Beaming Books Acquires Two Picture Books
Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has bought the picture book Just Like Me by Karen Valentin, illustrated by Richy Sanchez Ayala. The book features a young Latinx girl going through her day talking to God about how they must enjoy the same things because she was created in God’s image. Publication is planned for September 2022. Adrienne Ingrum at Adrienne Ingrum LLC represented the author and Lucie Luddington at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator in a deal for world rights.
Krueger has also bought The Story of Us, a picture book by bestselling author Mitali Perkins (Home Is In Between; Between Us and Abuela; Rickshaw Girl). It portrays the natural elements (air, water, earth, and fire) in relation to the creation, fall, and redemption of humanity and restoration of the earth by God. Husband-and-wife creative team Kevin and Kristen Howdeshell will illustrate. Publication is planned for October 2022. Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and Lisa Pomerantz at Illustration Online LLC represented the illustrators in the world rights deal.
Broadleaf Title Calls on Women to be Fierce
Broadleaf Books acquiring editor Valerie Weaver-Zercher, has bought world rights to Chingona: Owning Your Inner Badass for Healing and Justice in which the author sets out to reclaim and celebrate a derogatory term in Spanish for “badass woman.” Alma Zaragoza-Petty, a Mexicana activist, scholar, and podcaster tells women they can heal the world by healing themselves from historic political and cultural bonds. She was represented by Trinity McFadden of The Bindery.
IVP Signs Millennial Who Defends Orthodoxy
InterVarsity Press has signed Trevin Wax’s next book, tentatively titled The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Reawakening the Wonder of Christianity. Wax, who was named by Christianity Today as one of 33 millennials shaping the next generation of evangelicals, refutes the idea that Christian teaching is narrow and outdated. IVP’s associate editor Ethan McCarthy acquired world rights to the book, which was agented by Wolgemuth & Associates. A fall 2022 publication is planned.
Picture Book Goes to Kregel
Catherine DeVries at Kregel Publications has acquired world rights to God and Me at the Sea by Shelley Kinder, a picture book about a little girl who sings, dances, drums, and twirls as she worships God during a day at the beach, illustrated by Brigid Malloy. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022. Keely Boeving at WordServe Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Hobby Lobby Founder Signs with Baker Books
David Green, CEO and founder of Hobby Lobby, will write a leadership book for Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, tentatively titled Leadership Not By the Book. “David’s faith has led him to break the mold of modern business assumptions time and again,” said executive editor Brian Vos, adding that the book promises an “inside look — mistakes and all.” Release date is tentatively set for October 2022. Tom Dean of A Drop of Ink negotiated world rights in the deal.
Ethicist to Address Faith in Digital Age for B&H
B&H Publishing associate editor Taylor Combs has acquired Jason Thacker’s tentatively titled Following Jesus in the Digital Age. The book is set for release on June 14, 2022. An ethicist and podcast host, Thacker will challenge readers to consider how digital technology shapes their spiritual growth and equip them to navigate it with biblical wisdom, according to the publisher. World rights were negotiated by Eric Wolgemuth of Wolgemuth and Associates.
