Kelsy Thompson at Flux has acquired Maria Ingrande Mora's debut LGBTQ+ YA fantasy novel, Fragile Remedy, pitched as The Walled Citymeets Never Let Me Go. A teen raised as donor tissue for the wealthy and now in hiding finds himself forced to choose between joining a nefarious organization with the means to prolong his life, or staying—and dying—with the boy he loves. Publication is planned for summer 2020; Erica Bauman at Aevitas Creative Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jordan Brown at HarperCollins/Walden Pond has bought Elana K. Arnold's new middle grade novel, The House That Wasn't There, a gently magical exploration of the spaces between people and the mysterious interconnections that bind them—with feline teleportation, school research projects, and a taxidermied opossum named Mort. Publication is slated for winter 2021; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content brokered the deal for world English rights.
Matt Ringler at Scholastic has acquired Daka Hermon's middle grade debut, Hide and Seeker, a horror novel about a group of neighborhood kids hunted by the mysterious "Seeker"—a creature who uses the game of hide and seek for evil purposes. Publication is scheduled for 2020; Emily Keyes at Fuse Literary did the deal for world rights.
Calista Brill at First Second has bought world rights to The Great Chicago Fireand Roanoke Colony Mystery, the first two titles in the History Comics series. (From l.) Alex Graudins, Kate Hannigan (The Great Chicago Fire) and Chris Schweizer (Roanoke Colony Mystery) will release their middle grade graphic novels about key events in history, starting with these two enthralling stories from American history. Publication is set for 2020. Charlie Olsen at Inkwell Management represented Schweizer; Graudins and Hannigan were unagented.
Donald Lemke at Capstone has acquired world rights to Billy Johnson and His Duck Are Explorers, Vol. 1, by cartoonist Mathew New. This debut graphic novel for kids follows the young wannabe adventurer Billy Johnson and his talking duck, Barrace, on globe-trotting archaeological adventures in an attempt to become members of the Explorers' League. Publication is planned for fall 2020; the creator was unagented.
Lucia Monfried at Dial has bought Bob McMahon's author-illustrator debut in a two-book deal. The early reader graphic novel series, Broccoli and Cookie, explores different—and funny—aspects of friendship, and how even an outgoing cookie can sometimes feel shy and crummy. The first book, Broccoli & Cookie: New Weird Friends, is slated for fall 2020; Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has bought, in a six-house auction, Tracy Subisak's author-illustrator debut, Jenny Mei Is Sad, about being a friend to someone dealing with grief, told from the perspective of Jenny Mei's best friend. Publication is set for spring 2021; Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world rights.
Ken Wright at Philomel has acquired Oliver Jeffers's The Fate of Fausto: A Painted Fable, a tale about a man named Fausto who acts upon his self-proclaimed domination of all he can see. This is Jeffers's first picture book since his bestselling Here We Are. Publication is scheduled for September 2019; Carla Alonzi at HarperCollins UK did the deal for North American rights.
Caitlyn Dlouhy has acquired world rights for her eponymous imprint at Atheneum to Old Pearl, a picture book by Nanny Paws author-illustrator Wendy Wahman. The book tells the story of a boy who helps nurse an older bird back to health with the help of his grandmother; publication is slated for fall 2021. John Rudolph at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret handled the deal.
Nikki Garcia at Little, Brown has bought Don't Touch My Hair author Sharee Miller's new picture book Michelle's Garden, about how former First Lady Michelle Obama started a vegetable garden at the White House and led an effort to inspire America to get healthy. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Monica Odom at Liza Dawson Associates negotiated the deal for world rights.
Christian Trimmer at Holt has acquired world rights to Mayor Pete: The Story of Pete Buttigieg, a picture book biography by Rob Sanders (l.), with art by Levi Hastings. The story follows the South Bend, Ind., mayor throughout his life, all the way up to his announcement that he is running for President. Publication is set for spring 2020; Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Charlie Olsen at Inkwell Management represented the illustrator.
