Beverly Horowitz at Delacorte Press has acquired, in a six-figure deal, British author M.A. Bennett's debut YA novel, S.T.A.G.S. When boarding school student Greer MacDonald receives a mysterious invitation to spend a weekend “huntin,' shootin' and fishin' ” at the country retreat of one of her classmates, she soon realizes that those being hunted are the very misfits their host has brought with him from school. Publication is planned for February 13, 2018; Jane Harris and Emma Matthewson at Hot Key Books UK handled the deal for U.S., Canadian, and open market rights. The novel has also been optioned for film by Fox 2000 and Chernin Entertainment.
Daniel Ehrenraft at Soho Teen has bought the debut YA novel from Lizzy Mason, director of publicity at Bloomsbury Children's Books. The Art of Losing follows 17-year-old Harley, who learns her boyfriend has been unfaithful with her sister, Audrey. After a drunk driving accident leaves Audrey with amnesia, Harley relies on an old friend for help letting go of the past so that she can rewrite her future. The book will be published in spring 2019; Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Liza Kaplan at Philomel has acquired world English rights, in a two-book preempt, to a debut novel by children's librarian Shannon Schuren, titled The Virtue of Sin. The book is set in a modern-day cult where women's voices—and choices—are suppressed and the Prophet's word is sacred. The 17-year-old heroine is faced with an impossible decision: keep quiet and lose her secret love, or speak out and lose everything. Publication is slated for summer 2019; Barbara Poelle at the Irene Goodman Agency brokered the deal.
Holly West at Swoon Reads has bought Queens of Geek author Jen Wilde's LGBTQ+ YA contemporary novel, The Brightsiders, in which a teen drummer navigates old family struggles, paparazzi, and coming out as bisexual after she’s branded Hollywood’s latest train wreck. Publication is set for summer 2018; Lauren Spieller at Triada US Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Nicole Frail at Sky Pony Press has acquired world rights to The Art of French Kissing, a contemporary YA novel by How to Make Out author Brianna Shrum. The novel stars 17-year-old Carter Lane, who gets accepted into an elite cooking school's scholarship competition, makes an arch-rival on day one, then realizes she may be falling for him. The book is scheduled for spring 2018; Steven Salpeter at Curtis Brown, Ltd. negotiated the deal.
Ann Rider at HMH has bought world rights to Lori Alexander's (l.) chapter book biography, All in a Drop, illustrated by Vivien Mildenberger, which tells the story of Antony van Leeuwenhoek, the first scientist to use a microscope in innovative ways. The projected pub date is spring 2019; Kathleen Rushall at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Michael Joosten at Random House has acquired world rights to Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders (l.), illustrated by Steven Salerno. The picture book tells the history of the Gay Pride Flag, from its beginnings in 1978 with social activist Harvey Milk and designer Gilbert Baker to its role in society today. The book will publish on April 10, 2018, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the flag's creation. Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented Sanders, and Salerno was unagented.
Taylor Norman at Chronicle has bought world rights to Bikes for Sale by Carter Higgins, a picture book about the serendipitous nature of new friendship, and how the risk of a changed routine can lead to something wonderful and unexpected. Zachariah OHora will illustrate; publication is planned for spring 2019. Rubin Pfeffer at Rubin Pfeffer Content represented the author, and Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.
Kandace Coston at Lee & Low has acquired world rights to Inventor Garrett Morgan, a picture book biography by debut author Joan DiCicco (l.), illustrated by Ebony Glenn. The story introduces readers to Garrett Morgan, a prolific African-American inventor and entrepreneur. Morgan is credited with inventing the safety hood, a breathing device that was later developed into the gas mask and saved the lives of American soldiers during WWI. Publication is set for fall 2018; the author was unagented, and Anne Moore Armstrong at Bright USA represented the illustrator.
Alison Weiss at Sky Pony has bought world rights to Take Me to La Tomatina by Tracey Kyle (l.), a nonfiction picture book about a tomato festival in Spain. Ana Gomez will illustrate; publication is slated for spring 2018. Jennifer Unter at the Unter Agency represented the author, and Chloe Morgan at Plum Pudding Illustration represented the illustrator.
