Kendra Levin at Viking has acquired The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton, author of the Rebel of the Sands trilogy. Set in a glittering world with echoes of 1920s high society, this first novel in a planned duet features a deadly competition to determine the heir to the fortune of a family obsessed with power, fame and magic. Publication is planned for summer 2020; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.
Jessica MacLeish at HarperTeen has acquired, in a five-editor, six-figure auction, debut author Dante Medema's The Truth Project. An Alaskan high school senior's genealogy project alters her world forever when she learns her biological father is not the Shakespeare-loving man who raised her, but a Seattle musician. Rocked by the news and forced to keep numerous secrets, including that she's the product of an affair, the teen searches for the truth while also falling for her town's resident bad boy. Publication is set for summer 2020; Alyssa Miele will edit. Louise Fury at the Bent Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Andrew DeYoung at Beaming Books has acquired National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr's Courageous Creativity, a nonfiction book of encouragement and advice designed to help kids cultivate fulfilling creative practices by overcoming perfectionism, fear, and other obstacles to artistic expression. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Michael Bourret at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret brokered the deal for world rights.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has bought, in an exclusive submission, Crashing in Love by The Dollar Kids author Jennifer Richard Jacobson. The middle grade fiction novel is about 12-year-old Peyton, who comes across a boy who was hit by a car and gets him to the hospital, and wonders if he is destined to become her first boyfriend, only to find out there's more to the accident than she first realizes. Publication is set for 2021; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group did the deal for world English rights.
Emma Ledbetter at Abrams has bought world rights (excluding Canada) to Our Little Kitchen, a picture book by Jillian Tamaki, with Canadian rights going to Semareh Al-Hillal at Groundwood. The book follows a lively evening in a community kitchen with a band of resourceful neighbors: from backyard garden-harvesting to cooking chaos to tummies filling at dinner. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Steven Malk at Writers House represented the author-illustrator.
Eliza Swift at Sourcebooks Jabberwocky has acquired, at auction, world rights to author-illustrator Lo Cole's counting picture book Ten on a Twig. The book uses a playful format to count down 10 little birds that fall off of a twig and take the pieces to build a new home. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Helen Boyle at Pickled Ink brokered the two-book deal.
Maria Modugno at Random House has bought Tyler Clark Burke's The Last Loose Tooth, a story of one stubborn baby tooth that isn't ready to leave the mouth. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists did the deal for world rights.
Neal Porter at Holiday House has acquired world rights to Una Casita, a picture book by Terry Catasús Jenningsabout a little house that serves as a sanctuary for immigrant families over the years, illustrated by Raúl Colon. Publication is set for spring 2022; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency represented the author, and Gail Gaynin at Morgan Gaynin represented the illustrator.
Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook has bought world rights to Hawk Rising and Coyote Moon author Maria Gianferrari's (l.) new picture book, To Dogs with Love, an ode of love and praise to our most faithful and loyal companions, with illustrations by Lucy Fleming. The book will publish in spring 2021; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Frederica Dawson at the Bright
Ariel Richardson at Chronicle has bought, at auction, world rights to A Pizza with Everything On It, a picture book written by Kyle Scheele (l.) and illustrated by Andy J. Miller. The story follows a boy and his father who try to make a pizza, accidentally destroy the universe, and try to rebuild it… out of pizza. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio represented the author, and Katherine Latshaw and John Cusick at Folio Literary Management represented the illustrator.
Janine O'Malley at Farrar, Straus and Giroux has acquired world rights to I'll Hold Your Hand by Maggie Rudd (l.), illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. The reassuring theme of this picture book is that an adult will support a child through dangers, joys, and hurdles. Publication is planned for fall 2021; Mary Cummings at Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises represented the author, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the
Alyssa Mito Pusey at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to Natasha Yim's (l.) Luna's Yum Yum Dim Sum, a picture book about three siblings who can't agree on how to divide their pork buns equally. Violet Kim will illustrate; publication is scheduled for fall 2020, as part of the new Storytelling Math series. Karen Grencik at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Studio Goodwin Sturges
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has acquired world rights to Guitars, Gadgets, and Gizmos: The Story of Leo Fender, a picture book biography of American inventor Leo Fender, best known for creating the world's most iconic electric guitar, written by When Angels Sing author Michael Mahin (l.) and illustrated by Pass Go and Collect $200 artist Steven Salerno. The book is slated for fall 2021; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and the artist represented himself.
