Joy Peskin at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired Jessica Vitkus's Crafting Change: Helping Community and Country Through Hand-Made Activism, an exploration of the connection between crafts and politics from WWI knitting to the AIDS Memorial Quilt to the Pussyhat Project and beyond. A television writer and producer who has worked with Jon Stewart and Michael Moore, Vitkus is now a field producer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Publication is slated for 2020; Sarah Lazin at Aevitas Creative management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Erika Turner at HMH/Versify has bought world rights to Ghost Roast, a YA graphic novel by Shawneé (l.) and Shawnelle Gibbs, sisters and authors of the Kickstarter-funded comic series, The Invention of Ej Whitaker. The book is about the 15-year-old daughter of a renowned paranormal specialist who is drawn into a dangerous romance after she discovers her own knack for communicating with ghosts. Emily Cannon will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2021. The authors and the artist represented themselves.
Stacey Barney at Putnam has acquired, at auction, Bee Fearless: Dream Like a Kid by 14-year-old Mikaila Ulmer, Me & the Bees Lemonade founder, and Shark Tank veteran. Pitched as Lean In for tweens, the middle grade narrative nonfiction book offers practical business advice to kids and shows how setbacks, like getting stung by a bee at the age of four, could inspire Ulmer to create lemonade sweetened with honey and to give back to bee conservancy. Publication is set for 2020; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group did the deal for North American rights.
Kate Sullivan at Delacorte has preempted the 1985 Japanese middle grade classic, Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono, winner of the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award, about a young witch getting to know her new seaside community where she starts a delivery business using her power of flight. It has been out of print in the U.S for 10 years; Delacorte will be providing the first new translation in 16 years, featuring all-new illustrations from a Japanese or Japanese-American artist to be decided. The book will publish in 2020 for the 25th anniversary of the first Japanese edition; Hillary Jacobson at ICM brokered the deal for world English rights on behalf of Hamish Macaskill at the English Agency and Fukuinkan.
Courtney Code at Abrams has bought, at auction, world rights to the first two books in Kit Rosewater's (l.) debut queer middle grade series, the Derby Daredevils, illustrated by Sophie Escabasse. In book one, fifth-grader Kenzie sets out to form an all-girls roller derby crew with her best friend Shelly, but things get complicated when Shelly decides to woo Kenzie's neighbor (and secret crush) to the team. Publication for the first book is scheduled for spring 2020; Lauren Spieller at TriadaUS Literary Agency represented the author, and Kelly Sonnack at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Gina Gagliano at Random House Graphic has acquired Thom Pico and Karensac's middle-grade graphic novel Aster and the Accidental Magic, about a girl whose parents move their family to the middle of nowhere. Aster finds her new home incredibly boring—until she figures out that the countryside might have some magic in it. The graphic novel was originally published in France in two volumes as the Aubepine series. Publication is slated for 2020; Anton Heully at Mediatoon sold North American rights.
Elizabeth Law at Holiday House has bought My Weird School and The Genius Files author Dan Gutman's Houdini Problem, a middle grade novel about a kid who grows up in Houdini's house and is able to communicate with him from beyond. Law edited the author's first books for young readers, starting with Baseball's Biggest Bloopers. Publication is planned for spring 2021; Liza Voges at Eden Street negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Rebecca Davis at Boyds Mills Press has acquired world rights to author-illustrator Vikram Madan's middle-grade humorous poetry collection, A Hatful of Dragons: And 13.8 Billion Other Funny Poems, in which words and art blend into “poem-experiences” that interconnect across the book in unexpected ways. The book is scheduled for spring 2020; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the deal.
Madeline Smoot at Cbay has bought P.J. Hoover's middle grade fantasy, Homer's Excellent Adventure, pitched as Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventuremeets The Odyssey, in which 12-year-old Homer is about to fail out of school unless he can come up with the most epic story ever. Homer hates writing and has no idea what to write about, but the god Hermes sends him on a journey guaranteed to be filled with adventure (along with plenty of monsters). The book will publish in spring 2020; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
Sara Schonfeld at Penguin Workshop has acquired two illustrated chapter books by author-illustrator Derek Anderson. The Shark Report stars student Benny and his brief but magical time with a pet shark; book two will also star Benny. Publication for both titles is set for fall 2020. Tracey Adams at Adams Literary brokered the deal for world English rights.
