School Dork, a series of humorous essays based on the author's own tragicomic high school years. Publication is planned for spring 2018; Jane Dystel at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret handled the deal for world rights.
Wesley Adams at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has bought at auction world English rights to Jeff Vandermeer's debut YA novel, Jonathan Lambshead and the Golden Sphere, and the next two books in the planned Adventures of Jonathan Lambshead trilogy. In the story, a boy inherits his grandfather's mansion, uncovering three strange doors, providing evidence that his grandfather did not die of natural causes, as well as clues to the family's ties to an alternate Europe immersed in a war fought with WW1 technology and dark magic. A pub date has not been set; Sally Harding at the Cooke Agency negotiated the three-book deal.
Benjamin Rosenthal at HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books has acquired Heretics Anonymous, a debut contemporary YA novel by Katie Henry. Pitched as The Breakfast Club meets Saved!, it's the story of an atheist teen who learns a lot about faith after joining an unlikely group of rebels at his new Catholic school. Publication is scheduled for summer 2018; Sarah LaPolla at Bradford Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Ali Fisher at Tor Teen has bought Django Wexler's YA debut Deepwalker, a fantasy adventure in which a teenage girl secretly trained in the art of combat magic is blackmailed into stealing a legendary ghost ship. The first book is expected in winter 2019; Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company negotiated the three-book deal for North American rights.
Rhea Lyons at Rodale Books has struck a world rights deal with the media and education group Story Pirates for two books. The first one, The Story Pirates Present: Stuck in the Stone Age by Geoff Rodkey, tells of a pair of modern-day scientists who are transported back to prehistoric times, where they have to use their wits to face down a myriad of B.C.-era hazards. The book is based on an idea from a sixth grader in Tennessee. Publication is slated for March 2018; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management represented Story Pirates, and Josh Getzler at Hannigan Salky Getzler represented Rodkey.
Kelly Loughman at Holiday House has acquired The Bottle Imp of Bright House, a middle grade novel by Tom Llewellyn about a 13-year-old who finds an old bottle with an imp inside who can grant him wishes. But unlike the genie-in-a-lamp story, for everything the wisher gains, someone, somewhere loses something. The novel is loosely based on one of Robert Louis Stevenson's final stories. Publication is set for fall 2018; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary brokered the deal for North American and Chinese rights.
Rosemary Brosnan at HarperCollins has bought at auction a debut middle grade novel by Coretta Scott King Award winner Pat Cummings, called Trace. When 13-year-old Trace stumbles into a ghost story born in the turmoil of New York City's 1863 Draft Riots, he finds that the past is more fluid, and more forgiving, than he knew. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Marietta Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Heidi Kilgras at Random House has acquired author Diana Murray's (l.) Pizza Pig, an early reader to be illustrated by Maria Karipidou, in which Pig makes every pizza "just right," until a shy turtle comes into his shop and he can't figure out what she wants. Publication is projected for spring 2018; Brianne Johnson at Writers House represented the author, and James Burns at Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Justin Chanda at Simon & Schuster has bought two picture books to be illustrated by Jessie Sima, author of Not Quite Narwhal. The first is Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies, written by Christian Trimmer— a retelling of the classic Snow White story, but with more humor and many more ponies. Publication is set for summer 2018. The second is a picture book written by Sima, about an adventurous young robot who doesn't seem to fit in until encountering an equally adventurous girl. The book is due out in fall 2018. Thao Le of Sandra Dijkstra & Associates Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has acquired world rights for Captain Bling's Christmas Plunder, written by Rebecca Colby and illustrated by Rob McClurkan. Captain Bling and his merry crew want nothing more than to steal treasure, but when a storm strands them at the North Pole, they meet Santa and devise a plan to get on his "Nice List." Publication is scheduled for fall 2017; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear has acquired Marsha Diane Arnold's (l.) May I Come in?, a picture book that celebrates inclusion. It tells the tale of Raccoon, who needs a safe place to stay on a stormy night. Jennie Poh will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2018. Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world Rights on behalf of Arnold, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented Poh.
Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to Los Angeles, written by Elisa Parhad and illustrated by Alexander Vidal, a board book featuring the sights and delights of Los Angeles in simple rhyme. Publication is set for spring 2018; both the author and illustrator were unagented.
Grace Maccarone at Holiday House has bought debut author-illustrator Yuko Katakawa's untitled picture book, in which Mouse and her animal friends try to scare the largest animal in the forest—only to be tricked in the end. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency handled the deal for world rights.
Louise May at Lee & Low Books has acquired world rights to Todos Iquales/All Equal, written and illustrated by Christy Hale. This bilingual book pairs a traditional Mexican corrido (ballad) with a narrative that presents the true story of the 1931 Lemon Grove Incident, the first successful school desegregation court case in the United States. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal.
Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte has acquired, and Kelsey Horton will edit, Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella's debut chapter book series. The first book, Fairy Mom and Me, follows Ella and her mother, who is secretly a fairy. But when her mother's spells go wrong, Ella must assist to return everything to normal. Marta Kissi will illustrate; publication is planned for January 2018, with a simultaneous release in the U.K. and Canada. Kim Witherspoon at Inkwell Management in association with Araminta Whitley and Philippa Milnes-Smith at Lucas Alexander Whitley Ltd. negotiated the deal for U.S. and open market rights.
Jessica Almon at Razorbill has bought actor and comedy writer Matt Boren's YA debut, Folded Notes from High School, an epistolary novel set in the early '90s, about a status-obsessed senior who unexpectedly falls for a freshman because of his Danny Zuko audition for their high school's production of Grease. The book will be published in spring 2018; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties brokered the world rights deal.
Martha Mihalick at Greenwillow has acquired Emma Berquist's debut YA alternative history of the West, Devils Unto Dust, the story of a girl who overcomes incredible obstacles and a deadly virus that has infected thousands, for the survival of her family, and maybe the world. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Heather Flaherty at the Bent Agency did the two-book deal for world English rights.
Nicole Frail at Sky Pony Press has bought a second YA novel by Natasha Sinel, Soulstruck, about a teenage girl trying to navigate relationships—with her best friend, her family, and with boys. The book is slated for spring 2018; Linda Epstein at Emerald City Literary Agency handled the deal for world English rights.
Toni Markiet and Alyson Day of HarperCollins have acquired world rights to a middle-grade series called Mean Queens by Newbery Honor author Kathryn Lasky, in a three-book deal. The books tell the story of an orphaned 12-year-old girl who finds herself traveling between present-day middle school and the court of two English princesses, Elizabeth and Mary, both daughters of King Henry VIII. Publication of the first book is set for March 2019; Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the deal.
Laura Schreiber at Disney-Hyperion has bought debut author Leslie C. Youngblood's middle-grade novel Love Like Sky, as well as a sequel. Love Like Sky follows Georgie as she tries to find her place in her “blended-up” family, with both her parents remarried and a new teenage stepsister she'll do anything to win over. When a devastating illness strikes her stepsister, Georgie will do whatever it takes to make her better and bring her family together. Publication of the first book is scheduled for fall 2018; John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the deal for world rights.
Kathy Landwehr at Peachtree has acquired world rights for Jennifer Swanson's Save the Crash Test Dummies, an illustrated middle grade book that covers the history, science, and engineering of car production and safety. Publication is slated for spring 2019; Clelia Gore of Martin Literary Management did the deal.
Michelle Frey at Knopf has bought Kimberly Newton Fusco's Chasing Augustus, a story about Rosie, a girl who will stop at nothing to find her lost dog, no matter where the trail leads. Publication is planned for fall 2017; Elizabeth Harding at Curtis Brown negotiated the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights.
Allison Moore at Little, Brown has acquired Instagram sensation Soosh's debut picture book Dad by My Side, a celebration of the relationship between a father and young daughter depicted through the artist's watercolor illustrations, a series of which has gone viral on social media. Publication is set for spring 2018; Gary Brown at Koru, Inc. brokered the deal for world rights.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan's Christy Ottaviano Books has bought world rights to B Is for Brooklyn creator Selina Alko's School to Ten and Back Down Again, a counting, rhyming picture book starring a diverse classroom of learners moving through a day at school. The book is scheduled for 2020; Marietta Zacker at Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Amy Novesky at Cameron Kids has acquired world rights to Chickens on the Run!, a picture book written and illustrated by Nikki McClure, about four chickens who flee the coop, roam the world, and return home just in time to roost. Publication is set for spring 2018; Steven Malk at Writers House did the deal.
Jennifer Besser at Putnam has bought author-illustrator Deborah Marcero's picture book In a Jar, about a young bunny named Llewellyn, a collector of things big, small, and even the intangible, who embarks on a journey of magical realism and friendship. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Danielle Smith at Lupine Grove Creative brokered the deal for world rights.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin's Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired world rights to Señorita Mariposa, a debut picture book celebrating butterfly migration as witnessed by American and Mexican children, written by Latin Grammy Award-winning children's musician Mister G (Ben Gundersheimer) (l.), to be illustrated by Mexican artist Marcos Almada Rivero. Publication is slated for 2018; Zoe Sandler at ICM represented the author in the two-book deal; the illustrator was unagented.
Carol Hinz at Millbrook Press has acquired world rights to The Octopus Postcards by Irene Latham (l.), illustrated by Thea Baker, presenting the octopus life cycle through a series of postcards exchanged by various creatures, including a boy, a crab, and another octopus. The book is scheduled for fall 2018; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author and Susan Beveridge at Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Marissa Moss at Creston Books has bought world rights to Nancy Churnin's Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing, to be illustrated by James Rey Sanchez. The nonfiction picture book tells the story of the boy who grew up to become the prolific songwriter who wrote “God Bless America” and gave every penny the song earned to the children of the land that he loved. Publication is planned for spring 2018, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the year Berlin wrote the song. Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary represented the author; the illustrator was unagented.
