David Levithan at Scholastic has acquired world rights for the graphic memoir of author-illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Hey, Kiddo. Raised by his colorful grandparents, who adopted him because his mother was an incarcerated heroin addict, Krosoczka didn't know his father's name until he saw his birth certificate when registering for a school ski trip. Hey, Kiddo traces Krosoczka's search for his father, his difficult interactions with his mother, his day-to-day life with his grandparents, and his path to becoming an artist. To date, nearly one million people have viewed Krosoczka's TED Talk about his experience. Artwork from his childhood and teen years will be incorporated into the original illustrations for the book. It will publish simultaneously in hardcover and paperback in fall 2018; Rebecca Sherman at Writers House brokered the deal.
Tiffany Liao at Henry Holt has bought at auction Eight Will Fall by Sarah Harian. Pitched as Six of Crows meets Suicide Squad, this dark YA fantasy follows eight criminals as they battle their way through a subterranean realm of horrors and certain death. Publication for the first book in the duology is slated for early 2019; Joelle Hobeika and Hayley Wagreich at Alloy Entertainment negotiated the two-book deal for world English rights; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author.
Lydia Sharp at Entangled has acquired Secrets of a Reluctant Princessauthor Casey Griffin's YA contemporary romance, tentatively titled Playing Her Secret Crush. Deep in the heart of the online game Conquerors of Caroon, Katie battles a fierce dragon with her comrades, including her BFF, Parker. Katie's been working up the nerve to tell Parker how she really feels about him, now that he's finally single. But when Lexi, a stunning, offbeat girl moves in next door to Katie, and Parker takes a shine to her, Katie's life takes a complicated turn. The book is scheduled for release in summer 2018; Pooja Menon at Kimberley Cameron & Associates negotiated the deal for world rights.
Jenna Lettice at Random House has bought Nutcracked author Susan Adrian's middle grade novel, Forever Neverland, about an autistic boy and his older sister who spend the summer with their estranged grandparents in London. After discovering they are descended from the original Darlings of Peter Pan, the children are whisked away by Peter for a new adventure in Neverland. The book will publish in summer 2019; Kate Testerman at KT Literary brokered the deal for world rights.
Kristin Daly Rens at Balzer + Bray has acquired, in a two-book deal, Margaret Dilloway's Summer of a Thousand Pies, a middle grade novel in which a 12-year-old Great British Baking Show superfan is sent to live with her aunt in the mountains of California, and over the course of one summer learns about friendship, family, and how to make the perfect pie crust. Publication is set for winter 2019; Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Liz Szabla at Feiwel and Friends has pre-empted, in a two-book deal, Wonder Roo from debut middle grade author Shaunta Grimes. Pitched as Pippi Longstocking meets My Girl and Waitress, the book tells the story of the unlikely friendship between 12-year-old Gideon, who has just moved across the country to Nevada, and Roona, the adventurous girl next door who rollerskates everywhere, isn't afraid of anything, and can transform herself into Wonder Roo, a superhero version of herself. The book will publish in winter 2019 with the second, unnamed book to follow in winter 2020; Jill Corcoran and Elizabeth Bennett at the Jill Corcoran Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Amanda Maciel at Scholastic has bought world rights to a middle grade novel by Keys to the City author Lisa Schroeder, called See You on a Starry Night. The story follows artistic 11-year-old Juliet, who sends a message in a bottle out to sea and is surprised when someone responds and invites her to join a secret wish-granting club. Publication is planned for 2018, followed by a second, untitled middle grade book in 2019; Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties negotiated the two-book deal.
Becky Herrick at Sky Pony has acquired world English rights to a middle grade novel by debut author Ann Braden, titled Zoey and the Screaming Monkeys. Trapped in the realities of poverty in a trailer park, and used to being counted out, Zoey has to find her voice, and discovers that what others think of you has nothing to do with how strong you actually are. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary handled the deal.
Sonali Fry at Sizzle Press has bought, and Rebecca Webster will edit, two books from YouTube star and actress Jessie Paege. The first book is a journal/activity book focusing on Paege's passion for breaking stereotypes, teaching children ages eight and up that it's okay to be themselves. Publication is scheduled for fall 2017, with the next book scheduled for spring 2018. The author was represented by UTA, Clayton Santillo at Scale Management, and SGSBC in the deal for world rights.
David Saylor at Graphix has acquired the debut picture book from Bone creator Jeff Smith, Smiley's Dream Book, the first of two picture books featuring Smiley Bone and the Bone cousins. Publication of the first book is set for summer 2018; Smith represented himself in the deal for English-language rights in the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines.
Alyson Heller at S&S/Aladdin has bought Seagull and Sea Dragon, a debut picture book by author-illustrator Sydni Gregg, about a seagull who is afraid of the ocean and a sea dragon who is afraid of the sky, until a chance meeting opens their eyes to new possibilities. Publication is planned for spring 2019; Thao Le at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kendra Levin and Leila Sales at Viking have acquired, in a two-book deal, Josh Funk's picture book, How to Code a Sandcastle, as part of Penguin's partnership with Girls Who Code. The book stars a girl and her trusty robot who use fundamental coding concepts to construct the perfect beach day. Sara Palacios will illustrate; publication is set for summer 2018. Kathleen Rushall at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, Kendra Marcus at BookStop Literary Agency represented the illustrator, and Richard Pine at Inkwell Management represented Girls Who Code.