Allyn Johnston at S&S/Beach Lane has bought world rights to author-illustrator Mark Teague's Fly!, a wordless picture book about a stubborn baby bird who does not want to leave his cozy nest to migrate south for the winter. Publication is slated for fall 2019; the deal was negotiated by the author.
Sasha Henriques at Little, Brown/Patterson has acquired The Ugly Doodles, a debut picture book by Valeria Wicker, and a second, untitled picture book. The Ugly Doodles centers on a young artist haunted by her half-finished projects. Publication is planned for summer 2020; Adria Goetz at Martin Literary Management handled the deal for world rights.
Reka Simonsen at S&S/Atheneum has bought at auction Emma Otheguy's (l.) picture book, A Sled for Gabo, about a boy and his family’s adjustment to snowy weather and their creative solutions for enjoying a wintry day. Pixar artist Ana Ramírez González will illustrate; Atheneum will publish simultaneous English- and Spanish-language editions in fall 2020. Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary brokered the two-book deal for world rights for the author, and Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Orli Zuravicky at Scholastic has acquired And the Whole World Heard: The Story of Anne Frank, a picture book biography by Linda Elovitz Marshall (l.), which tells the story of Anne Frank finding her voice as a writer in a world that was trying to silence her. Aura Lewis will illustrate; publication is set for 2020. Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator for world rights.
Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has acquired world rights to Elsa Boxer's (l.) A Vote Is a Voice, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger. The picture book tells the little-known story of a mother from Tennessee who changed the course of history when she wrote a letter to her son on the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in the United States. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency represented the author, and Alexandra Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Mara Conlon at Peter Pauper Press has bought world rights to This Cowgirl Ain't Kiddin' About the Potty by debut author Sarah Glenn Fortson, illustrated by Russ Cox. The picture book tells how an aspiring cowgirl learns to conquer “that big white stallion” and ditch her diapers for good. Publication is planned for fall 2019; the author represented herself, and Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary represented the illustrator.
Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte has acquired The Assignment, based on a true story, by Liza Wiemer. When high school seniors Cade and Logan receive a history assignment requiring them to debate the merits of Hitler's Final Solution, with both sides arguing in favor of the annihilation of the Jews, they appear to be the only ones who are horrified. They want it canceled, pitting themselves against their teacher, their principal, and even the Commissioner of Education—resulting in bullying from classmates and the ire of white supremacists. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Steven Chudney at the Chudney Agency handled the deal for North American rights.
Alexandra Cooper at HarperTeen has bought North American rights, in a preempt, to former environmental lawyer and co-founder of the Muslim Squad Farah Naz Rishi's debut YA novel, I Hope You Get This Message, in which it is learned that humanity on Earth is a grand experiment that its mother planet may decide to end in seven days; the story follows three very different teens who seek connection and closure while the fate of the world is decided. The book is scheduled for publication in fall 2019; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management negotiated the two-book deal on behalf of Glasstown Entertainment.
Maggie Lehrman at Amulet has acquired North American rights to Indies Introduce New Voices author Marisa Reichardt's contemporary YA novel, Aftershocks. When the Big One hits southern California, Ruby never expected to be trapped in a laundromat only moments after her first conversation with Charlie. But as the hours and days tick on, and Ruby and Charlie struggle to survive with only each other's voices to help keep them going, Ruby's memories of the choices that brought her to this place and her dreams for the future may be the only way to find hope to continue. Publication is set for fall 2020; Kate Testerman at KT Literary brokered the deal.
Kelsy Thompson at Flux has bought Alex Award-winning author of Die Young with Me: A Memoir Rob Rufus's The Vinyl Underground, a YA protest novel set in the tumultuous year of 1968. In the book, a Vietnam War-era Breakfast Club bonds over music and their fear of the war, and decides to take a stand against the U.S. government and the intolerance in their own small town. Rufus is a childhood cancer survivor, punk rock musician, and cancer advocate. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency did the deal for world English rights.
Gina Gagliano at Random House Graphic has acquired Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen and Matt Nolan, a YA nonfiction graphic novel about identity, body image, and sex ed. The book provides a comprehensive look at growing up, with material about everything from anatomy to gender, dating, and consent. Publication is slated for 2020; Monika Verma at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency sold world rights.