Kristen Nobles at Page Street has acquired author-illustrator Anne Lambelet's debut picture book, Maria the Matador, about a courageous girl who wins a bullfight without resorting to violence—and takes home the ultimate prize. Publication is scheduled for winter 2019; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary negotiated the deal for world rights.
Eliza Berkowitz at Sterling has bought Sarah Lynne Reul's The Angry Layers, a picture book about a boy who tries to help his furious little sister get the worst of her anger out. Publication is planned for fall 2018; Emily Mitchell at Wernick & Pratt Agency brokered the deal for world English rights.
Lisa Sandell at Scholastic has acquired, at auction, world English rights to Unpunished Murder: The Colfax Massacre and the Supreme Court by Lawrence Goldstone. The book tells the story of the events leading up to the slaughter of more than 100 African-Americans by white supremacists in Louisiana on Easter Sunday, 1873, and the trial of the killers. Only three of the 98 accused were found guilty of mass murder, and those convictions were eventually overturned by the Supreme Court, setting the stage for the Jim Crow South. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Charlie Olsen at InkWell Management brokered the deal.
Dianne Hess and David Saylor at Scholastic/Graphix have bought The Seventh Voyage, a graphic novel adapted and illustrated by Jon J. Muth. The Seventh Voyage was originally published in The Star Diaries, a collection of related stories by Stanislaw Lem. The sci-fi story follows a hapless space traveler stuck in a time warp where he confronts his exasperating past and future selves. Publication is planned for summer 2019; Allen Spiegel at Allen Spiegel Fine Arts negotiated the deal for world rights.
Donna Bray at HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray has acquired, at auction, author-illustrator K-Fai Steele's debut picture book, A Normal Pig, about a spotted pig in an all-pink pig town who struggles with questions of identity and the definition of “normal.” Publication is set for summer 2019; Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio did the two-book deal for world rights.
Tracy Mack at Scholastic Press has bought author-illustrator Ross Burach's debut interactive board book, The Hi-Five Book: Animals!, which gives readers the chance to high five their favorite animals. Publication is slated for 2018; Lara Perkins at Andrea Brown Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has acquired Dragon Night, a picture book by author-illustrator J.R. Krause, about a boy and a dragon who, initially under the impression that the dragon's "knight" fears and the boy's "night" fears refer to the same thing, help each other overcome their respective anxieties. Publication is scheduled for spring 2019; Jennifer Mattson at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Kaylan Adair at Candlewick has bought Mona + Milo: Saturday School, a picture book by author-illustrator Toni Yuly, in which a sister and a brother unwittingly celebrate the practical aspects of learning, while relishing time away from the classroom. Publication is planned for fall 2019; Lori Kilkelly at Rodeen Literary Management did the deal for world rights.
Pete Schiffer at Schiffer Publishing has acquired world rights to a picture book from Cap'n Rex & His Clever Crew author Henry Herz (l.). In Good Egg & Bad Apple, not all foods get along like peas in a pod. Bad Apple and Second Banana are the root cause. Fortunately, Good Egg uses his noodle to save their bacon. Luke Graber will illustrate; publication is set for fall 2018. Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the author, and the illustrator is unagented.
Stephanie Pitts at Putnam has bought world rights to Amy Guglielmo's Cezanne's Parrot, a picture book biography about artist Paul Cézanne, known as the father of modern art, who taught his pet parrot to say, “Cézanne is a great painter.” Brett Helquist will illustrate; publication is slated for fall 2019. Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management represented the author, and Steven Malk at Writers House represented the illustrator.
Eliza Berkowitz at Sterling has acquired world rights to the picture book No Frogs in School by A. LaFaye (l.), illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans. Bartholomew shares his love of scaly, hairy, and hoppy pets by bringing one to school each morning, starting a wild week that charms his classmates but challenges his teacher. Publication is scheduled for fall 2018; Essie White at Storm Literary Agency represented the author, and Hannah Whitty at Plum Pudding Illustration represented the illustrator.