Alyson Day at HarperCollins has bought world rights to She Caught the Light: The Story of Williamina Fleming, a picture book biography written by Newbery Honor author Kathryn Lasky (l.), illustrated by Julianna Swaney. The book tells the story of astronomer Williamina Fleming, who immigrated to the U.S. as a housemaid and went on to become a pioneer in her field and the first woman to hold an official title at Harvard University. The pub date is slated for January 2021; Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the artist.
Rosemary Brosnan at HarperCollins has acquired, at auction, executive editor Andrew Eliopulos's YA debut, The Fascinators, pitched as The Raven Boys meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, about an openly gay high school senior in small-town Georgia. He may or may not be in love with his best friend, and his hopes for his last year of school are thrown off course when old secrets, new crushes, and a brush with dark magic threaten his close-knit group of friends. The book will be published in summer 2020; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Krestyna Lypen at Algonquin Young Readers has bought NBA longlisted author Samantha Mabry's new YA novel, Tigers, Not Daughters, loosely inspired by the story of King Lear and his daughters. Set in San Antonio, Tex., the novel follows the three Torres sisters, who are struggling to escape their tyrannical father's claustrophobic world while dealing with the loss of their eldest sister; her troubling death continues to haunt—perhaps even literally—the loved ones left behind. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Claire Anderson-Wheeler at Regal Hoffmann and Associates did the two-book deal for North American rights.
Maggie Rosenthal at Viking has acquired Kristin Lambert's YA historical novel The Boy in the Red Dress. When her drag queen best friend is accused of murdering a young socialite, a Jazz Age misfit must use her sharp wits and sharper tongue to search for the real killer through the seedy speakeasies and glittering debutante balls of 1930 New Orleans. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more secrets she uncovers. The novel is slated for summer 2020; Victoria Marini at the Irene Goodman Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Eliza Swift at Sourcebooks Fire has bought Chelsea Ichaso's debut YA thriller Little Creeping Things. Cassidy accidentally started a deadly fire as a child, and has been bullied mercilessly about it since. But when her primary bully is murdered, Cassidy must find the killer before she gets blamed for yet another death, and in the process, she unravels the unsettling truth about what really happened in that fire. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Kristy Hunter at the Knight Agency negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Charlotte Greenbaum at Abrams has acquired, at auction, world rights to Linette Moore's debut middle grade graphic novel, The Prisoner of Shiverstone, plus an additional graphic novel. In The Prisoner of Shiverstone, 11-year-old Helga Sharp shipwrecks herself on Utley Island in hopes of freeing her great-great-grandfather, the infamous Erasmus Lope, who was exiled to the mad scientist prison colony long ago. But no one knows her mission, or even that Erasmus is still there. Publication is set for 2021; Kate McKean at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency handled the deal.
Karen Nagel at Aladdin has bought, in a two-book deal, author-illustrator Lisa Thiesing's picture book A Friend Is…, a look at the joys of friendship. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Christy Cox at Little Bigfoot has acquired world rights to Ollie Feels by author-illustrator Toni Yuly, a board book in which Ollie the octopus handles an emotional day with the help of his friend Stella the starfish. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Lori Kilkelly at LK Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Kelsey Skea at Amazon/Two Lions has bought world rights to Ged Adamson's Bird Hugs, a picture book about a bird who comes to realize that the impossibly long wings that frustrate him are actually something to be embraced. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Isabel Atherton at Creative Authors represented the author-illustrator.
Neal Porter has acquired for his imprint at Holiday House author Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrator Kevan Atteberry's I Want a Boat, a picture book about an adventure powered by ingenuity, hard work, and magical thinking. Publication is set for summer 2021; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Mary-Kate Gaudet at Little, Brown has bought world rights to a new picture book by the team behind You Don't Want a Unicorn!, author Ame Dyckman (l.) and illustrator Liz Climo. You Don't Want a Dragon! is a cautionary tale of wishing for and keeping another oh-so-unsuitable pet. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Scott Treimel at Treimel NY represented the author, and Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary & Media represented the illustrator.