Stacey Barney at Putnam has bought, in a preempt, in a two-book deal, Forgotten and Just Like Fate author Cat Patrick's middle grade novel Tornado Brain. The books tell the story of 13-year-old Frankie (don't call her Frances) Harper, whose singular view of living with Asperger's and ADD helps her unravel the mystery of her best friend Colette's disappearance over one weekend. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020; Daniel Lazar at Writers House negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has acquired Cloud & Wallfish author Anne Nesbet's new middle grade novel, Daring Darleen, Serial Queen, the story of a 12-year-old film star in the early 1900s, whose fictional adventures collide with reality when a fake kidnapping set up as a publicity stunt becomes all too real. Publication is planned for spring 2020; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Christina Pulles at Sterling has bought world rights to a middle grade novel by One Shadow on the Wall author Leah Henderson. The Magic in Changing Your Stars follows a boy who travels back in time to 1930s Harlem to meet his young grandfather and help him realize his dream of tap dancing for Bojangles Robinson. Publication is set for spring 2020; Suzy Capozzi will edit. Clelia Gore at Martin Literary & Media Management brokered the deal.
Simon Boughton at Norton Young Readers has acquired North American rights to David Ouimet's debut self-authored picture book, I Go Quiet, a dramatic story of an introverted and quiet girl finding her voice through books, creativity, and imagination. New York-based Ouimet is a musician and artist who has scored several films and performed around the world, and illustrated several books for children. It's slated for early winter 2020; Andrea Joyce at Canongate, the author's U.K. publisher, handled the deal.
Christy Ottaviano and Jessica Anderson at Macmillan/Ottaviano have bought world rights to Trillions of Trees by Kurt Cyrus, a rhyming STEM picture book about the importance of planting trees and preserving ecosystems. The book is scheduled for 2021; Sean McCarthy at the Sean McCarthy Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Joanna Cárdenas at Kokila has acquired world rights to Tameka Fryer Brown's (l.) picture book Twelve Dinging Doorbells, illustrated by Ebony Glenn, which celebrates black families through a joyful every-holiday carol. Publication is planned for fall 2022; Marietta B. Zacker at the Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has bought at auction, in a two-book, six-figure deal, Amy Cherrix's Animal Architects, illustrated by Chris Sasaki. The nonfiction picture book showcases the many amazing ways and things that animals build. The first title is tentatively set for publication in fall 2021; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions brokered the deal for world rights.
Laura Godwin at Holt/Godwin has acquired world rights to Deborah Underwood's (l.) new picture book, Finding Kindness. A celebration of kindness in all its many forms, the book tells a story of community, compassion, and generosity of spirit. Irene Chan will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2019. Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Tugeau Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Tamar Brazis at Abrams has bought world rights to Bad Brows by Jason Carter Eaton (l.), illustrated by Mike Petrik. What happens when a child wakes up with a pair of eyebrows on his face that aren't his? Silliness ensues when bad brows go rogue. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon McIntyre represented the author, and Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary represented the illustrator.
Samantha Swenson at Tundra has acquired world rights to the 2018 Red Maple Award for Fiction winner Vikki VanSickle's (l.) new picture book, Teddy Bear of the Year, about a well-loved but ordinary teddy bear who wonders if he'll ever do anything special and brave enough to win Teddy Bear of the Year at the annual Teddy Bear's Picnic. Sydney Hanson will illustrate; the book is set for spring 2020, with a second, untitled picture book to follow in 2021. Rachel Letofsky and Sally Harding at CookeMcDermid represented the author, and Justin Rucker at Shannon Associates represented the illustrator.
Jonathan Eaton at Tilbury House has bought world rights to Canadian author Jo Ellen Bogart's (l.) picture book Little Blue House Beside the Sea. The story celebrates the wildness and beauty of the Atlantic Ocean through a girl's eyes, deriving power from the juxtaposition of the ocean’s immensity against its fragility in the age of climate change. Crystal Kite winner Carme Lemniscates will illustrate; publication is scheduled for winter 2020. The author was unagented, and Adriana Dominguez at Full Circle Literary represented the illustrator.