Wendy McClure at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to debut author Beth Charles's picture book, Happy Birthday Apple Trees, illustrated by Katie Rewse. At six years, Sophie's trees are old enough to bear fruit for her birthday apple pie; but first, Sophie must help prune the trees, wait for the bees to pollinate, wait longer for the apples to grow, and then finally help pick the ripe apples. Publication is set for September 2020; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Kristine Enderle at Magination has acquired world English rights to Maddy by Gayle E. Pitman (l.), about a child and her maddy—her term that is a mash-up between Mama and Daddy. The story introduces children to transgender or gender non-conforming/non-binary parents. Violet Tobacco will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2020. Deborah Warren at East-West Literary Agency represented the author, and Robbin Brosterman at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon/Two Lions has bought world rights to Eric Seltzer's (l.) The Rescue Rabbits, illustrated by Roland Garrigue. The picture book follows the antics of four rabbits dedicated to rescuing critters in need, who face their biggest challenge when they must help a rhino prince with a unique problem. Publication is planned for summer 2020; the author represented himself, and Claire Easton at Painted Words represented the illustrator.
Kristen Mohn at Capstone has acquired world rights to Fiery Night: A Boy, His Goat, and the Great Chicago Fire, a picture book by Sibert Medalist Sally M. Walker (l.), illustrated by Kayla Harren. Based on a true story, the book tells of a family's escape from the 1871 fire, a child's determination to save his pet, and the experience of becoming homeless. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Susan Cohen at Writers House represented the author, and Marietta B. Zacker of Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Alli Brydon at Trigger/Upside Down has bought Elise Gravel's Puppy in My Head: A Book About Mindfulness. A boy with a puppy running through his mind acts as a metaphor for anxiety, and through mindfulness techniques, he learns how to calm the puppy down so he can feel a sense of calm, too. The book is set for publication in March 2020; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the author in the deal for world rights, excluding French in North America only.
Ariel Richardson at Chronicle has acquired debut author-illustrator and former wildlife education specialist Alexander Vidal's Wilds of America, an illustrated nonfiction guide to the wildlife of the United States, showing how animals use their unique tools and adaptations to survive in the many different environments of a country that stretches from the Arctic to the tropics. Publication is planned for spring 2022; Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel at Full Circle Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Alex Sanchez at Razorbill has acquired Rebecca Mahoney's debut, The Valley and the Flood. The contemporary YA novel with shades of Twin Peaks follows Rose, whose car breaks down outside a small desert town where the people are bracing themselves for a disastrous flood. Her journey is thrown off course when she discovers that not only is she the prophesied bringer of said flood, but that the key to stopping it lies in confronting the accident that killed her best friend and the scars it left behind. Publication is set for fall 2020; Hannah Fergesen at KT Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Erin Clarke at Knopf has bought world rights to On the Go Awesome by Lisl H. Detlefsen, illustrated by Robert Neubecker, a picture book about a child who imagines driving trains, diggers, ships, and planes. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Jennifer Mattson at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt Agency represented the illustrator.
Kristine Enderle at Magination has acquired world English rights to Accordionly by Michael Genhart, the story of a boy who brings his family together and blends their two cultures through a shared passion for accordion music. Priscilla Burris will illustrate; publication is set for spring 2020. The author was unagented; Christy T. Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Brett Duquette, while at Sterling Children's Books, has bought world rights to debut picture book author Mike Armstrong's Best Day Ever, which Eve Adler will edit. The story follows a determined William as he strives to make the most of the last day of summer vacation. Eglantine Ceulemans will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2020. Ginger Knowlton at Curtis Brown represented the author, and Hannah Whitty at Plum Pudding Illustration represented the illustrator.