Anne Heltzel at Amulet has acquired world rights to Emmy-nominated writer Max Nicoll (l.) and fellow SVA grad Matt Smith's Smackdown Town, pitched as Bigmeets the WWE. In the book, a boy realizes his dreams of becoming a professional wrestler when he eats a piece of gum purchased on eBay and pre-chewed by one of his wrestling idols. Publication is slated for fall 2019; the deal was unagented.
Anne Hoppe at Clarion has bought world rights to the picture book How to "Make" a Friend by Stephen W. Martin, illustrated by Olivia Aserr. Through the metaphor of a girl whose homemade robot embarks on world domination, this humorously understated set of "instructions" explains how to a build a friendship and navigate its ups and downs. Publication is set for spring 2021; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Craig Cohen and Jordan Nielsen at Pow! Kids have acquired world rights to Ellie Royce's (l.) picture book, Auntie Uncle: Drag Queen Hero, illustrated by Hannah Chambers. The book is about drag queen Auntie Lotta/Uncle Leo, who must accept an award in public as both "selves," and how the unconditional love of their nephew helps them discover that being true to one's self can sometimes be the boldest act of all. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Donna Bray at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has bought world rights to The Bookstore Cat by Cylin Busby, illustrated by Charles Santoso, an alphabetical picture book about an adventurous cat that makes its home in an independent bookstore. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has acquired world rights to Try It! by Mara Rockliff (l.), illustrated by Giselle Potter, the story of entrepreneur and produce pioneer Frieda Caplan, who, in the 1950s, introduced "unusual" fruits and vegetables to Americans and forever changed the way we eat. The book is scheduled for spring 2021; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author and illustrator.
Kathy Landwehr at Peachtree has bought world rights to Lali's Feather, written by Farhana Zia (l.) and illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman. Set in an Indian village, the picture book speaks to the role of imagination and open mindedness in finding the extraordinary in the most ordinary of things—even a humble feather. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the artist.
Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick has acquired world rights to Orangutan Hats and Other Tools Animals Use by Richard Haynes. The nonfiction picture book explores the ingenious ways that animals use tools. Stephanie Laberis will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2021. The author represented himself, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Christy Cox at Little Bigfoot has bought world English rights to When Winter Comes by Aimée M. Bissonette(l.), illustrated by Erin Hourigan, a poetic picture book about life in winter. Publication is set for fall 2020; Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Rachel Neumann at Bala Kids has acquired world rights to The Warrior's Code by author and seventh degree black belt Kate Hobbs, illustrated by Reggie Brown. The picture book mixes ancient Tibetan beliefs with modern-day martial arts practice in understanding that being a warrior is not about fighting, but about peace, tenderness, connection, and toughness. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; the author represented herself, and Christy T. Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Barb McNally at Sleeping Bear has bought world rights to Fly, Firefly by Shana Keller Selway (l.), author of Ticktock Banneker's Clock. Written in verse and based on a true story from environmentalist Rachel Carson's life, the picture book tells the story of a firefly who mistakes the lights he sees in the ocean (bioluminescence) for other fireflies. Ramona Kaulitzki will illustrate; publication is slated for spring 2020. The author represented herself, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Maria Dismondy at Cardinal Rule Press has acquired world rights to Evie's Field Day, a picture book by Claire Noland (l.), a story that tackles sportsmanship and the challenge of losing. Alicia Teba will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2020. Kate Kendrick at Astound Art Agency represented the illustrator; the author was unagented.
Sailaja Joshi at Bharat Babies has bought North American rights to She Can You Can by Garima Kushwaha (l.) and Rajat Mittal. The book tells the stories of 26 Indian women, with names that run from A to Z. The North American version of She Can You Can will be revised to include five stories of Asian-Indian American women. Anastasia Damani will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2019. The authors and the illustrator represented themselves.
