Orlando Dos Reis at Scholastic Press has acquired Here the Whole Time, a contemporary YA debut by Brazilian author Vitor Martins, originally published in Portuguese in Brazil, and translated by Larissa Helena. The novel follows Felipe—who is fat and gay—as he spends 15 days with his lifelong crush, Caio, in a love story about body image, self-acceptance, and standing up to bullying. Publication is slated for fall 2020; Taissa Reis and Gui Liaga at Página 7 Agency in Brazil negotiated the deal for world rights (except Portuguese).
Christina Pulles at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to The Salt in Our Blood, a YA novel by Ava Morgyn (Resurrection Girls). Set against the Gothic atmosphere of New Orleans, a girl's reunion with her estranged mother after her grandmother's unexpected death leads her on the path of unraveling their dark family history, linked to a deck of tarot cards her mother gave her as a child. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Thao Le at Sandra Dijkstra Agency did the deal.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired world rights to Hannah West's The Bitterwine Oath, a YA Southern Gothic meets supernatural murder mystery in which a cult sisterhood claims 12 men to slay every 50 years in a small Texas town. Shocked by her family's ties to the cult, 18-year-old Natalie Colter vows to end the cycle of violence—and save the boy who broke her heart. Publication is set for fall 2020; the author represented herself.
Mark Siegel at First Second has bought world rights to Cat's Cradle, Jo Rioux's middle grade graphic novel series about Suri, an aspiring monster tamer who must evade the attacks of unfriendly monsters while searching for her estranged family. Publication for the first book, Cat's Cradle: The Golden Twine, is planned for 2021; Jennie Dunham at Dunham Literary brokered the deal.
Maya Marlette at Scholastic has acquired world rights to Manatee's Best Friend, a middle-grade novel by Sylvia Liu. The story follows a 12-year-old girl who teams up with friends to save manatees from reckless boaters after her video of a dolphin diverting a speedboat goes viral. Publication is slated for spring 2021; Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal.
Charlie Ilgunas at Yellow Jacket has bought world rights to The Thieving Collectors of Fine Children's Books by Adam Perry (The Magicians of Elephant County). This story within a story follows a middle grade bookworm who has recently read a rare and lost novel that two evil inventors need to complete their collection, but the only way to steal the story now will be from inside the boy's mind. Publication is set for spring 2021; Alexander Slater at Trident Media Group handled the deal.
Jenne Abramowitz at Scholastic/Graphix has acquired, in an exclusive submission, the young graphic novel series Squidding Around by author-illustrator Kevin Sherry (The Yeti Files), in a two-book deal. The books follow the underwater adventures of a Bart Simpson-like squid at Deep Reef Elementary. Publication of the first book is scheduled for fall 2020; Rachel Orr at Prospect Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
David Saylor at Scholastic/Graphix has bought James Kochalka's three-book younger graphic novel series, Banana Fox, in which famous detective Banana Fox and his eager cohort, Sharyanna Flashlight, solve crimes. Publication of the first book is planned for spring 2021; the author represented himself in the deal for world rights.
Connie Hsu at Roaring Brook Press has acquired world rights to Julia Kuo's debut picture book as author-illustrator, Let's Do Everything and Nothing, about the strength of a mother and daughter's relationship found in the moments they share, whether grand or small. Publication is slated for winter 2022; Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal.
Kathleen Merz at Eerdmans has bought world rights to Yellow Dog Blues by Alice Faye Duncan, with art by Chris Raschka, which draws on the poetry of Delta Blues musicians as it traces the passage of this musical form from the Deep South, along the freedom roads north, to the larger world. Publication is set for spring 2022; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Brenda Bowen at the Book Group represented the artist.
Deirdre Jones at Little, Brown has acquired world rights to When I'm with You by Pat Zietlow Miller (l.) (Sophie's Squash) and artist Eliza Wheeler (Home in the Woods), a celebration of friendship and special relationships. Publication is scheduled for spring 2022; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Jennifer Rofé at Andrea Brown Literary represented the artist.
Sue Tarsky at Albert Whitman has bought world rights to A Vote Is a Powerful Thing by Catherine Stier (l.), the story of a girl who, during an election year, learns the importance of a vote through experiences at home and at school. Courtney Dawson will illustrate. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2 represented the illustrator, and the author represented herself.
Maggie Lehrman at Abrams has acquired world rights to Sandra Nickel's (l.) Breaking Through the Clouds: The Sometimes Turbulent Life of Meteorologist Joanne Simpson, which tells the story of a trailblazing scientist whose discoveries about clouds and how they work changed everything we know about weather. Helena Perez Garcia will illustrate. Publication is slated for fall 2021; Victoria Wells Arms at Wells Arms Literary/HG Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented herself.
Marilyn Brigham at Amazon Crossing Kids has bought world English rights to Argentinian author-illustrator María Wernicke's Some Days, to be translated from Spanish into English by Lawrence Schimel. An exploration of security and loss, the picture book is about a girl who imagines a passageway in her yard that brings her back together with a loved one she misses—but the passageway is only there some days. Publication is set for fall 2020; Pablo de la Vega at Base Tres represented Argentinian publisher Calibroscopio Ediciones, and the translator represented himself.
Kate Harrison at Dial has acquired, at auction, North American rights to author Darren Farrell and illustrator Maya Tatsukawa's Dandelion Magic, an interactive picture book where readers ignite an adventure for a boy and his Nana. Publication is scheduled for spring 2021; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties represented the author and illustrator.
Courtney Burke at Page Street Kids has bought debut author Michelle Garcia Andersen's (l.) A Hoot and a Howl, illustrated by Ayesha L. Rubio, a picture book in which everyone knows that owls ask “who” and wolves ask “how”—until an inquisitive owl and a curious wolf start asking their own questions. Publication is planned for winter 2021; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.
Naomi Krueger at Beaming Books has acquired world rights to Taylor Rouanzion's (l.) debut picture book Rainbow Boy, a story about a gender non-conforming boy who struggles to choose a favorite color. Some days his favorite color is orange—like the basketball he likes to play with—but other days his favorite color is pink—like his sparkly tutu. Stacey Chomiak will illustrate. The book is slated for September 2020; the author represented herself, and Claire Draper at the Bent Agency represented the illustrator.
Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids has bought world rights to Brown by poet Nancy Johnson James (l.), illustrated by fine artist Constance Moore, a picture book celebrating all of the beautiful shades of brown in one child's family. Publication is planned for fall 2020; the author and the illustrator represented themselves.