Alli Brydon at Trigger/Upside Down has bought world rights to debut author Kathryn Thurman's (l.) The Biggest Thing of All, illustrated by Romina Galotta. When Grandma dies, Lily struggles to deal with and understand her grief, but by caring for Grandma's garden, she realizes that they are all part of something bigger, and that love is the biggest thing of all. The book is slated for publication in spring 2021; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Cheryl Eissing at Philomel has acquired North American rights to The Little Ghost Who Lost Her Boo, a picture book written by Elaine Bickell and illustrated by Raymond McGrath, about a little ghost who tries to find her lost “boo” with the help of some animal friends. Publication is set for summer 2020; Claire Pretyman brokered the deal on behalf of Scholastic New Zealand.
Grace Maccarone at Holiday House has bought Aram Kim's Let's Go to Taekwondo!: A Story About Persistence, Bravery and Breaking Boards, a picture book about being afraid of but ultimately passing the yellow belt test. Publication is scheduled for spring 2020; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio handled the deal for world rights.
Andrew DeYoung at Beaming Books has acquired author-illustrator Amy Huntington's picture book Monsters Like Us, which considers the characteristics of monsters and kids to discover some surprising areas of commonality, revealing our similarity with that which might at first appear to be scary or strange. The book is planned for fall 2020; Erzsi Deak at Hen&ink Literary Studio did the deal for world rights.
Samantha Gentry at Little, Brown has bought world rights, in a preempt, to Laekan Zea Kemp's YA novel Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet, a story of first love, familial expectations, the power of food, and finding where you belong. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Andrea Morrison at Writers House brokered the deal.
Krista Vitola at Simon & Schuster has acquired, at auction, in a two-book deal, The Naturalist's Guide for Total Disaster and a sequel by debut author Summer Rachel Short. The middle-grade novel is about an aspiring naturalist and her YouTuber best friend who attempt to save their Texas town from a mutant fungus invasion. Publication is slated for 2020; Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group did the deal for North American rights.
Kat Brzozowski at Feiwel and Friends has bought Sliding into Home, a middle grade novel by Jen Petro-Roy. Twelve-year-old Veronica can't wait to try out for the summer all-star softball team. But when her mother enters rehab for alcoholism, Veronica has to balance her love for the game with her family's emerging financial problems, the question of whether to keep her mom's illness from her friends, and a school assignment about the true meaning of courage. Publication is planned for winter 2021; Brianne Johnson at Writers House negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has acquired, in an exclusive submission, Jade Armstrong's middle-grade contemporary graphic novel Section Leader. Scout joins her middle school band in hopes to be part of the end of year trip where she'll be able to meet her hero, only to find that the trombone turns out to be the worst instrument to try to skate by with. Publication is planned for 2022; Seth Fishman at the Gernert Company sold world rights.
Michelle Bisson at Capstone has bought world rights to The Secret Notebook, a debut novel by D.A. D'Aurelio. In this middle grade mystery with STEM tie-ins, super-sleuth Riley is accidentally handed Nikola Tesla's lost notebook and must protect the world-changing invention contained inside from a greedy scientist. Publication is set for fall 2020; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency did the deal.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has acquired world rights to artist Christopher Denise's debut picture book as author and illustrator, Knight Owl, following the newly appointed knight Owl who makes up for what he lacks in swordsmanship with wit, cleverness, and heart—the perfect recipe for making an unexpected friend during Knight Watch. Publication is scheduled for fall 2021; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal.
Joan Powers at Candlewick has bought world rights to Ear Worm by Jo Knowles (l.). In her debut picture book, Little Worm wakes up with a song stuck in his head, and, in an effort to discover the source of it, embarks on a musical journey full of warmth and friendship. Galia Bernstein will illustrate; publication is planned for fall 2021. Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary represented the author, and Alex Gehringer at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.
Joanna McInerney, when at Flying Eye Books, acquired world rights to musician, poet, activist, and educator Amyra León's (l.) Freedom, We Sing, a picture book that shows children they are free to dream and be confident, no matter their background or circumstance. Ayoola Solarin will edit. Molly Mendoza is set to illustrate; publication is slated for winter 2020. The author represented herself, and Hannah Mann at Writers House represented the illustrator.