Carter Hasegawa at Candlewick has acquired world rights to Freedom Soup author Tami Charles's (l.) picture book, A Day with the Panye, about a girl carrying the panye to market for the first time in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in a story of family legacy, cultural roots, and hope. Sara Palacios will illustrate; publication is set for spring 2020. Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Kendra Marcus and Minju Chang at BookStop Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Karen Nagel at S&S/Aladdin has bought Cindy Chambers Johnson's Russell Wrestles the Relatives, a picture book about a boy named Russell, whose family of big, brawny, boisterous wrestlers has him on the run. Daniel Duncanwill illustrate; publication is projected for summer 2018. Minju Chang at BookStop Literary Agency represented the author, and James Burns at Bright USA represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
Callie Metler-Smith at Clear Fork has bought a debut picture book from author Amber Hendricks (l.) and illustrator Raissa Figueroa, titled Sophie and Little Star. When Little Star falls from the heavens, she meets human Sophie, and together they work to get Little Star back home. Publication is planned for winter 2018; Natascha Morris at BookEnds Literary represented both the author and illustrator.
Hannah Lambert at Little Simon has acquired world rights to Go to Sheep, a board book by Chick 'N' Pug author Jennifer Sattler that helps readers snuggle into “sheep” mode at nighttime or nap time, and a second board book. Animator Benson Shum will illustrate; publication of the first book is scheduled for spring 2018. Anna Olswanger at Olswanger Literary represented the author, and Teresa Kietlinski at Bookmark Literary represented the illustrator.
Jennifer Ung at Simon Pulse has acquired Hungry Hearts, an anthology from Elsie Chapman (l.) and Caroline Tung Richmond, in which a group of bestselling and award-winning authors, including Dhonielle Clayton, Ellen Oh, Sara Farizan, Sandhya Menon, and more, dives into the intersection of family, culture, and food in the lives of teens in a series of interconnected short stories. Publication is scheduled for summer 2019; Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman and Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret handled the deal for world English rights for Chapman and Richmond, respectively.
Daniel Ehrenhaft at Soho Teen has bought 2017 Pushcart Prize-winner Kendra Fortmeyer's debut YA novel, Hole in the Middle, pitched as The Fault in Our Stars meets Aimee Bender, in which a teenage girl who's spent her life concealing the eerie hole in her torso confronts a world obsessed with body image, internet celebrity, and unlikely love stories. Publication is set for fall 2018; Molly Ker Hawn at the Bent Agency negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has acquired at auction Jennifer Dugan's debut YA novel, Hot Dog Girl. Pitched as Adventureland crossed with a gender-muddled Clueless, the story follows a lovesick teen and her schemes to win the heart of her crush at an amusement park summer job—all while dressed as a hot dog. Publication is planned for summer 2019; Brooks Sherman at Janklow & Nesbit Associates brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Rage Kindelsperger at Quarto has bought world English rights for Ignite Your Spark author Patricia Wooster's Create Your Me Movement, a guided journal for teen girls that takes the framework of a social movement and asks the reader to use it to support a very important cause—themselves—to inspire positive change within. Publication is slated for August 2018; Clelia Gore at Martin Literary Management brokered the deal.
Cassandra Pelham at Graphix and Scholastic Press has acquired world rights to two debut graphic novels, both winners of the Get Published by Graphix contest. The first, Manu, is a middle-grade graphic novel by author-illustrator Kelly Fernandez (l.). The story follows Manu and her best friend Josefina, who live in a magical school for girls. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020. The second is Trespassers by Breena Bard, a contemporary middle-grade graphic novel of family, friendship, a summer lake house, and a local mystery. Publication is planned for spring 2020.
Alessandra Balzer at Balzer + Bray has preempted, in a two-book deal, Shayla Shines, a debut by Lisa Ramée. The middle-grade novel is about a girl who has to negotiate a new school, shifting friendships, and the feeling she is "not black enough." Publication is slated for winter 2019, with a second, untitled novel to follow; Brenda Bowen at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the deal for world rights.
Alison Deering at Capstone has bought Krista Van Dolzer's middle grade novel Earth to Dad. The story follows an 11-year-old boy who spends his days waiting for transmissions from his Mars-colonizing dad until the daughter of a dead astronaut moves in across the street and he risks missing a transmission for a shot at real friendship. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Brent Taylor at Triada US Literary Agency sold world English rights.
Christy Ottaviano at Macmillan/Ottaviano has acquired Welcome to County 109!, a picture book series by Ethan Long, the Geisel-Award winning creator of Up, Tall and High! The series is pitched as a graphic twist on Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy World. The first book is scheduled for 2019, with the second following in 2020; Paul Rodeen at Rodeen Literary Management negotiated the deal for world rights.
Melissa Manlove at Chronicle has bought, in a two-book deal, Deborah Underwood's (l.) Reading Beauty, in which a book and papercut stand in for the spindle and prick of the finger from the original tale of Sleeping Beauty. Meg Hunt will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2019. Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented Underwood, and Scott Hull at Scott Hull Associates represented Hunt in the deal for world rights.
Dana Chidiac at Dial has acquired Breanna J. McDaniel's debut picture book, Hands Up, illustrated by Shane Evans. The story captures a black girl in a series of everyday moments—reaching for a hug, dancing, raising a hand in class—and culminates in a moment when she raises her hands in resistance at a protest march. Publication is planned for summer 2019; Barry Goldblatt at Barry Goldblatt Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.
Asia Citro at the Innovation Press has bought Elise Gravel's You Can Be, a board book based on her e-book Artsy Boys and Smelly Girls. The book encourages boys and girls to embrace their true selves in all of their unique, silly, and sometimes smelly ways. Publication is slated for fall 2018; Lori Nowicki at Painted Words negotiated the deal for world English rights.
